“Thai bai” is a kind of fish that is as small as the chopsticks’ end and similary to a goby. The small fish, called “ca kim” by the local people, has two different kinds, one is white from its head to tail and the other almost white except a dark red line on the back.
They mostly concentrate on the ending source of Tra river, that is, Khue Nam, Tinh Khe commune, Son Tinh district and often appear in spring months, from December to March in the lunar calendar and do not in the other months. They live in groups. They swim around in the day and move to sand dunes, and hollow and clear places for sleeping in the night. In spring, Tra river water is as clear as the sky. Sitting on small boats to quietly move along the river or hide behind somewhere in the river banks to look at the clear river, we will see “thai bai” move in groups. It is as beautiful as a red and white soft silk ribbon. Knowing their characteristics and lifestyle, fishermen make sand dunes in the long line to entice them into a “do” (a thin and solid bamboo basket) put at the river beginning source. “Thai bai” will successively fall into the “do” where is sometimes full and necessary to be poured up into “thung, mung” (small bamboo baskets) for next time of catching.
“Thai bai” is a rare and valuable kind of fish. It is more expensive than Tra river goby, approximately 40,000 – 50,000 VND per kilo. However expensive, people who have tasted them once or many times rarely consider expensiveness to be important. Wherever they are sold in the market, people will buy them right away so that they could enjoy them with family or friends. Quang people often steam, fry or deep-fry “thai bai”, of which frying is popular for many people. Ater being cleaned “thai bai” with water and spiced for a few minutes, they are put into a frying fan after it is hot enough with some cooking oil and onion for frying with small flames in 10 minutes. When they are done, they are put into a big plate and served with vegetables and “banh trang” (white rice cake), particularly the thick and delicious kinds of “banh trang”. Men often enjoy them with Bau Da wine (a famous kind of wine in Binh Dinh Province).
“Thai bai” is extremely delicious with its strange and fascinating taste which could not be described by words. If you have ever visited Quang Ngai Province and had any chances to enjoy “thai bai”, you will not only remember the rural but delicious speciality but also warm sentiments of Quang Ngai people.
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