Banh tet, sweet and savory
Bánh chưng and bánh tét to the Vietnamese Tết are like turkey and ham to the American Thanksgiving. The holiday feast just wouldn’t feel right without them. Although I have blogged about these sticky rice squares and logs before, the lunar new year has come back, and so are they. Sticky rice can be uberfilling in large quantity, and like all festive food, it’s not recommended that you feast on these dense beasts day after day, as satisfaction would turn into tiresomeness. But once a year, or maybe twice, a couple slices of banh tet sound so much more interesting than cereal, rice, even noodle soup.
Banh chung and banh tet have rather similar ingredients, especially when they’re made by Vietnamese Southerners. Both are wrapped in leaves (although slightly different kinds of leaves), and boiled for hours in water that is sometimes spiced with lemongrass. After cooking, a heavy weight is put on banh chung to drain the water, while banh tet are rolled around to perfect the cylindrical shape. I remember we used to hang pairs of banh tet in my grandfather’s kitchen, taking one down everyday during the week of Tet to whip out a nice settling meal with thịt kho trứng (pork and egg stew), dưa giá (pickled bean sprout), and spring rolls. There are the savory kind with meat and mung bean paste, and the vegan kind for those who want to practice self-control on the first day of Tet. In Houston, my mom usually gets the savory kind from Giò Chả Đức Hương, where we also get our cha lua supply, and the vegan kind from Linh Son pagoda. I branched out this year and tried a meaty log from Huong Lan Sandwiches 4 in Milpitas.
Their banh tet measures about 7 inches long, making eight thick nice slices, each has a chunk of fatty pork in the middle, pink and spiced with pepper. The sticky rice coat here gave its leaf wrapping a bit insecure sliminess when we first unraveled, but all was well. The banh tet smelled great, the sticky rice has a tight but soft texture. The seasoned bean paste is just salty enough to intrigue. In some way, banh tet is better than banh chung because every bite guarantees a bit of everything. No piece will miss the meat completely and no bite will get all the meat, the stuffing is even throughout the whole banh. It was honestly good by itself without condiments. Huong Lan Sandwiches had not failed me.
And neither did Thao Tien. When we got there last week in our quail quest, Thao Tien’s employees were busy running a small table pyramidized with banh chung and banh tet. They locate nicely in front of the Grand Century mall, passed by hundreds of people Tet shopping that day. Seeing the sale went like hot cakes (the sticky rice cakes were actually still warm), we were too eager to snatch one home that we forgot to check the tiny white sticker on the side. Surprise, we had grabbed a bánh tét chuối (banana banh tet).
It’s solely vegan. The sticky rice coat is made interesting with dots of black beans on shiny green background. The core is sweet, mushy banana in a reddish purple hue. This is just the usual ivory banana that always ripe too soon, but somehow slow cooking in a compact block of sticky rice wrapped by banana leaves makes the fruit change color. Chemical reactions? It still tastes sweet, with a hint of bitter (for lack of a better word) like a guava skin. And it looks beautiful to me.
The banana banh tet also goes well with my rotisserie chicken from Safeway, minus the guilt of defeating the whole vegan purpose thing. Thao Tien’s logs are also shamelessly long, almost two times bigger than Huong Lan’s. I will be eating banh tet every day for the rest of the week. Happy Tết to bánh tét and me!
Address: Hương Lan Sandwiches 4
41 Serra Way, Ste. 108
Milpitas, CA 95035
1 bánh tét with meat: $6
Thảo Tiên restaurant
Grand Century Mall
1111 Story Road #1080
San Jose, CA 95122
1 vegan banana bánh tét: $10
I’m really inspired with your writing abilities and also with the format on your blog. Is that this a paid subject or did you customize it your self? Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it’s rare to peer a great blog like this one nowadays..
1Magnificent web site. A lot of helpful information here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thank you in your sweat!
2Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
3I do enjoy the way you have framed this specific issue plus it really does present me a lot of fodder for consideration. However, through what I have seen, I basically trust as the actual commentary pile on that men and women stay on point and in no way start on a tirade of some other news du jour. Anyway, thank you for this superb piece and even though I can not agree with it in totality, I value the standpoint.
