Bun Bo Hue Bowl and Steaming Pot Painting

Red broth bowl at the centre, steaming pot behind

The bowl of bun bo Hue sits in the middle of the lower half, on a blue and cream plate. The broth is chilli red, with rice noodles, dark slices of beef, a pale round slice of pork and a sprig of coriander on top. A pale lemongrass stalk leans out over the rim on the right.

Behind it a metal pot gives off thick steam, and a cook’s hand reaches over it from the left. A lacquered pot of chopsticks and spoons stands beside it. To the right, a bowl holds shredded greens, herbs and a purple leaf.

Small bowls of chilli, lime and green onion in front

Across the front edge, four small blue and white bowls hold sliced red chilli, lime halves, chopped green onion and a dark red sauce. A fifth bowl of green slices sits at the right. Their bright red and green dots stand out against the dark table, and the table’s glossy surface picks up their reflections.

Thick oil strokes in brown, amber and red

The palette is mostly deep brown and amber gold, with chilli red as the one strong accent. The strokes are loose and heavy on the wooden beams and the steam, and tighter on the bowl rims and the garnishes. Light comes from the window at right and from the paper lantern hanging at the top.

Through the doorway at the back, two seated figures in grey tones sit in a bright side room, which gives the scene depth beyond the table.

A portrait food scene for warm dining rooms and kitchens

The vertical format and the brown and amber palette suit dining rooms, kitchens and restaurant walls where wood or cream tones already dominate. The red bowl gives a clear focal point, so the painting works well on a single wall at eye level.

FAQ

What garnishes sit in the small bowls at the front?

The small blue and white bowls hold sliced red chilli, lime halves and chopped green onion. Another bowl on the right has green slices, and a bowl on the left holds a dark red sauce.

What is leaning in the bowl of broth?

A pale lemongrass stalk rises from the right side of the bowl and leans past the rim. Beef slices, a pale pork slice and a coriander sprig lie in the red broth.

Who sits in the doorway behind the steaming pot?

Two anonymous seated figures appear in a bright room beyond the doorway, one in a grey shirt seen from behind. A cook's hand reaches over the steaming pot at the left.

Do the brown, amber and chilli red tones suit a dining room wall?

Yes, the brown, amber and chilli red palette suits dining rooms, kitchens and restaurants with wood or cream walls. The portrait format fits a single wall at eye level.