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Vu Dai village is bestowed upon a wide variety of fish, especially the high grade black carp. The braised black carp in clay pots has become a local specialty, tasting great, thanks to the local people’s special recipe and cuisine. The dish had been the treasure hidden in the kitchen of local families for hundreds of years before it gained its reputation and became a commercial item a couple of decades ago.
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| Photo by VOV |
In order to turn a popular dish into a favorte and profitable commercial item, local people have to strictly follow every step of a sophisticated process under a special recipe, and to ensure food hygiene and safety. In the past, the dish used to be cooked based on orally-passed experience without a standard recipe or cuisine. The interesting thing is that the local people did not keep their special recipe secret from each other or people from other regions.
But visitors to Vu Dai village who want to braise black carp in clay pots should have good health as the whole process from catching fish to making the dish done lasts 16 consecutive hours.
An engineer from Hai Duong province, named Nguyen Ba Toan, made a great contribution to introducing the dish to the world. The man decided to give up his job in construction, and betted his future on the clay pot of black carp after he tasted the specialty for the first time.
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| Follow special steps and recipe. Photo by VOV |
His business experienced through various difficulties at the beginning. Thanks to his ceaseless efforts, determination and good marketing strategies, he has finally reaped fruits.
This business has changed the local people’s life. As the dish of clay pot braised black carp is exported to many foreign countries, his business is rapidly expanded while it lays a stress on the quality and hygiene of the item.
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Each clay pot of braised carp fish costs VND 700 thousands (nearly $32). During the high season, particularly before Tet, the business receives hundreds of orders from domestic and international clients.
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The Vu Dai village’s signature carp fish has been exported to various countries around the world, including Russia, the USA, Europe countries, Japan.
