Austin TX, who knew? Black pepper banh mi
Another day to ride around on Portland's fab transit system and look for lunch. Waiting for the streetcar down the street from our hotel, I visited with a Portland State University girl who suggested a Vietnamese sub bahn mi at the food carts near PSU. We moaned about the rainy weather. She had just returned from Austin TX where it was 102, so was enjoying Portland's coolness. She loved Austin, wanted to move there—"just like Portland only more music and more sun." Well... last week, Bob's brother Norm took a job in Austin and moved there immediately. My nephew Andrew just got a promotion and is moving to Austin next month!
Anyways, I hop off the streetcar at SW 3rd & Harrison to find my first ever banh mi. The gentle mist was turning into pesky rain so I ducked under the awning of the "Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches" cart and ordered up a #1, "Banh Mi Thit – bacon and pork roll". Stalling for dry time, I thought about a drink, another sandwich, maybe an iced coffee but the hungry line of pre-lunchers nudged me back into the wet rain. I couldn't find a dry spot to sit, so I got back on the streetcar and shoved the sandwich in my bag for later. I rode as far as I could, got off at NW 23rd & Northrup, and headed for another awning. By this time it was raining buckets, most of it down my neck.
Coming in out of the pouring rain has magic, comfort, and a sense of well-being. This awning space had chairs and tables so I sat down, ate my sandwich, and thought, "What could be better than this." I was not standing in the pouring rain, the street smelled clean and fresh, and my sandwich was so good it nearly brought me to tears. (Again I am the last one in the loop—banh mi, who knew?) A round-faced, dark-haired girl scurried in carrying a lunch sack and asked if she could join me. As I was a squatter anyway, I graciously beckoned her in. Her name is Miss Frankie Tease, she teaches ballroom dancing, books acts for local burlesque theaters, and used to be a pole dancer. "I loved the dancing, hated the men." She made a decent living, but the house took a hefty cut of her tips and the smoke made her nauseous, so after two years she moved on. "Burlesque is making a comeback in Portland, but Seattle's scene is booming!" Who knew? She said that I must go to Refuge on SE Yamhill and see Portland's Wanderlust Circus.
Of course, Frankie was just back from a trip to (pause) Austin visiting her sister! Loved Austin, hated the heat, couldn't get enough of the "scene", enjoyed the lakes?? (Lakes in Austin? Who knew?), and was thinking of moving there. Eventually, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Frankie's ride came by to pick her up and I got back on the streetcar. I truly expected that when Bob got home, he would announce an upcoming project in Austin.
Here's my take on a banh mi, but for the real thing go to: www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/06/banh-mi-sandwich-recipe.
There are also video instructions on YouTube.
Anyways, I hop off the streetcar at SW 3rd & Harrison to find my first ever banh mi. The gentle mist was turning into pesky rain so I ducked under the awning of the "Vietnamese Banh Mi Sandwiches" cart and ordered up a #1, "Banh Mi Thit – bacon and pork roll". Stalling for dry time, I thought about a drink, another sandwich, maybe an iced coffee but the hungry line of pre-lunchers nudged me back into the wet rain. I couldn't find a dry spot to sit, so I got back on the streetcar and shoved the sandwich in my bag for later. I rode as far as I could, got off at NW 23rd & Northrup, and headed for another awning. By this time it was raining buckets, most of it down my neck.
Coming in out of the pouring rain has magic, comfort, and a sense of well-being. This awning space had chairs and tables so I sat down, ate my sandwich, and thought, "What could be better than this." I was not standing in the pouring rain, the street smelled clean and fresh, and my sandwich was so good it nearly brought me to tears. (Again I am the last one in the loop—banh mi, who knew?) A round-faced, dark-haired girl scurried in carrying a lunch sack and asked if she could join me. As I was a squatter anyway, I graciously beckoned her in. Her name is Miss Frankie Tease, she teaches ballroom dancing, books acts for local burlesque theaters, and used to be a pole dancer. "I loved the dancing, hated the men." She made a decent living, but the house took a hefty cut of her tips and the smoke made her nauseous, so after two years she moved on. "Burlesque is making a comeback in Portland, but Seattle's scene is booming!" Who knew? She said that I must go to Refuge on SE Yamhill and see Portland's Wanderlust Circus.
Of course, Frankie was just back from a trip to (pause) Austin visiting her sister! Loved Austin, hated the heat, couldn't get enough of the "scene", enjoyed the lakes?? (Lakes in Austin? Who knew?), and was thinking of moving there. Eventually, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Frankie's ride came by to pick her up and I got back on the streetcar. I truly expected that when Bob got home, he would announce an upcoming project in Austin.
Here's my take on a banh mi, but for the real thing go to: www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/06/banh-mi-sandwich-recipe.
There are also video instructions on YouTube.
Black Pepper Banh Mi
1 pound thinly sliced pork loin chops
1 thin baquette—best quality available
Marinade:
- 2 cloves crushed garlic
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of sesame seed oil
- Condiments may include: shredded carrot, cucumber, daikon, mayonnaise, chili paste, hot chiles, lemongrass, tofu
Combine ingredients for marinade, mix well, and place in a plastic bag. Add slices of pork, marinate for at least 1 hour.
Heat frying pan to medium-hot, brown slices of pork, one layer at a time. When one side is cooked, flip to other side to finish cooking.
Assemble sandwich to include: sauteed pork slices, shredded vegetables, condiments, mayonnaise (There is raging controversy about whether or not an authentic banh mi should include mayonnaise, but I'm firmly on the side of "yes."), and a squirt of Maggi seasoning.
I'll bet that slices of cooked chicken or turkey would work too.
Posted by Marla Nichols at 6/18/2011 10:37 AM 
Categories: Lunch, Pork, Sandwich, Asian
Tags: Austin TX Portland Portland food carts Banh mi Seattle burlesque Maggi seasoning Wanderlust Circus
Categories: Lunch, Pork, Sandwich, Asian
Tags: Austin TX Portland Portland food carts Banh mi Seattle burlesque Maggi seasoning Wanderlust Circus
Did Frankie even take a breath? Sounds like she's a talker!!
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Kathy, all the descriptions of Austin seem right on. Bloody hot, but worth it for the music, food and fun. I'm looking forward to the summer being over for the first time in my life so I can actually sit outside and enjoy a meal. I'll be hoping Bob gets a stop in Austin and by then I'll have toured most of the food trucks in this city.
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Austin is indeed wonderful - that's coming from a resident!
My take on a vegan banh mi - http://dietiscorrect.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/thai-sandwich/
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