Hello! I'm Suzanne, your Bun Bo Bae.
Bún bò Huế is a spicy beef and pork noodle soup originating from the Vietnamese city of Huế. My mom's family is from Huế, and the noodles were a staple in our rotation of noodle soup dinners at home.
I've been cooking my entire life. My mom is a Vietnamese immigrant. She raised two kids while putting herself through school, so she was a busy woman. As a kid, I'd sit on the counter and help hand her spices as she prepared the evening's meal. It instilled a love of cooking and family in me, and now that I no longer live with my parents, cooking my mom's recipes keeps me connected to her. I don't think anything connects people better than food does, and I hope that my home recipes bring a little bit of joy into your life.
About Bun Bo Bae
I started Bun Bo Bae in January 2019. After moving to Washington, D.C. in 2017 after graduating from New York University, I needed a way to make new friends. I ended up hosting a lot of dinner parties, and friends would also ask me to teach them how to make various dishes. I was thrilled that my non-Vietnamese friends wanted to learn more about my cuisine, and Bun Bo Bae was born.
I'm a full time journalist, and this blog is my passion project. I make a little bit of money on it, but it is by no means my main source of income. This means that I am extremely mindful of the brands I work with. If I'm promoting something on the blog, trust that I am giving my honest opinion and vouch for the product.
What You'll Find On Bun Bo Bae
I focus mostly on easy, everyday Vietnamese recipes you might not find in restaurants. I eat Vietnamese food almost every day, and there are so many recipes you'll find on a typical Vietnamese dinner table that aren't often served at restaurants. While I also have recipes for iconic Vietnamese dishes like Bún bò Huế and Cà Ri Gà, my main goal is to showcase the diverse world of Vietnamese cuisine. You'll find recipes I lean on as a busy student and full time journalist, like Thịt Băm Sốt Cà Chua or Gà Roti.
Sometimes You'll See Non-Vietnamese or fusion food. I don't believe that food should remain stagnant and welcome innovation and experimentation to my culture's cuisine, as long as it is being done respectfully and you have educated yourself on the history of the dish. I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area so you'll often find Midwestern comfort foods like Turkey Tarragon Pot Pie. I'll sometimes riff on a familiar Asian dish, like with my Crab Rangoon Dip.
All of my recipes include step by step instructions and process shots so that you can recreate the dish while referencing what your food should look like at each step. Timing and instructions can only do so much. Every oven and kitchen is a little bit different. While you should follow the times and instructions in my recipes, it's important to use all your senses when cooking, including sight, taste and smell, to know when you are finished with a step.
Stay Connected
Follow along with my daily life as a grad student and journalist on my Instagram at @BunBoBaeBlog! I share snippets of what I eat on a day to day basis, my struggles getting my homework done on time, and my INTENSE love for frogs.
You can learn a little bit more about me and my family by checking out my episode on WAMU's Dish City podcast! I talk about how baking and selling mooncakes with my mom every year for the Mid Autumn festival has brought me closer to my heritage.
Want To Work With Bun Bo Bae?
I am available for sponsored posts, recipe development, brand ambassadorships, product giveaways and anything else that would benefit your brand. I'm passionate about sustainability, social justice, and promoting women and BIPOC owned businesses. If you feel your brand's values align with mine, please feel free to reach out!
As Seen On:
Bun Bo Bae has been featured on a few well known sites, including Buzzfeed, the TODAY Show and WAMU on the Kojo Nnamdi Show and Dish City.