Mostly Foodie and Artsy Fartsy Stuff by Jenn
There’s just something about apple turnovers that makes you just want to huddle by a fire and read a good book. It’s one of those universal comfort foods that both brings us back to childhood and makes us feel a slight sophistication by eating such a dainty pastry. I decided to add an Asian addition to this traditionally Western desert by adding…yes, you guessed it, Chinese Five Spice!
When people hear of Vietnamese street food, they automatically think of banh mi. Although it’s known to be essentially “fast food”, I’m glad to see this sandwich style making its way into both upscale restaurants and food trucks alike in this nation.
Banh mi is simply translated as “sandwich”. So, what makes a banh mi sandwich different from others? The answer is in the toppings! Rather than your boring lettuce-tomato-onion topping in your plain Jane sandwich, imagine biting into crisp cilantro, cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon, fresh serrano peppers, and pate!
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Growing up, my dad would brew himself his routine cup of coffee flavored with a heaping spoon of condensed milk every morning. My sister and I were allowed the occasional sip here and there, but never had a full brew to ourselves for fear that the caffeine would stunt our growth. Now, we’re the tallest women in our extended family, taller than a few men in fact. I’m currently 25 years old, 5 foot 6 inches tall, and I’m glad to report that I had an actual full cup of Vietnamese coffee all to myself this morning! But something was off…it was absolutely delicious, however not exactly how I remembered it as a kid. Same brand coffee, same brand condensed milk, same coffee to milk ratio…what was I doing wrong?
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Pickled carrots and daikon, Vietnam’s equivalent to bread and butter pickles. I can just eat these babies plain with a small bowl of rice, and in fact I have. I prefer to eat omnivore-light; and for those who’ve never heard the term, it means I’m not exactly a vegetarian, but I try to cut out meat when I can, and let me tell you, pickled carrots and daikon make for a great vegetarian snack! These lightly pickled and julienned veggies can be added to almost anything! It’s perfect if you need a sweet and yet slightly sour crunch to your dish. It’s generally used in banh mi sandwiches, dry noodle bowls, meat and rice plates, spring rolls, and many more delectable dishes.
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I wanted to take this chance to show off an awesome gift I received. Is it neurotic of me to be so excited about a mortar and pestle? Because well, I am. There’s just something therapeutic about the rustic technique of grinding your own food with cold stone dug from the earth and allowing the aroma of whatever it is you’re crushing to take over you. I adore my handy dandy food processor, don’t get me wrong, but using a mortar and pestle allows you to connect with your food on a whole other level.
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For 2 months in 2006, I lived in Nha Trang, a beach front town in South Vietnam where my mom currently resides. It’s a beautiful and somewhat touristy town with delicious food. One of my favorite parts of the day was waking up in the morning and deciding which street food vendor I would try next. Unlike most urban American street vendors, where you have your standard pretzel, hot dog, or falafel carts, the vendors in Vietnam serve a smorgasbord of different dishes. On one corner, you can treat yourself to beef noodle soup. If you go down a block, you can gorge on savory sizzling crepes. Kitty corner from that vendor, you can indulge in a brothy seafood soup.
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