Sandwich shop goodies 12 – Chuối nếp nướng (grilled banana in sticky rice)
They all look the same. A myriad of things wrapped in wilted banana leaves sitting on the counter at a banh mi shop. Few patrons seem to notice the snacks as they occupy themselves with sandwich orders and the more meal-like rice or noodle to-gos, so much to the extent that the sellers too have little interest in selling their counter treats. Humbly, I point to these slender, charred and dry parcels piled in a box near the Pockys and inquire about their name. The hostess throws me half a glance infused with boredom, “Chuối nướng,” she moves her lips. So “grilled banana” they are.
It takes an utterly simple form: a banana inside a sticky rice shell inside a banana leaf, charcoal grilled. Crispy, then chewy, then gooey sweet it goes as you sink your teeth through the bounteousness. It’s the factoriless meatless corn dog sans wooden stick of Southern Vietnam. Children would wait around old grandmas in the ‘hood to watch them grill the banana dogs and drool; adults would grab the banana dogs for breakfast, lunch, or late night snack when a wind chills and the grill warms.
It’s one of those things that can’t go wrong. Some cook the sticky rice plain, then serve the grilled dog sectioned and bathed in coconut milk with a pinch of sesame salt or peanut salt. Others do it My Tho style: the sticky rice is cooked in coconut milk and later mixed with coconut shavings before wrapped and grilled. Many cloth their nana dogs with just a band of nana leaf, mainly for easy handling of the sticky rice on the grill and near other dogs, but the dogs get crispier too. Meanwhile, Ba Lẹ ladies bundle up their dogs like they would with bánh tét, less charred, more aroma from the leaves.
Like banana bread pudding, banana dogs are exclusively made with chuoi su, a solid, stout, dense and white banana that grows like weed in the Asian tropics but is nonexistent in the States. The sad substitute Cavendish lacks consistency and sweetness and gooeyness. Yet, chuối nếp nướng still hits the spot like waltzing in the rain.
These nana ricewiches, as Noodlepie lovingly nicknamed, were 2000VND a steal (~10 US cents with the current exchange rate) in 2005. In 2007 the Gastronomer took the bite for 3000VND. I have no idea how much they cost now on the Saigon streets, with crazy inflation it might just be 10000 for all I know. But here at Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ in Oakland, nana dogs will go home with you for $1.75 each.
Address: Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ (East Oakland)
1909 International Blvd
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 261-9800
Previously on Sandwich Shop Goodies: khoai mì hấp (steamed cassava)
Next on Sandwich Shop Goodies: Bánh xu xê (couple cookie)
Great post, you have pointed out some excellent details , I as well believe this s a very great website.
1Very interesting subject, appreciate it for putting up.
2I used to be suggested this web site through my cousin. I’m not sure whether or not this post is written by means of him as nobody else know such specified about my trouble. You are amazing! Thank you!
3I have been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Studying this information So i am happy to exhibit that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I most no doubt will make certain to don’t forget this website and give it a glance on a constant basis.
4Very well written story. It will be helpful to anyone who usess it, as well as yours truly :). Keep up the good work – can’r wait to read more posts.
5Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
6Of course, what a splendid site and illuminating posts, I will bookmark your blog.Best Regards!
7I’ve read several good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you place to make any such excellent informative site.
8Those are yours alright! . We at least need to get these people stealing images to start blogging! They probably just did a image search and grabbed them. They look good though!
9This is really attention-grabbing, You’re an overly professional blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for looking for more of your fantastic post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
10Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
11I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
12Sweet web site, super design, real clean and employ pleasant.
13Great blog! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
14Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Awesome blog by the way!
15I got what you mean ,saved to bookmarks, very nice site.
16What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & assist other users like its helped me. Great job.
17Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
18Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
19hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical points using this website, since I experienced to reload the site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again soon..
20Hi there, simply changed into aware of your weblog via Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate in case you continue this in future. A lot of other people will likely be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
21Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
22I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
23Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
24Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
25There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in options also.
26Wow! Thank you! I permanently wanted to write on my website something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my site?
27I really appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
28Its like you learn my mind! You seem to understand so much about this, such as you wrote the e book in it or something. I think that you just could do with some to pressure the message home a little bit, however other than that, that is excellent blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
29you’re really a just right webmaster. The website loading pace is amazing. It seems that you are doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you’ve performed a magnificent task on this topic!
30I’d must check with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I enjoy reading a submit that can make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
31Great write-up, I am regular visitor of one’s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
32An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
33Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
34I’m no longer sure where you’re getting your info, however good topic. I must spend some time learning much more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic info I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
35As a Newbie, I am permanently exploring online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
36After study just a few of the blog posts on your web site now, and I truly like your approach of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and shall be checking back soon. Pls check out my site as effectively and let me know what you think.
37I have recently started a site, the information you provide on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
38Keep up the excellent piece of work, I read few posts on this internet site and I think that your blog is real interesting and contains bands of fantastic information.
39I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
40I’m not sure why but this website is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
41I was just looking for this info for a while. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your web site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Usually the top sites are full of garbage.
42Fantastic blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Thanks a lot!
43I’ve learn some excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much effort you place to make any such excellent informative web site.
44I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
45You are my aspiration, I own few blogs and occasionally run out from to post : (.
46Whats Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve discovered It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid other customers like its aided me. Great job.
47Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
48You have brought up a very excellent details , thanks for the post.
49Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design.
50