Crab Claw Herb and “Nostalgic Garden”

A slender crab claw herb in a nostalgic garden, whispering a love story in the rain…

Crab Claw Herb

There is a herb that is always somewhere around you, as long as your house has a little soil and a bit of shade. It will grow shyly at the foot of the orange jasmine tree you planted or sneak modestly among the colorful flower beds. If your house has a shady brickyard, it will suddenly sprout in the gaps between the bricks after a dark rain. Its presence is so familiar that you hardly notice it, until one day, you suddenly realize its freshness and gentleness. Have you seen it, that crab claw herb?

Soft and green, the heart-shaped leaves are so poetic, but its name is not poetic at all. People say that its seeds are long and curved like the claws of crabs, so they named it crab claw herb. In fact, it just wants to extend its friendly, slender fingers, ready for a friendly handshake.

Crunchy, sweet, juicy, and slightly pungent, crab claw herb is a great companion to braised fish and meat. Whether it accompanies a braised dish with a thick or thin sauce, crab claw herb always brings a freshness that makes the dish feel vibrant and more flavorful. It is also not afraid to form a group with other crisp friends such as cucumber, tomato, shredded banana flower, and water spinach. However, it is a bit shy of bitter friends like unripe bananas and strong-tasting herbs because their characters are too opposite.

The fastest cooking soup in the world has to be crab claw herb soup! Just toss in some minced meat, freshwater shrimps, or small, sweet mussels, stir-fry with shallots, then add water, season, and wait for it to boil. Once it’s ready, pour it over a bowl of fresh crab claw herb. 

Though young and fragile, these herbs are far from weak. They quickly adapt to the heat, transforming from a glossy green to a darker and more flexible emerald green. Now soft and tender, they blend beautifully with the flavors of meat, shrimp, and mussels in a light, refreshing soup that cools your body on a hot summer day.

The salad with crab claw herb has its own sensational flavor. This herb pairs best with stir-fried tiny shrimps or stir-fried beef with onions. The shrimps are crispy, the herb is also crunchy, and the roasted peanuts are even crunchier. Each ingredient brings its own unique crunch, combining into a group that is incredibly harmonious.

The beef is both soft and flavorful, while the onions and crab claw herb hold hands and walk innocently in the sweet, sour, and spicy fish sauce, accompanied by fragrant fried onions. The herb feels truly happy when surrounded by its dear friends, all in harmony to create delicious and flavorful dishes.

But it doesn’t just create delicious food; it also tells a love story. The tale of an unpopular song by a famous musician, and what it believes it witnessed in that nostalgic garden.

“Nostalgic Garden”

It was a rainy afternoon in Hue. The rain drizzled down, and the weather was cold. Then, the sun suddenly rose, casting a golden hue over the mossy tiled roof and the venerable areca trees. The herb quietly observed as the musician stood lost in thought in front of the deserted porch, yearning for the sight of his girlfriend, who always welcomed him with a gentle smile whenever they met.

“Outside the deserted porch, the last drops of winter rain fell.

The sky suddenly became sunny, and the garden filled with young leaves.

Someone asked if the lady was there.

She had gone to the house of marriage.” (*)

The herb had witnessed his girlfriend’s wedding and had also seen her sad tears the afternoon before, as she stood silently in the garden, gazing into the distance. It did not know what she was thinking, only that she had written a long letter to the musician and had received no reply.

Now, the musician returned and wondered in amazement: “which boat had taken away my dear lady”. He blessed the boat “carrying the lady across the river” (a Vietnamese expression meaning a lady getting married) and drank himself “a cup of sorrow”.

“For the boats setting sail in marriage,

I’ll toast with a cup of wine.

For the stormy love affairs,

I will drink a cup of sorrow.” (*)

The rain returned, pattering on the branches and leaves in the garden. The herb stretched out to welcome the coolness of the rain. The musician took one last look at the quiet house and the cold hallway, then gazed at the small gate at the end of the yard, next to the white rose bush trembling in the rain.

“The house stood still, the door was locked.
The garden wept on the darkened walk
Goodbye to the gate at the garden’s end,

How indifferent the white and pink flowers blend.” (*)

At the garden’s end, they sat and talked for hours about endless things, filled with happiness. The lady had planted a white rose tree back then, and a pure, sincere love blossomed during those days.

Near the gate, the musician paused, bending down to admire its heart-shaped, vibrant green leaves. He gently reached out to touch them and whispered:

“Hello, leaves in our nostalgic garden, 

Keep for me the secret of our tender love.” (*)

The herb waved its slender fingers at the musician, vowing to keep the ‘secret of a tender love’ that was both enchanting and beautiful.

* Excerpt from the song “Nostalgic Garden”, composed by Trinh Cong Son in 1993.

Presented by Singer Thai Hoa. 

Disclaimer: This story is a fictional interpretation based on my personal understanding of the song. It is not intended to represent the true story or intentions of the song’s composer.

mlefood – Minh Lê