Mrs. Hoang Thi Nhu Huy.
Mrs. Nhu Huy is one of the most famous, present-day cooks in Hue. Her career has had as many twists and turns as the history of the city itself. Twenty years ago, Mrs. Nhu Huy expected to become a teacher of literature. However, in 1988, she received a scholarship from Germany's Schmidt Foundation to study cooking at the Viet Nam Women's Union. After graduation, she worked as a trainer at the Schmidt Foundation until 1996, when she took a European cooking class run by Saigon Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City. Mrs. Nhu Huy finished first in her class with French chef Jacques Thermolle.
In 1998, ten years after receiving her first scholarship, Nhu Huy received a grant to attend a three-month course in France. Every year, France's National Culinary Academy (Academie Nationale de Cuisine) holds a contest, "Toques Blanches," for cooks from all over the world. Contestants must prepare three European dishes from a fixed set of ingredients. Nhu Huy was among the five medallists in 1998, with the other four being Europeans. She received the honorary title, "Member of the Academy."
After returning to Hue, Nhu Huy became the chief chef at the Saigon Morin, a restored colonial hotel overlooking the Hương River. She now works for the Thua Thien - Hue Professional School of Tourism.
Hoang Thi Nhu Huy is the pride of Hue. Her interest in literature has not waned despite her success as a chef. In 1997, she followed the tradition of author Trương Đăng Thị Bích and published a book of 105 poems on Vietnamese cuisine.