On the morning of January 20, 2022, banh bot ca loc (snakehead fish porridge), a “modest legend” specialty from Quang Tri Province, arrived in Valencia, a major city in Spain. This dish was prepared, packaged, and exported by Ca Men restaurant, owned by young entrepreneur Nguyen Duc Nhat Thuan.
The Arrival of the Modest Legend
Stretching along Vietnam’s central coast, Quang Tri is a small province marked by the indelible scars of war. Despite its challenges, the people of Quang Tri are known for their resilience and hard work. The younger generation has carried forward the spirit of sacrifice and diligence, nurturing dreams to showcase their homeland’s beauty to the world.
Ca Men is a familiar brand for the people of Quang Tri. For neighboring friends and beyond, Ca Men has likely left many pleasant and sincere memories.
Nguyen Duc Nhat Thuan, the founder of Ca Men, was born in 1991 and chose to forgo many great opportunities to follow his passion, considering it a life mission. For years, Ca Men, with its motto of “bringing Quang Tri to the city,” located at 27B Hoa Su Street, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District, has become a popular culinary destination for Quang Tri residents in Ho Chi Minh City.
Founded over five years ago by Nguyen Duc Nhat Thuan, a native of Hai Hung commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri, Ca Men initially served only steamed rice cakes but later expanded to include chicken, duck, and central region spices like lemongrass and fish sauce. The most beloved dish among Quang Tri natives is banh bot ca loc – a specialty from Hai Lang.
Ingredients for Ca Men’s dishes are transported from Quang Tri via air or bus. All dishes retain the authentic spiciness characteristic of the Central region.
Thuan’s dream of “bringing Hai Lang’s specialty – Ca Men’s banh bot ca loc – to the world” has become a reality. On January 20, 2022, banh bot ca loc, the “modest legend” from Quang Tri, arrived in Valencia, Spain, thanks to Thuan’s Ca Men brand.
Packaging and Convenience
Ca Men’s banh bot ca loc comes in a convenient, compact, and beautifully designed package, ensuring consistency in flavor – DELICIOUS. With Ca Men’s packaged banh bot ca loc, customers can enjoy a bowl of porridge in just 5 minutes, featuring a rich broth, well-seasoned fish, soft noodles, fragrant lemongrass, and spicy pepper and chili.
Thuan shares that his love for his homeland and a sense of duty to Quang Tri drive him to expand the reach of Quang Tri’s specialties. The goal is to take the local flavor of “Ca Men’s Banh Bot Ca Loc” to a global audience with its vacuum-sealed packaging, which is considered quite convenient for users.
The packaged banh bot ca loc includes five components: noodle strands, snakehead fish, concentrated broth, lemongrass leaves, and seasonings. The number 5 symbolizes luck and prosperity in Vietnamese culture (Five Blessings: Wealth, Honor, Longevity, Health, and Peace) and represents growth and development. It brings good fortune and fosters hope for a prosperous year ahead.
A Milestone in the Journey
With the modest legend of banh bot reaching the glamorous Mediterranean city, this marks a new milestone in Thuan’s journey of “bringing Quang Tri to the city.”
According to Thuan, Ca Men has been fortunate to have continuous support, trust, and love from everyone, particularly evident during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2021, as Ho Chi Minh City faced a series of directives, the Ca Men team stayed at the restaurant and used available resources to prepare meals with love. Initially, they provided meals to those in difficult situations near the restaurant, and when resources dwindled, they began cooking for hospitals. Generous donors provided materials and support, even though Ca Men did not actively solicit aid.
The impressive result was that Ca Men and its team provided around 700 meals daily for three consecutive months to support those in need, including medical staff and patients battling the pandemic.
Each morning, from 4 a.m., six members of Ca Men’s kitchen team prepared ingredients for meals to be delivered to hospitals and quarantine centers. By 8 a.m., the fragrant Quang Tri rice and fresh dishes were neatly packed and ready for transport.
Each meal was carefully prepared with high-quality, clean ingredients donated from across Ho Chi Minh City and other regions.
“Preparing these meals with love, we focus on ensuring each portion is served with care. While we are fine at home, doctors and nurses working hard need to eat well to stay strong,” Nguyen Duc Nhat Thuan shared.
Many individuals and charitable organizations supported Ca Men’s efforts by providing ingredients like rice and vegetables or sending money for meat and fish. Thanks to this encouragement and contribution, Ca Men continued its mission of delivering meals with love, contributing to the fight against COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City.
