From the Hell to the Heaven - Cơm Âm phủ

Rice from the Hell (cơm Âm phủ) starting as a street food for the poor in Huế (Central Việt Nam) in  very old days, now becomes a nicely presented dish at many fancy restaurants in Sài gòn. 

That's why "right from the Hell to the Heaven" but not one step! Century! 

I've been to Huế - our former capital only once or twice! I don't have any special feelings to this city, probably because the charm from the old times has gone with new urban planning. I heard from my cousin who used to live in Huế for long, many Flame trees (Flamboyant - cây Phượng vĩ) have been cut, many charming streets were extended...the city has changed. 

Rice from the Hell 

And I found different stories about "Rice from the Hell".

Nice mix of different ingredients, different colors and served with spicy fish sauce (7 ingredients: rice, egg, 3 kinds of pork meat, shrimp and cucumber)  

Someone said because of the original shop's name (Quán Âm phủ) where the dish has been served for poor workers by the end of the hard working day. It was a mix of different left-overs.    

Others said because of the location of this place in early 20th century. The stall was located right in the open rice field, no electricity at that time, only flickering kerosene lamps.When the sun went down, those workers sitting in the semi dark, their faces reflecting their harsh life, silently eating a mix of rice with some other left-overs. All of this drew a picture of the real hell at that time during the dark colonized period.  

Seven colors, seven ingredients represent seven steps to the Heaven 

And another source said because of the shop "Âm phủ"'s surroundings. That was opposite of sport stadium in Huế, where all workers used to gather, after working day, to spend their last money for gambling, drinking, to get rid of their life in the bottom.

Leave the past aside. Back to our "Cơm Âm phủ". The dish of today is mostly served in the fancy restaurants, considered as a speciality from Huế. Seven colors on the dish represent Seven Steps to the Heaven (by Buddhism). We better mix well these seven ingredients before eating, add a little bit of fish sauce with chili. Wonderful!

Where to eat : this dish served in almost Huế style restaurant (except Ngự Bình) from Tib, Nam Giao to Cố Đô in An Dương Vương street.