Diamond Logan: American TikTok Star Mastering Vietnamese Cuisine

Diamond Logan, an American woman, has become a TikTok sensation by expertly creating and sharing authentic Vietnamese dishes. Her journey began after meeting her Vietnamese boyfriend while studying in Seattle and has led her to explore Vietnam’s rich culinary landscape. Many TikTok users praise her genuine attention to detail in recipes, which has resulted in a large and enthusiastic following. Logan’s cooking skills have evolved through her experiences both in the U.S. and Vietnam, and she aims to share and celebrate Vietnamese cuisine worldwide.

Diamond Logan is making waves in the culinary scene with her authentic twists on Vietnamese food. This American woman has carved out a niche with her TikTok cooking videos, sharing traditional recipes like bun moc, a noodle soup featuring pork meatballs. She often shows her viewers how to enhance flavors using local ingredients, like adding pickled garlic and chili. Remarkably, her videos attract substantial attention, drawing anywhere from 500,000 to two million views per clip over the past six months. With her follower count climbing to 54,000, many viewers laud her passion for authenticity. “She’s more Vietnamese than I am,” noted one TikTok user, highlighting her impact and appeal even beyond Vietnam itself.

Logan’s journey into Vietnamese cuisine began serendipitously after she relocated to Seattle for studies in data analytics and met her boyfriend Giang, originally from Hanoi. Their relationship blossomed over dining at Vietnamese restaurants, where she discovered dishes like banh mi that captivated her taste buds. Her fascination with the food has grown deeper as she learned about authentic flavors, especially after Giang pointed out discrepancies at various eateries.

Before diving deeper into Vietnamese cooking, Logan had some experience with Asian cuisine, working part-time at a Thai restaurant. She also developed bonds with Vietnamese friends in high school, discussing dishes like pho. However, it was during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021 that she really tried cooking Vietnamese food, starting with simple dishes and improvising when needed, like making banh cuon without a steamer, which did not always go smoothly.

In June 2022, Logan took her first trip to Vietnam, and it was game-changing for her culinary skills. The range and richness of street food in cities like Hanoi left a lasting impression. She became adept at distinguishing between different regional styles such as northern pho and southern pho, noting the differences in their boldness and accompaniments. During her month-long stay, she learned essential techniques from Giang’s family and returned home equipped with an armful of ingredients essential for authentic preparation.

Now, nearly half of Logan’s meals are Vietnamese, with favorites like braised pork belly and eggs, which she learned to prepare with both traditional methods and her unique touch. To achieve genuine flavors, she often shops around Chicago for specialty items, like fresh duck and unique flours. In late 2023, Logan spent another three months in Vietnam, eager to soak up even more culinary knowledge by trying various local dishes and expanding her repertoire.

A memorable moment for her was seeing live crabs for the first time while preparing bun rieu cua, a crab and tomato noodle soup, which shocked her initially. But she quickly adjusted, embracing raw ingredients and fine-tuning her cooking techniques. After returning to the U.S., she felt more confident in her abilities — no more relying on seasoning packets.

Her cooking journey hasn’t been perfect, and she admits that some dishes, particularly bun rieu, continue to challenge her. However, she takes her cooking seriously, cleaning a multitude of ingredients and crafting the perfect broth through trial and error, often with Giang’s help to ensure balance. As her social media presence expands, so does her network of friends and coworkers who seek her take on Vietnamese recipes.

Many of her recipes come from social media channels or direct interactions with Giang’s parents, who have been supportive of her culinary quest. Giang’s mother, Nguyen Ngoc Han, praises her determination and skill. “She is proactive, skillful and highly motivated to embrace Vietnamese culture,” she says. Reflecting on her journey, Logan remains ambitious, eager to try her hand at more complex dishes like nem chua and bun thang, emphasizing the importance of sharing Vietnamese cuisine with the world.

“I believe I can make anything as long as I have the right ingredients and a recipe,” she affirms. “Vietnamese cuisine deserves to be known and appreciated by many more people around the world.”

Diamond Logan’s culinary journey showcases her incredible dedication to mastering Vietnamese cuisine, gaining not only followers but also the respect and admiration of many Vietnamese food lovers. Her skillful takes on traditional dishes underscore her desire to make this vibrant culinary culture accessible and celebrated, bridging cultural gaps through food. As she continues to explore and expand her repertoire, Logan’s journey is a story of learning, perseverance, and passion for a culture that has profoundly impacted her life.

Original Source: e.vnexpress.net