Tofu Sandwich
My sister writes a blog about food on which she occasionally ruminates about her life; I write a blog about my life on which I occasionally offer meandering thoughts about food.
Today I sing the praises of the Vietnamese tofu sandwich, a delicacy which these days is probably my favorite portable lunch. It’s a variation, of course, on the more authentic Vietnamese pork sandwich (Bahn Mi Thit), but being a namby-pamby plant-eater, I routinely opt for the meatless version.
The sandwich is a testament to the unexpected positive effects of imperialism and colonialism, of which, I guess, Vietnamese cuisine in general (at least as we get it in the States) is an example of overall. It’s not quite the same as Marco Polo running into Kubla Khan and inventing spaghetti, but I’d reckon it equal to the happy accident of peanut butter and chocolate that led to Reese’s Cups.
The French, during their abortive regime in Indochina, apparently introduced the baguette into the local diet and the Bahn Mi, in its various incarnations—pork, beef, chicken, and soy bean—flourished.
In the version that I usually get, at the hugely understated (actually, kind of gross-looking, at least from the outside) Saigon Deli on the edge of the International District, the torpedo-shaped mini-baguette (5 inches or so) is cut open lengthwise and then the following is laid inside: cucumber slices, cilantro, julienned daikon radish, super hot green peppers, some sort of soy (or maybe fish, I hope not) paste, mayonnaise, and a handful of deep-fried tofu.
The sandwich is then heated for a few minutes in a microwave, wrapped in waxy paper secured with a thin red rubber band, and handed to me in a plastic bag with napkins.
All for the staggering sum of $1.75.
The guy behind the counter usually asks me how many I want when I order; one is generally enough, but they’re so good, (and cheap!) I can easily eat (and afford!) two.
Today I sing the praises of the Vietnamese tofu sandwich, a delicacy which these days is probably my favorite portable lunch. It’s a variation, of course, on the more authentic Vietnamese pork sandwich (Bahn Mi Thit), but being a namby-pamby plant-eater, I routinely opt for the meatless version.
The sandwich is a testament to the unexpected positive effects of imperialism and colonialism, of which, I guess, Vietnamese cuisine in general (at least as we get it in the States) is an example of overall. It’s not quite the same as Marco Polo running into Kubla Khan and inventing spaghetti, but I’d reckon it equal to the happy accident of peanut butter and chocolate that led to Reese’s Cups.
The French, during their abortive regime in Indochina, apparently introduced the baguette into the local diet and the Bahn Mi, in its various incarnations—pork, beef, chicken, and soy bean—flourished.
In the version that I usually get, at the hugely understated (actually, kind of gross-looking, at least from the outside) Saigon Deli on the edge of the International District, the torpedo-shaped mini-baguette (5 inches or so) is cut open lengthwise and then the following is laid inside: cucumber slices, cilantro, julienned daikon radish, super hot green peppers, some sort of soy (or maybe fish, I hope not) paste, mayonnaise, and a handful of deep-fried tofu.
The sandwich is then heated for a few minutes in a microwave, wrapped in waxy paper secured with a thin red rubber band, and handed to me in a plastic bag with napkins.
All for the staggering sum of $1.75.
The guy behind the counter usually asks me how many I want when I order; one is generally enough, but they’re so good, (and cheap!) I can easily eat (and afford!) two.
posted by Professor Dave at 4:22 PM
3 Comments:
Vietnamese sandwhich places have been popping up in east Portland too. Here they tend to be 12" versions for $2.25.
And they're great.
Regarding plant-eating, did you see Michael Pollan's article in this past Sunday's NY Times Magazine? It's called "Nutritionism," and is, as usual, a really well-argued defense of more traditional eating than is practiced in America today.
mmmmmmmmmm. I moved to texas ( no comment) from seattle and miss them like no tomorrow- cannot beat the price or the happy tummy in the end!
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