Steve Wertz wrote:

>
> I even once made a plea in ba.food, offering money to let me observe a
> vietnamese restaurant kitchen in action, but no takers.
>
> -sw

Court a Vietnamese woman. Short of that, get a Vietnamese co-worker or
neighbor. Best of luck. If you find a restaurant with a kindly owner...a
place you frequent, spend money at, bring friends to, you might get
somewhere. We have a local Thai place with a good owner who picks **my**
brain for dipping sauces and tofu methods. She is generous with me. We
also have a Vietnamese place with definite French influences (no tapioca
cakes) whose half owner will come out and ask you how things can be
improved and tell how she did something. It is a bit of a drive for me
now (read:toddler hates to sit still in car) but I'll try to remember to
ask her next time.

blacksalt