Eggs in Coffee?!

I'm kickin' back at a little hole-in-the-wall coffee joint called Cà phê Giảng, sipping on a cà phê trứng đá. Cà phê (coffee) trứng (egg) đá (iced). It is iced coffee with whipped egg yolk. Say whaaaa?!

So back during the second war, milk was in great shortage in Vietnam. A young gentleman, Mr. Giảng, was working as a bartender at the Sofitel Hotel. In his search for a practical milk alternative for everyone's daily cup of joe fix, he happened upon the magic formula - whipped egg yolk and a few other special ingredients.

Mr. Giảng opened his eponymous café in 1946, and has become renowned for this perfect little concoction, both to locals and foreigners alike. The secret recipe was passed to his son, who continues the legacy.

The whipped egg brings a rich creaminess to the coffee, yet is not heavy in the least. It also has a slight, almost rum hint to it. It is simply, beautiful!