Craig Claiborne was once asked to name the world's ten greatest cuisines. "French, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese,...," he began - but most Americans have had little exposure to this classic cuisine. The foods of Vietnam are simultaneously colorful, distinctive, and unique in their freshness and lightness. More so than in other Asian cuisines, fresh raw vegetables, and salads figure prominently in the meal, and oils are used sparingly . These traits combine to make Vietnamese food rich in flavors but still extremely wholesome and healthy. It has In fact been referred to as the "nouvelle cuisine of the East."