Treat for Tet

I'm interrupting Ramen Week to announce that February 9 marks the start of the lunar new year. Happy 4702, everyone! All over Little Saigon, restaurants and bakeries are gearing up with seasonal treats for Tet. This also means that weekend traffic in that part of town will be a nightmare - go during the week, if you're able.

Visit Viet World Kitchen to read Andrea Nguyen's Tet edition.

You're looking at a sesame and cashew brittle I picked up at Van's Bakery. It's nothing like the clodgy, too-thick pistachio brittle I make that puts me at risk of dental reconstruction. I hang my head in shame. Van's diaphanous candy just barely cements the lightly toasted sesame seeds and cashew pieces into an impossibly thin crisp.

You'll find all sorts of Viet / Chinese / French baked goods at Van's. Try the freshly baked waffles. Available in durian flavor or pandan/coconut, even my 4 year old lily-white stepson likes them. Don't be a big gringo wuss - go. It's a bakery, for chrissakes, you'll find something you'll like. If Van's is "too Asian," try the very French Boulangerie Pierre & Patisserie a couple doors down.

Like so many other treats available now, this brittle is around for only a few more weeks. Get some before it's gone!

Van's Bakery
Several locations in Orange County, San Gabriel, and San Jose
14346 Brookhurst St
Garden Grove, CA
714-839-1666

Boulangerie Pierre & Patisserie
14352 Brookhurst St
Garden Grove, CA
714-418-9098