Dac Biet: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook

Nini Nguyen has written a masterful cookbook that is chock full of helpful information, clear and easy to follow instructions, and punctuated by the most beautiful photos! I am happily cooking my way through Dac Biet and have thoroughly enjoyed every single dish. Nini is one of the best teaching chefs I have come across with this cookbook. It's a beautiful layout and her writing is fantastically punchy and informative. I highly recommend Dac Biet for home cooks of all levels!

I recently had the pleasure of diving into Nini's new recipe book and let me tell you, it is an absolute culinary masterpiece! From the first page to the last, I was captivated by the delicious recipes, beautiful photography, and helpful tips and tricks sprinkled throughout. Nini's passion for food shines through in every recipe, and her creative twists on classic dishes left me inspired to get into the kitchen and start cooking. The recipes are easy to follow, yet yield impressive results that will wow your family and friends. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, Nini's book is a must-have addition to your collection. I can't wait to try out more of her recipes and I look forward to the day when I can have her sign my copy. Thank you, Nini, for sharing your talent with the world through this incredible book!

This is such a gorgeously written, photographed, and executed cookbook. Those who enjoy reading cookbooks will love it, while those who enjoy cooking from cookbooks will find extra special recipes and fun ways to comfort or challenge themselves in the kitchen. There are simpler dishes and complex, fancy ones but all of them have that special something Nini brings to her style of cooking. A truly gorgeous first book, I look forward to everything Nini does as she is just such a gifted and magical chef!

This cookbook is a real delight. I had no prior experience making Vietnamese food before buying it, and it's made me feel like I can just jump in and easily make anything in here like a pro. (Even though that's certainly not the case lol.) It's beautifully photographed, and the writing is no non-sense and not overly technical. (Some cookbooks can be a little confusing. This is not one of them.) Woven throughout the book is Chef Nini's family story, which is great reading alone, even if you don't plan on cooking anything. That being said, I've only made a handful of things so far, but these really stood out, and weren't too daunting to make: 1. A big batch of Nuoc Mam Cham sauce. I've been putting this on everything. It's my new favorite condiment. 2. Spicy Avocado Sauce: Also a new favorite thing to keep in my fridge. 3. Rice Porridge with Ginger and Chicken. I'm pretty sure this congee recipe is liquid medicine. 4. Beef Cooked in Coconut Water. This is going to be my new go-to stew this winter. 5. The Curry Blackened Fish. The force is strong with this dish. Anyway, I hope this review helps. And if you do buy the book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have : )

Dac Biet is beautiful: the layout is easy to follow, the pictures are very colorful and authentic, and the recipes are generally very simplified so that any homecook can accomplish them (with the correct ingredients). At first I thought this book was going to be too chaotic and very busy (which I don't like as a cookbook style). But after reading it cover to cover, I realize that it is actually very informative and Nini walks you through the steps in a very relaxed manner. Speaking of ingredients, Nini Nguyen does a thorough job of explaining the basic Vietnamese pantry list. Unfortunately there aren't any pictures and it would've been an added benefit if she included pictures of the products as many of us have discovered, going to the Asian grocery stores doesn't necessarily mean that the ingredients recommended in Asian recipes are easy to find. Sometimes they're hidden on obscure shelves amongst other unrelated products and because the labels are written in a different language, Westerners may not be able to translate. Thus, pictures would REALLY HELP. I should say that I am of Asian decent, but not Vietnamese and I am a very accomplished homecook. I love all types of Asian cuisine, but find many dishes that I love to eat are very intimidating to make. Nini Nguyen breaks down making these dishes into very approachable steps and along with the correct ingredients, the dishes are very attainable! I do recommend taking the time to acquire as many of the ingredients (sauces, seasonings, herbs) as possible if you can find them. I do think that once you have those in your pantry, many of these recipes will be a cinch to make. Speaking of which, I made the Sizzling Beef on p 172 (in the chapter of "Breads & Pastries"?). I used ribeyes. It was EXCELLENT and very easy to make. I used Maggi sauce (since I had some) and I believe this really elevated the umami flavor. We didn't eat it with egg nor bread but just with rice and we couldn't get enough. I doubled the recipe so was glad to have some leftovers for the next day. However, this recipe is the EXACT SAME recipe as the one for "Shaking Beef with Watercress Salad" on p207 in the chapter of "Meat & Poultry." This is a huge pet peeve of mine: When cookbook authors duplicate recipes in separate sections of the book but present them as unique. Listen, there's nothing wrong with serving stir fried beef in more than one way. But for transparency, why not just have a "master" recipe and then include "variations" to serve it as a side note. It's easier for the reader to follow and choose their variation, plus it doesn't look like the author is just trying to add extra pages. Because of this, I deducted a star. In summary, I am keeping this book and I look forward to cooking more authentic vietnamese recipes at home. I don't feel as intimidated because Nini Nguyen showed me in this book that as long as I have the right ingredients, I can easily make these delicious meals myself, even for a weeknight meal, without having to go to the restaurant to order them. Just be forewarned that you will need either an Asian market or a stocked international aisle in your local grocery store to find some of these ingredients. If you have either, then go ahead and pick up the ingredients and start working your way through this book. If you love Vietnamese flavors, the investment on the ingredients will be worthwhile as the steps are very easy to follow. I think this book is very appropriate for the novice to intermediate cook at the very least. The prep required for most of these recipes just involves some chopping and dicing, and occasionally a marinade. So not a long labor of love.

As someone who was introduced to Vietnamese cooking through Chef Nini's online classes during the pandemic, Đặc Biệt has become a true favorite in our kitchen. The book itself is stunning—from the thoughtful photography and styling to the personal stories Chef Nini shares, it’s clear that this cookbook is a genuine labor of love. My husband and I use her recipes regularly, and our go-to are the beef chow fun, crispy fish sauce caramel chicken wings (see photo attached), steamed chicken with ginger scallion sauce, and grilled lemongrass-marinated meat. The ingredients are easy to source—c'mon, you're here on Amazon! The flavors are vibrant, the recipes beautifully crafted, and Chef Nini’s personal touches make each dish đặc biệt, aka extra special. This cookbook is for anyone who genuinely wants to understand and savor Vietnamese cuisine. If you’re interested in discovering authentic flavors and connecting with Chef Nini’s story, Đặc Biệt will be a joyful and rewarding addition to your collection.

I’m having the best time cooking through this book. The recipes are easy to follow and it’s a great read. I’ve had the most fun learning to pickle vegetables. 100% recommend. Pictures is the green jackfruit salad which is my new summertime fav.

I am an avid cook and love buying cookbooks. I have probably at least 100 in my collection right now. This book by Nini is one of the most beautifully photographed, colorful, well written, and unique cookbooks I’ve owned. It tugs at the heart strings with her stories. And it makes the stomach hungry with the great photos and easy to follow recipes. I’ve only made her banh mi baguette recipe so far, and it was exceptional - easy to follow and made for baguette that was banh mi baguette better than what I can find in my major city. All in all, a truly exceptional and precious book.

so great so rare ........... dont buy any other vietnamese cookbook

Delicious recipes combining a combination of Cajun & Vietnamese recipes! Absolutely love this cook book, been trying all sorts of different recipes, would highly recommend

Incredible recipes. Delicious food. Colour and interesting content. Great book!

Cool book, not cool Amazon