NPower test kitchen: episode 1

Having an office in Seattle's Central District means that we're in close proximity to a lot of interesting international food options. We end up dining at the nearby Cheeky Cafe pretty often, and it seems like not a week goes by without someone picking up Bahn Mi from Saigon Deli.

Today was a Saigon Deli day, and V, our Senior Database Consultant, decided to pick up a random food item for the staff to test out. That random food item turn out to be Nem Chua. Thanks to the internet, we now know that Nem Chua is a Vietnamese fermented pork roll. All that was known at the point of purchase was what they had listed as ingredients on the package: pork, garlic, pepper, and "sour":

Most members of the web and database teams were willing to give 'em a try. Even our new intern, Andrea agreed to partake in the taste-test despite saying that they "look like brain."After heating the rolls in our toaster oven (which we later learned was a mistake as they are supposed to be eaten raw), we went for it. Web Consultant Patrick responded respectfully, calling the rolls "flavorful, peppery, sour and spicy." Andrea ate a whole piece minus the pepper. I took one bite and opted to stop there. V's reaction pretty much summed it up - "whoa!"

Nem Chua - you be the judge.

- Mandi Moshay