Iga Food Journal

     A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH VIETNAM Vietnam, a country located in the Indo-China region of Southeast Asia, boasts a rich and diverse culinary tradition. Vietnamese cuisine has evolved from a combination of local culture influenced by centuries of Chinese dominance, French colonization, and interactions with neighboring countries such as Laos and Cambodia. The result is a cuisine that blends fresh ingredients, distinctive herbal aromas, and a complex yet delicate combination of flavors. Vietnam’s long and narrow geography, stretching from the mountains in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south, significantly influences the ingredients used and cooking styles across the country. Northern regions favor light flavors and clear soups, while southern regions prefer sweeter tastes and stronger spices. Central Vietnam often combines these approaches, creating a rich and unique culinary diversity. Vietnamese cuisine emphasizes flavor balance, health, and aesthetic ...

         In recent years, Indonesia has witnessed a variety of food trends emerging and disappearing rapidly. Among them, the croffle—a hybrid pastry combining a croissant and a waffle—has become one of the most resilient. First gaining popularity around mid-2020 during the pandemic era, croffle quickly became a bestseller in cafés, dessert shops, and home-based businesses. Surprisingly, even in 2025, this trend has not completely faded. Instead, croffle continues to evolve with new flavors, concepts, and marketing strategies that successfully maintain consumer interest. According to an article from Kompas Lifestyle (2023), croffle began gaining widespread attention after being popularized by South Korean celebrity Kang Min-kyung on social media, inspiring many bakeries and local entrepreneurs to adopt the product into their menus. This exposure had a strong impact on Indonesian culinary culture, where food trends driven by digital virality spread rapidly among ...