mission indogable

Mission Indogable
Your mission should you choose to accept it: seek out, find and consume prime suspect number one – the common domesticated dog. Fear not the reprisal of RSPCA jobsworths or animal loving Brits because you will be deep in the Mekong delta, where man’s best friend is more feast than beast – bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “hot dog”.
Since our arrival in South East Asia we have been on the hunt of new experiences and gastronomic challenges. We have had the sparrow, the frog and various inedible pig parts, but the Holy Grail must be Park Ji Sun’s snack of choice the dog – or thit cay as it may be written in Vietnamese.
We read in the guide book that Hanoi has a whole area dedicated to the preparation and consumption of Fido, but pressed for time and put off by an expensive cab ride we neglect to visit it. We figure that we will see plenty of places throughout are stay and it won’t be a problem. Well let’s just say we tried doggedly to pursue this delicacy, often wandering the streets for hours trying to find him, peering in strange shops and making woof sounds to bemused locals, but we must have been barking up the wrong tree, as it was always without success. So thus on the final Saigon night we settle for a more conventional Thai style hot pot while we wistfully dream of dog. The meal was excellent – but it lacked the bite (or bark) that dog could provide. After weeks in Vietnam we feel beaten in our quest – having made a dog’s dinner of our only opportunity in Hanoi. So walking back to the hostel on our final night we look for a bakery when low and behold- like Moses’ burning bush out-shines a sign on the horizon. We are dubious but finally we realise this is it! Bahn mi Cay – or in our language “Dog Sandwiches”.
We are full from our Thai feast but cannot pass this by, so we order one sandwich and giggling, the young lady working the stall hands us a pre-wrapped bag containing a piping hot dog baguette. It only contained a little meat, but it was sweet and tasty like a strong pate. It actually really is tasty, so dog owners back home better watch-out: because I’m up for a dog curry ASAP! It wasn’t quite the dog steak we wanted but at least we snatched victory from the claws of defeated and can now officially agree – that, wherever you may be, eating dog is certainly much better than eating rats in your council house.