Sandwich shop goodies #15 – Bánh quy (turtle mochi)
Of my two hundred fifty some posts so far, this Sandwich Shop Goodies series brings me the most joy when writing and also takes me the longest time per post. It’s a collection of the bits and pieces that cost next to nothing. You may say why of course, how can a mere grad student afford The Slanted Door, The French Laundry, or our local Chez Panisse et al. Now although my salary certainly factors in my grocery list, the truth is I’ve lost interest in the uptown food scene. It dazzles like fireworks, and also like fireworks, it doesn’t stay. The mixing and matching of the freshest and strangest ingredients has blended so many nationalities into one that it loses culture like a smoothie losing texture. Those fancinesses don’t have a home. Meanwhile, I can spend days googling an obscure street snack and still regret that I haven’t spent more time, because I know that someone somewhere out there has an interesting story surrounding its identity that I haven’t heard. With such food there’s more than what goes into the pot that I can mention. For example, a simple sticky rice treat has made its way into an idiom, no less.
For twenty five years I’ve heard and used the expression “bánh ít trao đi, bánh quy trao lại” (“give bánh ít, get bánh quy” or “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”) in a million occasions, but not once did I know what bánh quy was. At home we call cookies bánh bích-quy (biscuit) and some shorten it to bánh quy, but the biscuit and the bánh ít are too different from each other to be consider equivalents, and it’s reasonable to guess that the idiom came about before the introduction of Western food into Vietnam. So confused I was. Then one day while foraging the pile of snacks at Alpha Bakery, I almost flipped backward as I found a package of three green mochi’s labeled “bánh quy“.
They’re round and flat at the bottom, each placed on a small cut of banana leaf, purposefully shaped like a turtle shell resting on wet grass. If you look closely you can even see some faint crevices near the rim. So there, mystery unveiled: “quy” means “turtle” in Han-Viet, and the banh gets its name from its look.
Content-wise, bánh quy is indeed just a smaller, rounder, flatter version of bánh ít: sticky rice, tapioca starch, salt, sugar, oil, and a sweet filling. Back in the day, the turtles had either a red or a yellow dot to distinguish between coconut and mung bean paste, but it seems these days only the coconut turtles are still around. Each banh is just big enough and tall enough to fit snuggly in a baby’s palm. Two or three adult bites and you suddenly wonder, hey, where did my sugary, chewy soft bun go?
Buy three at the store for $1.50. Also, look for this other type of bánh ít: bánh gai (bánh ít with thorn leaf extract)
Address: 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: bánh da lợn (pig skin pie)
This post is submitted to Delicious Vietnam #12, April edition, hosted by Anh of A Food’s Lover Journey. I’m so looking forward to the roundup this month!
There may be noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice factors in options also.
1Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too great. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great website.
2I like this website very much so much excellent info .
3Sweet web site, super layout, real clean and utilise pleasant.
4hello!,I love your writing so so much! percentage we be in contact more approximately your article on AOL? I require an expert on this house to unravel my problem. May be that’s you! Looking ahead to look you.
5I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
6Absolutely composed articles, thanks for entropy. “In the fight between you and the world, back the world.” by Frank Zappa.
7Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have truly loved surfing around your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write once more very soon!
8I would like to convey my admiration for your generosity for those people who actually need guidance on in this question. Your special dedication to passing the solution all over had become pretty advantageous and has continuously made women just like me to arrive at their targets. Your amazing insightful publication implies a whole lot a person like me and still more to my colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.
9Wonderful post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Many thanks!
10There is apparently a lot to identify about this. I feel you made some good points in features also.
11Almost all of the things you articulate is astonishingly appropriate and that makes me wonder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this with this light before. This piece really did turn the light on for me personally as far as this particular issue goes. But there is one position I am not necessarily too comfy with and while I try to reconcile that with the central theme of the position, permit me observe exactly what the rest of the visitors have to point out.Very well done.
12Regards for this post, I am a big fan of this internet site would like to continue updated.
13Generally I don’t read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very great article.
14fantastic issues altogether, you just received a logo new reader. What could you recommend about your publish that you just made some days ago? Any positive?
