Sandwich Shop Goodies 13 – Bánh xu xê (couple cookie)
When you reach(ed) mid 20s, don’t you just hear all sort of marriage announcements popping up among your social circle? By the time of college graduation, half the girls I know have gotten their wedding registry up on Facebook, and I thought okay it’s just an American thing (the wedding I mean, though the registry is American too). Then this past Christmas my best college friend missed our annual reunion for his big day in India, and another pal who I thought was still wandering the streets of Chengdu dropped the bomb that he’s engaged. Then I got news that two of my eleventh grade buddies in Vietnam are going to say the vows (not to each other) within this year. Then it really hits me.
I haven’t written about any wedding party food, even though I’ve been to many weddings :D. So why not celebrate this year’s Valentine’s day with a Vietnamese confection whose name derives from the main characters of any wedding: bánh xu xê, originally called bánh phu thê, or “husband (and) wife”?
My translation “couple cookie” is for the sake of consonant concordance. They are similar to neither American cookie, Scottish cookie nor British cookie. These little bouncy sweet green pillows get their names from being gift desserts at Vietnamese couples’ engagements back in the day, when they used banana leaves to make little boxes instead of a double layer of cellophane wrapper. At one point the adults called them bánh phu thê, then the kids mispronounced it to bánh xu xê (|soo-seh|) and the name stuck. Technique-wise, it takes a grandmother’s experience to make a mixture of sticky rice flour, arrowroot starch and water into a translucent jello casing that is resilient but not sticky. Some of us might find its crunch-chewy texture too rubbery, other would question its lack of flavor, but the skill of transforming ingredients alone is admirable, and I like chewing. 🙂 In fact I like the outer layer more than the filling.
Traditionally, taro cut into strips are mixed with the cooked batter to give onyx-like patterns, while the modern concoctions can have sesame seeds on top or dry coconut strips within to spice up the homogeneity. The fancy pâtissiers of old Northern Vietnam villages might also sprinkle a few drops of pomelo flower extract into the mung bean paste filling for enhancing fragrance. But I wouldn’t expect that from our local sandwich shops in the States, not when it’s less than $2 for a pack of four.
It’s the kind of sweet you either love or hate. My mom loves it. The Gastronomer suggests using it to pelt your loved ones. It’s the perfect representation of a marriage really, and I’m not talking about the symbolic meaning of glutinous rice (bonding) and all. Its shiny outlook is inviting – everybody likes to get married, then you take a bite and find it tough, lackluster, disappointing, at the least not quite as expected – the post-wedding depression, then you get to the core and discover some tender sweetness after all. 🙂
Got ’em from: Alpha Bakery & Deli (inside Hong Kong City Mall)
11209 Bellaire Blvd # C-02
Houston, TX 77072-2548
(281) 988-5222
Previously on Sandwich Shop Goodies: chuối nếp nướng (grilled banana in sticky rice)
Next on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bánh da lợn (pig skin pie)
Thanks for another informative website. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such an ideal way? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
1Hi there very nice website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m happy to search out so many useful information right here within the submit, we need develop extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
2Definitely imagine that that you said. Your favourite justification appeared to be on the web the simplest factor to be mindful of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while folks consider concerns that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as smartly as outlined out the entire thing without having side effect , other folks could take a signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thank you
3You have brought up a very superb details, thanks for the post.
4I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post.
5I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
6Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such fantastic info being shared freely out there.
7I view something genuinely special in this web site.
8My coder is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a number of websites for about a year and am concerned about switching to another platform. I have heard good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it? Any help would be really appreciated!
9Very good written information. It will be useful to anybody who employess it, as well as me. Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.
10Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share. Thanks!
11I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this web site. Studying this information So i’m satisfied to express that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I so much undoubtedly will make sure to do not put out of your mind this web site and give it a glance on a constant basis.
12This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
13Some really fantastic content on this web site, appreciate it for contribution.
14Thanks for each of your labor on this site. Kate take interest in making time for investigations and it is simple to grasp why. Most people know all about the powerful way you give powerful suggestions through your web blog and even welcome contribution from other individuals on that area while our favorite daughter is without question being taught a great deal. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You’re carrying out a superb job.
15I am continually looking online for tips that can facilitate me. Thanks!
16Perfectly pent content material, regards for entropy. “You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it.” by Samuel Butler.
17whoah this blog is excellent i like studying your posts. Keep up the good work! You recognize, lots of individuals are looking round for this info, you can help them greatly.
18I am not real fantastic with English but I come up this really easygoing to understand.
19Rattling superb information can be found on weblog.
20I am often to blogging and i actually respect your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
21Hey! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Excellent blog and fantastic design and style.
22Fantastic blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get opinions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!
23Real superb visual appeal on this website , I’d rate it 10 10.
24Hi there very cool website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionallyKI’m satisfied to search out numerous useful info here in the submit, we’d like develop extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
25Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
26I like this weblog so much, bookmarked.
27I enjoy what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve you guys to my own blogroll.
28This is very interesting, You are an overly skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to in quest of extra of your wonderful post. Additionally, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
29Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include approximately all significant infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
30Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
31There are some fascinating points in time on this article however I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There is some validity however I will take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as properly
32Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
33I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of good information, saved to bookmarks (:.
34This web site is mostly a stroll-via for all of the data you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and also you’ll definitely uncover it.
35I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time finding out much more or understanding more. Thank you for fantastic info I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
36I do love the way you have framed this specific problem plus it does indeed give me a lot of fodder for consideration. Nonetheless, from everything that I have experienced, I just simply hope when the opinions pile on that people today stay on issue and not start on a tirade regarding some other news of the day. Yet, thank you for this superb piece and even though I do not necessarily go along with it in totality, I respect the point of view.
37Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What a great web-site.
38I’ll right away grab your rss feed as I can not find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
39I have read some excellent stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you put to make this type of great informative website.
40Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue with your site in web explorer, might test this… IE still is the market chief and a huge part of people will miss your wonderful writing due to this problem.
41Hi! I’ve been following your blog for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!
42Hey, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, great blog!
43Yay google is my queen aided me to find this outstanding website ! .
44As I website possessor I think the subject material here is real excellent, appreciate it for your efforts.
45You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
46Can I just say what a aid to find someone who actually is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know find out how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More folks need to read this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre no more in style because you undoubtedly have the gift.
47Useful information. Lucky me I found your site by chance, and I’m shocked why this twist of fate did not came about in advance! I bookmarked it.
48Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.
49hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
50