I’m not into bread. I hate how it sticks to my teeth and the roof of my mouth. I especially don’t dig white bread. I will occasionally indulge in some whole grain or some seedy rye bread. I like my bread on the dense side. It needs to feel like a piece of lead. I’m not anti-carbs; I just don’t really dig bread.

However, I have been obsessed with ethnic sandwiches. I had a dream about making Cuban sandwiches. Except, my dream Cuban consisted of roasted pork, apple slices and brie. I have yet to try making that concoction; but man, was it good…in my dream! Another ethnic sandwich I been dying to try is called a “banh mi”. It hails from Vietnam, and it’s all the rage these days. Lucky for me, there happens to be an Asian Supermarket/Mall in my neighborhood. There’s a little sandwich shop tucked away in the corner of this “mall”.

The place is called Le’s Banh Mi. Walking into the mall is a little sketchy. I kinda got the feeling like I was going to get assaulted. Yeah, it’s that shady of a place; but once you turn the corner, there’s a brightly lit and clean sandwich shop! The man behind the counter is super friendly and very helpful in making the best selection. I was also delighted to find little desserts that resemble things I enjoyed in the Philippines. The price was jaw-dropping. My sandwich was a mere $3.79…after tax!

Here it is:

Le’s Banh Mi #6

It was the freshest, flakiest, sandwich! The bread was so light and crispy. It didn’t stick to the roof of my mouth. It’s like a petite baguette…only lighter. The grilled pork was the perfect combination of savory and sweet. I really liked the shredded carrots and daikon relish. There is also sliced cucumbers and fresh jalepeno. The cilantro really adds a level of crispy freshness. The drive home was brutal. I wanted to sit in the parking lot and dig in!

This just might make me a believer in bread!

THF