An Evening with Nini Nguyen and Kevin Tien for ĐẶC BIỆT

Join Bold Fork Books for the a celebration of the release of ĐẶC BIỆT: AN EXTRA-SPECIAL VIETNAMESE COOKBOOK with Author and Chef Nini Nguyen in conversation with Award-Winning Moon Rabbit Chef and Restaurateur Kevin Tien.

All tickets will include two bites inspired by ĐẶC BIỆT and prepared by Chef Tien & team.

ABOUT ĐẶC BIỆT

A collection of contemporary, extra-special Vietnamese recipes, from beloved classics like Hanoi-Style Vermicelli with Grilled Pork and three variations of phở, to dishes with a New Orleans twist, like Southeast Asian Jambalaya and Sticky Fried Shrimp Bánh Mì—from Top Chef contestant and acclaimed chef Nini Nguyen.

In Vietnamese culture, to be dac biet is to be special and luxurious, or, as chef and cooking instructor Nini Nguyen puts it, it means adding something a little extra, like salty caviar on top of squid-stuffed pork, a surprise note of ginger and lime in a dipping sauce, or sautéing shaking beef in farm-fresh butter for a creamy, delectable experience. Born and raised in New Orleans by Vietnamese immigrants, here Nini gives us recipes that fuse the best of Vietnamese and New Orleans cooking and clear directions on how to prepare and arrange them, making for a flavorful, unforgettable experience that proves that being a little extra is easy and just right.

Dac Biet includes one hundred delicious and vibrant recipes that celebrate the essential flavors of Vietnam—salty, sour, bitter, spicy, and sweet—and the bright and perfectly balanced dishes they create. Here are recipes for:

*Charbroiled Oysters in Chili Butter * Viet-Cajun Seafood Boil * Phở with Everything * Crispy Fish Sauce–Caramel Chicken Wings * Broken Rice with Pork Chops and Eggs * Crispy Noodles Covered in a Saucy Stir-Fry * BBQ Pork Ribs Glazed with Roasted Nước Mắm Sauce *Coconut Crispy Rice Crepes * and many more

ABOUT NINI NGUYEN

NINI NGUYEN is a New Orleans–based chef and cooking instructor. After starting her career in some of the country’s most innovative kitchens, such as Coquette in New Orleans and Eleven Madison Park in New York, she competed in season 16 of Top Chef, as well as Top Chef: All-Stars, becoming a fan favorite.

At the beginning of the pandemic, she leaned into her passion for teaching, originally honed at Cook Space in Brooklyn, New York, and built her Cooking with Nini virtual classes into a robust business. The classes, which she teaches several times per week, are wildly popular and perpetually sold out.

ABOUT KEVIN TIEN

KEVIN TIEN (a 2024 James Beard Foundation Finalist- his 5th nomination), 2023 RAMW Chef of the Year, Food and Wine Best New Chef 2018, Esquire’s Best Restaurant of the Year 2021) is the Executive Chef/Owner of nationally celebrated Moon Rabbit .

He is the co-founder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate, an organization bringing together the culinary world to support AAPI and social justice causes. It originated in the spring of 2021 as a way to raise money and awareness of the increase in violence against Asian Americans in the United States. It has since brought together more than 50 chefs from across the country, hosting dinners and take-out meals, and funneling $500,000-plus to various like-minded organizations, regionally, nationally and globally. It was recognized in Washingtonian’s list of “100 Reasons to Love our Fierce Food Scene.” A native to New Orleans, Louisiana- much of his modern Vietnamese cuisine is influenced by his experiences there, as well as the diverse regional dishes from Vietnam.

Tien’s menu strives to move the culture forward, but maintain and preserve integrity and tradition by reinventing recipes that have been passed down through multiple generations. Moon Rabbit is a personal journey and exploration of Chef Kevin’s journey as a first generation Vietnamese chef. His modern cooking philosophy and dishes are non-traditional Vietnamese cuisine but feature the true essence of Vietnamese flavor.