Food

What kind of 8 inch delicious and filling sandwich can you get for less than 3 bucks? And no, I am not talking about a chicken sandwich from your local fast food chain. It is the Vietnamese Sandwich “Banh Mi” of course! Vietnamese sandwiches are cheap, tasty and a quick way to feed your appetite whether it is breakfast (yes I did say breakfast), lunch, dinner, or a snack.

Is the spring roll trend here to stay? Am I the only one who has noticed one of the biggest trends right now in food is the “spring roll”? It is really funny how something that is considered a simple, common food for Vietnamese people has become such a huge hit. From happy hour to school bake sales to five star restaurants, the spring roll is the hippest item on the menu and does not show any signs of losing its popularity. Suffice it to say, I will go out on a limb and say that the spring roll is giving the burrito a run for its money. What can be found for $1 a roll or 3 for $2.50 in little Vietnamese restaurants or bakeries packaged on a foam plate and wrapped with plastic wrap, can take on a whole new look at $10 for 2 rolls sliced diagonally and places decoratively on a nice plate with some type of garnish.

It’s been over a week since Tet, and thanks to a huge number of loving relatives, I find myself knee high in banh tet and banh chung. There’s way too much to store or freeze, eating all of that is out of the question, I have no intention of hoarding it, and it’s a bit late for re-gifting, so I’ve been a bit at a loss as to what to do. After much thought, I’ve come up with the following list. All tradition and reverence aside, I present to you the Top Ten Things to Do With Surplus Banh Tet and Banh Chung.

Tommorow is Tet - hope everyone has a great new year! In preparation of the celebration, I’m going to write about the various ways Banh Chung can be prepared.