15익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.
16익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.
17Some genuinely interesting information, well written and broadly user friendly.
18주소콘에서 필요한 사이트를 분야별로 살펴보세요. 뉴스, 커뮤니티, 영상, 웹툰, 쇼핑, 생활 정보와 온라인 도구를 찾는 방법부터 주소 확인, 즐겨찾기 관리, 접속 오류 해결까지 안내합니다. 목적에 맞는 링크를 고르고 더 편리하게 이용하세요.
19주소콘에서 필요한 사이트를 분야별로 살펴보세요. 뉴스, 커뮤니티, 영상, 웹툰, 쇼핑, 생활 정보와 온라인 도구를 찾는 방법부터 주소 확인, 즐겨찾기 관리, 접속 오류 해결까지 안내합니다. 목적에 맞는 링크를 고르고 더 편리하게 이용하세요.
20I would like to thank you for posting this great information. I really like your blog. Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment on your blog post. I would love to see more useful content from you in the coming days.
21fantastic points altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
22주소콘에서 필요한 사이트를 분야별로 살펴보세요. 뉴스, 커뮤니티, 영상, 웹툰, 쇼핑, 생활 정보와 온라인 도구를 찾는 방법부터 주소 확인, 즐겨찾기 관리, 접속 오류 해결까지 안내합니다. 목적에 맞는 링크를 고르고 더 편리하게 이용하세요.
23Thanks for helping out, excellent information.
24Aw, this was a very nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and on no account appear to get one thing done.
25I 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.
26Spot on with this write-up, I truly suppose this website needs rather more consideration. I’ll in all probability be once more to learn far more, thanks for that info.
27This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
28주소콘에서 필요한 웹사이트 주소를 쉽고 빠르게 찾아보세요. 분야별 주소모음과 링크모음, 주소찾기 방법부터 변경된 주소 확인, 안전한 링크 확인 방법까지 한눈에 살펴볼 수 있습니다.
29Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site unintentionally, and I am shocked why this twist of fate didn’t happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
30Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
31I think you have mentioned some very interesting points, thankyou for the post.
32Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
33I got good info from your blog
34Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
35주소콘에서 필요한 웹사이트 주소를 쉽고 빠르게 찾아보세요. 분야별 주소모음과 링크모음, 주소찾기 방법부터 변경된 주소 확인, 안전한 링크 확인 방법까지 한눈에 살펴볼 수 있습니다.
36I am not rattling great with English but I come up this real easy to understand.
37주소콘은 자주 찾는 사이트의 최신주소와 변경된 주소를 카테고리별로 정리한 주소모음·링크모음 플랫폼입니다. 실시간으로 업데이트되는 바로가기 링크로 원하는 사이트에 빠르게 접속하세요.
38주소콘은 자주 찾는 사이트의 최신주소와 변경된 주소를 카테고리별로 정리한 주소모음·링크모음 플랫폼입니다. 실시간으로 업데이트되는 바로가기 링크로 원하는 사이트에 빠르게 접속하세요.
39It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this publish and if I could I wish to suggest you some attention-grabbing issues or suggestions. Perhaps you can write next articles regarding this article. I wish to read more issues approximately it!
40It is really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
41Many thanks for providing this interesting article. I really like your blog. Thanks again for providing a space for me to comment on your blog post. I look forward to more useful content from you in the near future.
42I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website. Studying this information So i am glad to express that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I most for sure will make certain to don’t forget this website and provides it a glance regularly.
43I love the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great blog posts.
44Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
45I am now not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic. I must spend some time finding out much more or figuring out more. Thank you for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.
46We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with useful info to paintings on. You have performed a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
47With the whole thing that appears to be developing throughout this specific area, your perspectives are generally very refreshing. On the other hand, I beg your pardon, but I do not subscribe to your whole suggestion, all be it exhilarating none the less. It appears to everyone that your remarks are not entirely rationalized and in actuality you are yourself not even wholly convinced of your point. In any event I did appreciate reading it.
48Some really interesting information, well written and broadly user pleasant.
49Some really nice and utilitarian information on this internet site, besides I conceive the layout holds wonderful features.
50