October: Thịt Bò Xào Khoai Tây

What does thịt bò xào khoai Tây mean to me? Why thịt bò xào khoai Tây?

Perceiving that thịt bò xào khoai Tây (I will acronymize it to a PBR&B-like name: TBXKT) was an easy dish to make, I saved this recipe for a potentially stressful month where I felt I needed to just go through the motions of making a dish. It turns out my foresight served me well, and making TBXKT was relatively easy and comforting in the midst of an emotionally-taxing month.

Thịt bò xào khoai Tây, on top of a spoonful of white rice.

TBXKT, which is beef stir-fried with potatoes, is a dish that was prominent in my teenage years. During my upper elementary school years, my mother transitioned out of her home-parent role into a full-time job. As my mom and I both dove further into our roles outside of home -- she as a nail salon worker, and me as a pursuer of multiple extracurricular activities -- we saw each other less and less. However, whenever I came home to a pot of TBXKT on the stove, I felt her love. This was one of the few dishes that catered to both my Vietnamese and American tastebuds, and being a high school athlete, the beef and potatoes were hearty enough to satiate my fast metabolism. 

I had presumed that my mom had invented this dish, given that I had never seen this dish in Vietnamese restaurants (nor did I really look for it because nothing beats mom’s cooking). I also thought the dish was too American to be on the menu of restaurants that began with the word “Phở” and ended with someone’s kids’ name or a number of choice. When my mom and I reminisced about this dish, she told me that this dish -- while finalized by her experimentation and expertise -- was actually inspired by the French. She brought me back to the time when we had steak and fries in Paris, and she told me that this was the Vietnamese version of steak and fries (because why the hell would Vietnamese people deep-fry khoai Tây, which literally means “Western starchy vegetable?”)

In Paris, we waited 1.5 hours in line for a restaurant that specialized in steak and fries.

Once we were seated, we treated ourselves to a bottle of red.

Don't sleep on the salad and baguettes, tho! They were a perfect accompaniment to the Dijon mustard.

My mother, sister, and I outside the Palace of Versailles (I'm just reminiscing about traveling at this point)

How did I make thịt bò xào khoai Tây?

Linked is a Google Document with my mother’s recipe.

Prior to speaking to my mom about this dish, I assumed this dish was super easy to prepare for and make -- and this was somewhat true. I was able to purchase all the fresh produce and meat from a local Safeway rather than a Vietnamese market. I also was able to utilize the air fryer my sister bought me in order to healthily steam and soften the potatoes. 

However, after going over the recipe with my mom, I recognize that there are some parts of the cooking that require specificity and caution, especially when it comes to the cooking time of each item. Marinate the beef in oyster sauce overnight, and the dish will become too salty. Cook the beef too much during the first round, the more rubbery the final product will taste. Overly stir-fried potatoes will become mashed potatoes; they are meant to be cubed. In essence, if you plan to cook this, follow the directions carefully!

Check out this air fryer, tho! Sure, I had to prepare the potatoes in three batches and unplug every other kitchen appliance so the air fryer wouldn't short-circuit the kitchen, but it was worth it!

Stir-frying the beef

Beef, potatoes, and onions. Seems like such an American dish!

Cooking and softening all the ingredients together to make the final product

Who tried my thịt bò xào khoai Tây?

Andrew and I had the opportunity to share this meal with Jen and Tracy. (Fun fact: Last year, they trusted me with the very important responsibility of co-officiating their wedding.) I was excited to invite them over to catch up, to learn about their 2020 reflections, and to engage in conversations around the California Propositions.

Our wonderful guests! This is Jen and Tracy enjoying a beverage together after Tracy's side of the wedding party hazed Jen via Chinese Door Games last year. 

How was it?

The meal and company were extremely comforting. Lucky for me, Andrew and Jen love potatoes.

Some key takeaways from our conversation and this experience:

• We are extremely lucky. We are all middle-class American citizens with relatively stable occupations. We are able to manage our physical and emotional health with intentionality and supportive individuals and groups.
• We have to manage our expectations day by day. Conditions can change gradually and rapidly, and we have to adapt all the same -- and we are capable of doing so.
• Proposition 19 is a tricky ballot item for liberal/progressive California voters.

As the world counts the swing states’ electoral votes, I am feeling a bit restless and anxious of what is to come. However, I find great comfort in knowing that I have a strong community of friends and colleagues who are making great impact in their locale and are amazing socioemotional supports during these challenging times.