What is a Banh Mi?

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

The banh mi has been called the "po-boy of the East" (ok, I may have just coined that term...). It's a Vietnamese sandwich that has endless variations. It can be found in restaurants and street carts all over Vietnam, and lucky for us, it can be found right here in Atlanta (and on our menu this week!) 

With the French colonization of Vietnam came the introduction of the baguette. Possibly the best kind of bread, am I right? With a banh mi, it's all about the crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside crunch of a baguette. Once you've got your bread, pick your protein: pork, chicken, tofu, etc. Then the best part, the toppings! The toppings are usually pickled veggies like carrots & daikon radish and fresh herbs like cilantro & mint. Top it with a homemade mayo and you've got yourself a banh mi! 

As with all of Chef Nick Melvin's recipes, this banh mi has a few Southern twists that make it amazing! We start with an H&F baguette, slathered with homemade rooster mayo. As I type, Pine Street Market is making a delicous burger mix of ground bacon, beef & spices. Top this with Doux South's Chow Chow, spicy jalapeno and fresh herbs and in less than 30 minutes you're on your way to banh mi heaven!

When you're not making your own masterpiece at home, Atlanta has a few great spots to hit for your banh mi fix. For a classic Vietnamese spot, check out Lee's Bakery on Buford Highway. For a more modern, locally-sourced spot, head over to East Atlanta and try We Suki Suki. 

Photo credit: Lee's Bakery