Sandwich Shop Goodies 4 – Xôi bắp (sweet sticky rice and corn)
Every morning at six, sometimes five thirty, my dad went to the market with my mom’s grocery list, and on the way back picked up something fresh for my breakfast. He had to be extra early if we wanted xôi that day, because the warm morsels folded up in banana leaves wouldn’t last past six thirty. Sweet xôi was a popular morning food, until they started putting in lap xuong and pork floss and turned it too close to a lunch thing. But our xôi lady, and later her daughter, never made anything but sweet sticky rice in their loyal steamers. Every morning, sitting on a plastic stool and head half-covered by the cone hat, they surrounded themselves with three or four shining aluminum wok-like basins on the low table, neatly cut squares of banana leaves, old newspaper and rubber band in the side basket. Those aluminum basins often had peanut xôi, black xôi (which actually looked purple), and one other speciaux du jour. My mom was so concerned with my health that she would pick off all the peanuts if my dad got the peanut xôi, and I got really bored with black sticky rice and sweetened bean paste, so there was no telling what I would get for breakfast. On rare occasions it was corn. My favorite.
Without the seed coat and the yellow tip, each kernel was all soft, white and plump, must be twice its natural size. The sticky rice too was gummy, hardly discernible from the corn. I’d try to eat all the sticky rice first and save my precious puffs for last. Our xôi lady always covered the white palmful with mash mung bean, a big spoon of sugar, and a pinch of fried shallot. Arguably the fried shallot tempered the “sweetness” of this xôi, but it’s not as crucial as sugar and sweetened mash bean. Something I didn’t realize until years later.
We moved sometimes at the end of sixth grade, then again, this time across the Pacific, at the end of eleventh grade. My chance of eating corn xôi dropped like the housing market in Detroit. Partly because the cling wrapped stuff on styrofoam plates doesn’t at all look like Ms. Điệp’s warm morsels. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw it at Kim’s Sandwiches, not wrapped up but in aluminum trays behind the counter. Sure, they put it in styrofoam boxes when you order, but that’s still better. I got two for five dollars.
It might have been bad timing. I blamed it on our late morning arrival: xôi is best when it’s just thirty minutes out of the steamer, cool enough not to burn yet warm enough to keep the sticky rice gummy and moist. Our xôi was cold and dried up. But it was also bland. Lack of sugar in corn xôi made it un-corn-xôi-like. The grains and kernels were coated with mung bean powder, not mash, hence we got a heap of powder-coated grains and kernels instead of corn xôi. This is the Northern Vietnamese style, but frankly it’s incomparable with the Southerners’ sweet twist.
On a brighter note, Kim’s Sandwiches’ savory xôi, with roasted chicken and green onions, proved worthy of toothwork. Although the sticky rice was also cold and dried up, the meat was plenty and flavorful to boost.
On an even brighter note, the corn xôi was well-salvaged by a sugar dispenser and a microwave.
———————————————————————————————–
Xôi bắp and xôi gà ($2.50 each) from Kim’s Sandwiches
(in the Lion Supermarket area)
1816 Tully Rd 182, San Jose, CA 95111
(408) 270-8903
Previously on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bánh ú tro
Next on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bánh khảo/bánh in
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
1I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again
2It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!
3Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s web site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
4I am constantly looking online for articles that can help me. Thank you!
5Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
6Appreciate it for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting information.
7Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the information you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, good site!
8Baking Soda Shot Recipe
9I have been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
10I always was interested in this topic and still am, regards for posting.
11I like forgathering useful information , this post has got me even more info! .
12Great blog here! Also your site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
13I simply couldn’t leave your site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information an individual supply for your guests? Is gonna be again incessantly in order to investigate cross-check new posts
14That is really attention-grabbing, You are an excessively professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to looking for extra of your wonderful post. Additionally, I have shared your website in my social networks!
15Hello, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
16Thankyou for this howling post, I am glad I noticed this site on yahoo.
17Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. However imagine if you added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips, this site could undeniably be one of the very best in its field. Excellent blog!
18I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Studying this info So i’m satisfied to convey that I’ve a very just right uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I so much indisputably will make certain to don’t forget this web site and provides it a glance on a continuing basis.
19I’ve read a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you set to make such a excellent informative website.
20This internet site is my intake, real superb style and design and perfect subject material.
21Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
22I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100 certain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
23I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I’m hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming also. Actually your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own site now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a good example of it.
24you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
25Enjoyed reading through this, very good stuff, thankyou. “It requires more courage to suffer than to die.” by Napoleon Bonaparte.
26I just couldn’t leave your site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard information an individual provide to your visitors? Is gonna be back incessantly to inspect new posts.
27Hey! I simply want to give an enormous thumbs up for the good data you’ve got right here on this post. I will be coming back to your weblog for more soon.
28There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
29You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
30Thanks , I’ve recently been searching for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve found out so far. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you certain in regards to the supply?
31I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this info for my mission.
32This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
33I was reading through some of your blog posts on this site and I believe this web site is very informative! Keep on putting up.
34I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
35Those 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!
36You are my inhalation, I possess few web logs and sometimes run out from post :). “Actions lie louder than words.” by Carolyn Wells.
37Would love to forever get updated great blog! .
38Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
39Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
40I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
41I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..
42Valuable information. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
43You can definitely see your expertise within the paintings you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
44Dead written articles, Really enjoyed looking at.
45Thanks for any other informative blog. The place else could I get that type of info written in such an ideal approach? I have a project that I’m just now running on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
46I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site. Studying this info So i’m satisfied to express that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most definitely will make certain to do not put out of your mind this website and give it a look regularly.
47Heya this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
48I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. appreciate it
49Appreciate it for helping out, superb information. “The laws of probability, so true in general, so fallacious in particular.” by Edward Gibbon.
50