Com tam at a tiny joint in Oakland Chinatown
A guy waved a bottle in front of me. “Nesquik?”, he asked. I shook my head no thanks. Five seconds after he walked away, I realized my stupidity. I missed a free bottle of Nesquik! I don’t remember drinking Nesquik for the past 15 years, or ever, but I know what it tastes like, and I like chocolate. Why did I say no?!
Because I live in Berkeley. One thing Berkeley trains you very well for is saying no. Each time you walk pass a homeless man or woman, whether he or she asks for spare change or curses you off or shouts “nice dress”, you silently say no. Each time an activist steps up to you and says “Hi how’s it going? Would you have a minute to talk about …?” and you can barely tell what it’s about because he or she squeezes those two sentences in the hundredth of a second you lift your foot, you say no, usually with a smile because you feel bad. So you prepare this automatic respond when a stranger sticks something under your nose: No thank you. And you end up missing the free Nesquik.
But Berkeley also makes you nicer. And it’s not because the hippies convince you about world peace or anything. First it’s because you travel by bus. The bus always comes late, and not everyone sitting next to you has showered in the past 30 days, so you learn patience. Second, it’s because, as the saying goes, “it’s Berkeley, you can do anything“, and people, including you, wouldn’t bat an eye, so you learn acceptance. Then there’s the protests (boy do Berkeley students love protests, although those never yield any result beside some kid ending up behind a police car). I could list a dozen other reasons. But mostly, it’s because you see everybody from every corner of the world. My first encounters with the Serbian, Iranian, Bosnian, Tibetan, Korean, Japanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian people, and the smell of marijuana all happened in Berkeley. And those encounters (except the marijuana) quickly became friendships.
So I used to get a little uneasy, and I’m ashamed to admit this because I know it’s mean, when I saw Chinese people selling Vietnamese food. Here’s what I think: they don’t make it right, so they shouldn’t call it Vietnamese food. (I’m disturbed when Vietnamese people sell bad Vietnamese food too, because that’s disrespecting your own people.) And I avoided Vietnamese restaurants owned by Chinese. But when I strolled all over Oakland Chinatown last week, there were some occasional raindrops, the sky was grey, it was getting cold, and I just visited the Japanese Buddhist Church for the O-bon festival. All of those things put me in an exceptionally good mood. Although I set out to find Vietnamese snacks, it quickly became clear that I wasn’t going to find any, so when I walked by a window sign of “banh mi, bun bo Hue, banh canh” and a list of other Vietnamese staples, I caved.
Five minutes later, I ordered a cơm tấm (broken rice) with grilled pork “for here”. The lady pointed me to Table 2 (Let’s refer to her as Lady 2 from now on, many ladies worked at this joint). I put down my bags.
Then she exchanged a couple of words including “xiè xiè” to a couple sitting at Table 4. Yep. It’s Chinese people selling Vietnamese food.
Well, that’s okay, I diverted my gaze to the TV, Lady 2 also made herself a bowl of noodle soup and watched a Vietnamese movie while eating. It was hard to hear the TV because the following things happened during the course of my dinner: a customer dashed out into the street while Lady 2 shouting after him in Vietnamese to tell him to run slower, Table 4 chatted loudly in Chinese upon his return, Vietnamese customers coming in to buy banh mi and cha lua to go (the only dine-in people were Chinese and me), and as I scooped up the few last spoons of rice, a fight broke out outside, which caused Lady 2 and everyone else rushing to the street. I had to stop Lady 2 to pay, her eyes still directed a yearning gaze door-ward.
When I told my mom about the fight, she suggested against going back to such place, who knows when the fight will take place in the restaurant. I see her point, but I think I’d risk it. The com tam, and that includes the grilled pork, the broken rice, the nuoc mam and the pickled carrots and daikons floating in it, was beyond perfect. 🙂
Price: $6.75
Address: Ba-Lê Deli, Coffee, Restaurant
812 Franklin St (between 8th and 9th St.)
Oakland, CA
(510) 465-3522
I saw a lot of website but I conceive this one has something special in it in it
1Would love to constantly get updated great web blog! .
2I truly enjoy looking at on this web site, it has great content. “Never fight an inanimate object.” by P. J. O’Rourke.
3That is the best blog for anyone who desires to find out about this topic. You realize so much its virtually laborious to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You positively put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just great!
4Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a speculative decision outstanding post! .
5I don’t ordinarily comment but I gotta say regards for the post on this perfect one :D.
6I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thank you for all the great posts.
7I think other website proprietors should take this web site as an example , very clean and great user pleasant design and style.
8Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossips and net and this is actually frustrating. A good blog with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this web site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
9A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular publish incredible. Great job!
10Hi there would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price? Cheers, I appreciate it!
11Nearly all of whatever you state is supprisingly accurate and that makes me ponder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this in this light previously. Your piece truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this particular issue goes. Nevertheless there is just one factor I am not really too cozy with so while I attempt to reconcile that with the core theme of the point, permit me see exactly what the rest of the subscribers have to say.Well done.
12I really enjoy reading on this web site, it has excellent content. “A man of genius has been seldom ruined but by himself.” by Samuel Johnson.
13Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
14Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
15You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
16Great web site. A lot of helpful information here. I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you to your effort!
17I envy your piece of work, thanks for all the informative content.
18Dead pent written content, Really enjoyed studying.
19Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
20Hi there, I found your blog by way of Google whilst looking for a similar subject, your website came up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
21I’ll immediately clutch your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me recognise in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
22Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that “perfect balance” between usability and appearance. I must say you’ve done a great job with this. Additionally, the blog loads very quick for me on Firefox. Excellent Blog!
23What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Good job.
24I will immediately clutch your rss feed as I can not to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me understand so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
25It’s really a great and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
26Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
27certainly like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.
28Real fantastic information can be found on website.
29I really like your writing style, good info, appreciate it for posting :D. “All words are pegs to hang ideas on.” by Henry Ward Beecher.
30I enjoy you because of each of your efforts on this site. My mother delights in working on internet research and it’s really simple to grasp why. Most of us notice all about the lively mode you convey very important guidance via the website and as well cause contribution from the others on that concern while our favorite girl is actually learning a lot of things. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the new year. You’re the one doing a wonderful job.
31Some genuinely nice stuff on this web site, I enjoy it.
32Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
33You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
34Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
35Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
36Would you be taken with exchanging links?
37The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
38I rattling thankful to find this site on bing, just what I was looking for : D besides bookmarked.
39After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
40Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a perfect site.
41It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
42I truly enjoy reading through on this web site, it holds good blog posts.
43Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My website is in the exact same niche as yours and my users would certainly benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this alright with you. Many thanks!
44Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “To be 70 years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be 40 years old.” by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
45hey there and thank you for your info – I have definitely picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this website, since I experienced to reload the website a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this again soon..
46Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.
47What’s Going down i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It positively useful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other users like its aided me. Good job.
48Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
49I wanted to post a quick message to appreciate you for those unique guides you are placing here. My long internet research has finally been rewarded with reputable insight to talk about with my classmates and friends. I would suppose that many of us site visitors are very much endowed to exist in a decent place with very many special people with very beneficial concepts. I feel pretty grateful to have used your web page and look forward to many more brilliant moments reading here. Thanks once again for a lot of things.
50