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     Title: Fish Sauce (Nuoc Mam)
Categories: Vietnamese, Information, Ceideburg 2
     Yield: 1 servings

     1    Fish Sauce Information

 Fish sauce is to Vietnamese cooking what salt is to Western and soy
 sauce to Chinese cooking.  It is included in practically all recipes.
 Prepared from fresh anchovies and salt, layered in huge wooden
 barrels, the manufacture of fish sauce is a major industry.  The
 factories are located along the coast to assure the freshness of the
 fish to be processed. Fermentation is started once a year, during the
 fishing season. After about 3 months in the barrel, liquid drips from
 an open spigot, to be poured back into the top of the barrel.  After
 about 6 months the fish sauce is produced.

 The first draining is the very best fish sauce, lighter in color and
 perfectly clear.  [Kinda like "Extra Virgin" fish sauce.  S.C.] It is
 relatively expensive and is reserved for table use.  The second and
 third drainings yield a fish sauce of lower quality and lower cost
 for general- purpose cooking.  The two towns most noted for their
 fish sauce are Phu Quoc and Phan Thiet.  Phu Quoc produces the best
 fish sauce, some of which is exported.  On the label, the "nhi"
 signifies the highest quality. When fish sauce manufactured in
 Vietnam is not available, that of Thailand or Hong Kong is quite
 acceptable.  Philippine or Chinese fish sauce will not be
 satisfactory.  For table use and available in all Oriental groceries
 is Squid Brand Fish Sauce, the best one on the market. Whatever
 brand, look for the "Ca Com" on the label, which means that only
 anchovies were used++an indication of the highest quality for table
 use.

 From "The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam", Bach Ngo and Gloria Zimmerman,
 Barron's, 1979.

 Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; February 2 1992.

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