Tinh

Teeny-tiny Tinh. Probably the smallest and most smiley of all the grandmothers we have cooked with and certainly the only granny covered in tattoos and wearing black Nike slides.

We found Tinh through her lovely daughter who runs Hanoi Cafe in London. When we met at her home, Tinh had her special Vietnamese knife in hand at all times. Watching her nip little pieces of carrot for the dipping sauce was highly satisfying. She prepared the rice paper and rolled the spring rolls with matching precision. After a few demonstrations we set up either side of her, wetting the rice paper until sticky and malleable enough to wrap the filling. Soon a large pile had formed and Tinh began the cooking process; straight into the hot oil to puff and crisp.