Comments on: Samla Machou Yuon: The Y-word http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/ Khmer food, restaurant reviews and recipes served to you from Phnom Penh by Phil Lees Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:38:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Phnomenon: food in Cambodia » Getting down in Cambodia Town http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/#comment-34193 Phnomenon: food in Cambodia » Getting down in Cambodia Town Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:14:18 +0000 http://www.phnomenon.com/?p=132#comment-34193 [...] Samlor machou yuon (Vietnamese-style sour soup) was overflowing with fish, tomatoes, pineapple and loofah gourd with basil substituting for the Khmer maom leaf; hitting the right sour and salty notes. The deep-fried pomfret with chili (trei charb chien tuk mteis) was slow to arrive but well worth the wait, and by Phnom Penh standards, gigantic. Unlike Cambodia, the fish had been gutted rather than fried whole which I tend to prefer. Plear sach ko (beef salad) was a bit dull but beef-heavy in a way that speaks to Americans and their insane farm subsidy system. While Angkor Lager was on the menu, they’d run out and when the waitstaff discovered that I spoke a little Khmer, they plied me with free Singha beer so that I’d continue to perform tricks to the delight of eavesdroppers. [...] [...] Samlor machou yuon (Vietnamese-style sour soup) was overflowing with fish, tomatoes, pineapple and loofah gourd with basil substituting for the Khmer maom leaf; hitting the right sour and salty notes. The deep-fried pomfret with chili (trei charb chien tuk mteis) was slow to arrive but well worth the wait, and by Phnom Penh standards, gigantic. Unlike Cambodia, the fish had been gutted rather than fried whole which I tend to prefer. Plear sach ko (beef salad) was a bit dull but beef-heavy in a way that speaks to Americans and their insane farm subsidy system. While Angkor Lager was on the menu, they’d run out and when the waitstaff discovered that I spoke a little Khmer, they plied me with free Singha beer so that I’d continue to perform tricks to the delight of eavesdroppers. [...]

]]> By: Phnomenon: food in Cambodia » Snakehead fever http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/#comment-29391 Phnomenon: food in Cambodia » Snakehead fever Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:19:29 +0000 http://www.phnomenon.com/?p=132#comment-29391 [...] That would be just like finding a bear. The Washington Post catches snakehead fever and regales us with tales of capturing the foreign fish loosed upon the unwary Potomac River. No mention made of turning the fish into tasty trei ngiet or samlor machou, but that will certainly come in the fullness of time. Cheers, Tara, for the link. Share: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...] [...] That would be just like finding a bear. The Washington Post catches snakehead fever and regales us with tales of capturing the foreign fish loosed upon the unwary Potomac River. No mention made of turning the fish into tasty trei ngiet or samlor machou, but that will certainly come in the fullness of time. Cheers, Tara, for the link. Share: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

]]> By: mythicaldude http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/#comment-7689 mythicaldude Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:32:27 +0000 http://www.phnomenon.com/?p=132#comment-7689 Oddly, strangely, Youn is a word that is emblematic of a Pittsburgh accent. Yes, Pittsburgh, PA in America. That Pittsburgh. As in the phrase "Youns goin' donton?". TRANSLATION: "Are you guys going downtown?" Truly weird eh? Oddly, strangely, Youn is a word that is emblematic of a Pittsburgh accent. Yes, Pittsburgh, PA in America. That Pittsburgh. As in the phrase “Youns goin’ donton?”. TRANSLATION: “Are you guys going downtown?” Truly weird eh?

]]> By: Erik D http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/#comment-7674 Erik D Mon, 09 Oct 2006 14:33:31 +0000 http://www.phnomenon.com/?p=132#comment-7674 Great post - I don't want to enter the "is 'yuon' racist' fray, but will note that if you go to a Vietnamese restaurant, they will often use the name Samla Machou Yuon on the menu. On the other hand, there is a common pun on the dish's name: samla mitt youeng, which means 'Our Friends' Soup.' Call the soup that in a Vietnamese restaurant where they speak Khmer, and they'll get pissed. It seems that most of the yuon debates are between Khmers and folks of European descent. Yuon is often used ina racist manner, but as Vietnamese restaurant owners and Khmer restaurant goers often show, it's not the word (or its absence) that's offensive, but the attitude behind it. How else can we explain that calling a dish Our Friend's Soup instead of "Sour Yuon Soup' is considered *more* offensive? I guess I sort of entered the fray, but I insist - it was only by accident! Cheers, Erik Great post – I don’t want to enter the “is ‘yuon’ racist’ fray, but will note that if you go to a Vietnamese restaurant, they will often use the name Samla Machou Yuon on the menu.

On the other hand, there is a common pun on the dish’s name: samla mitt youeng, which means ‘Our Friends’ Soup.’ Call the soup that in a Vietnamese restaurant where they speak Khmer, and they’ll get pissed. It seems that most of the yuon debates are between Khmers and folks of European descent. Yuon is often used ina racist manner, but as Vietnamese restaurant owners and Khmer restaurant goers often show, it’s not the word (or its absence) that’s offensive, but the attitude behind it. How else can we explain that calling a dish Our Friend’s Soup instead of “Sour Yuon Soup’ is considered *more* offensive?

I guess I sort of entered the fray, but I insist – it was only by accident!

Cheers,

Erik

]]> By: Wanna http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/#comment-7670 Wanna Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:35:03 +0000 http://www.phnomenon.com/?p=132#comment-7670 However, to my idea, the soup's name is not relevant to the true meaning of the word, or even of Vietnamese, since I could not find the similar soup here. However, to my idea, the soup’s name is not relevant to the true meaning of the word, or even of Vietnamese, since I could not find the similar soup here.

]]> By: « Details are Sketchy http://www.phnomenon.com/index.php/cambodian-food/recipes/samla-machou-yuon-the-y-word/#comment-7664 « Details are Sketchy Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:25:57 +0000 http://www.phnomenon.com/?p=132#comment-7664 [...] Phil over at Phnomenon has gone and done it. He used the “Y” word. [...] [...] Phil over at Phnomenon has gone and done it. He used the “Y” word. [...]

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