4fantastic post.Ne’er knew this, thanks for letting me know.
5We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
6Utterly indited subject material, regards for entropy. “Life is God’s novel. Let him write it.” by Isaac Bashevis Singer.
7After I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you may take away me from that service? Thanks!
8Wow, awesome blog structure! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging glance easy. The entire glance of your site is excellent, let alone the content material!
9I reckon something genuinely special in this website.
10You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
11Can I just say what a relief to search out someone who truly is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know how to carry an issue to gentle and make it important. More individuals need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular since you definitely have the gift.
12I am also writing to make you know what a helpful discovery my friend’s princess found reading through your webblog. She figured out plenty of details, most notably how it is like to possess an ideal giving mood to let other people without problems know just exactly various very confusing things. You actually did more than my expectations. Many thanks for producing these effective, safe, edifying not to mention unique thoughts on that topic to Evelyn.
13What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other users like its aided me. Good job.
14I enjoy you because of all of the labor on this web page. My mum take interest in participating in internet research and it’s really easy to see why. All of us learn all relating to the compelling medium you deliver both useful and interesting information through the website and as well as cause response from other individuals on that area of interest plus my princess is in fact learning a whole lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. You’re the one carrying out a wonderful job.
15Superb post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Cheers!
16Hey! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!
17Hey very cool web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
18I conceive this internet site has got very superb pent subject material articles.
19I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website. Studying this information So i am glad to convey that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most undoubtedly will make sure to do not fail to remember this site and provides it a look on a constant basis.
20I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
21I want to express some thanks to you for rescuing me from this type of challenge. Because of searching throughout the the web and obtaining things which are not pleasant, I believed my entire life was gone. Existing without the presence of approaches to the problems you have sorted out through your entire posting is a serious case, as well as ones that would have badly affected my career if I had not noticed the blog. Your main knowledge and kindness in handling almost everything was priceless. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered such a solution like this. I can also at this point relish my future. Thanks very much for this high quality and results-oriented help. I won’t think twice to propose your blog post to any individual who should get tips about this topic.
22After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
23Hello. remarkable job. I did not anticipate this. This is a great story. Thanks!
24Very great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve really loved browsing your weblog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!
25Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your site. You have some really great articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Kudos!
26I gotta bookmark this web site it seems handy invaluable
27Rattling nice layout and good written content, nothing else we require :D.
28I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
29Very good written information. It will be beneficial to anyone who usess it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – looking forward to more posts.
30I’m very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
31This is a very good tips especially to those new to blogosphere, brief and accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article.
32I needed to post you that very small remark to finally say thanks over again on your magnificent knowledge you’ve provided in this article. It is quite incredibly open-handed of you to offer openly all that some people could possibly have supplied as an e book to help make some dough on their own, certainly considering that you could have done it if you ever wanted. These thoughts likewise worked to provide a easy way to fully grasp that many people have the identical eagerness the same as my personal own to learn more and more related to this issue. I am certain there are thousands of more fun situations up front for individuals who view your website.
33https://gnosisbridge.app/
34I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Studying this information So i’m glad to exhibit that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much indisputably will make certain to don’t put out of your mind this website and provides it a glance regularly.
35You are my intake, I possess few blogs and often run out from to brand.
36Its like you learn my mind! You appear to understand a lot about this, such as you wrote the book in it or something. I feel that you just can do with a few percent to force the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
37Hi! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Outstanding blog and excellent style and design.
38You have brought up a very good points, thanks for the post.
39I think other web site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and wonderful user friendly style and design, let alone the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
40Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
41I have read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a excellent informative web site.
42Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any points for inexperienced blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
43Admiring the time and energy you put into your blog and in depth information you provide. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
44There are some interesting points in time on this article however I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There’s some validity however I’ll take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we would like extra! Added to FeedBurner as effectively
45Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same outcome.
46Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a bad conclusion great post! .
47Glad to be one of several visitors on this awful web site : D.
48I conceive this web site holds some rattling fantastic information for everyone :D.
49of course like your website however you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to inform the truth on the other hand I will surely come back again.
50