Cơm Gia Đình — The Meals That Made Us Pause
the best meals were the most simple meals
In a lot of Vietnamese homes, meals are served family-style—everything placed in the center of the table, meant to be shared.
When I think of comfort food, I think of cơm gia đình.
I didn’t grow up having it every day. My parents were always working, so most meals were quick, simple—what I like to call “when Mom was tired” meals. Just enough to get us fed.
But on the days we did sit down for a proper cơm gia đình, it felt different.
The table wasn’t anything fancy, but it felt full.
A vegetable dish.
A savory protein—pork, chicken, or fish.
A simple soup.
Rice in every bowl.
Nothing over the top. Just enough.
And honestly, it wasn’t even about the food.
It was the feeling of everyone being there at the same time. Sharing from the same dishes. Sitting a little longer than usual. Even if no one said much, it felt… complete.
Those moments didn’t last long, but they stuck with me.
This space is where I’ll be sharing the kinds of dishes I grew up eating during cơm gia đình—the ones that filled our bowls, carried our conversations, and made home feel whole, even if just for a little while.
Simple. Shared. Just like I remember.
xoxo,
Viv 🤍
