Linh Son Pagoda’s banh for the Lunar New Year
Linh Son pagoda, Houston, click on the image to see more pictures of the pagoda.
Linh Son pagoda, Houston. Click on the image to see more pictures of the pagoda.
Although not all Vietnamese living oversea can take a day off to go to the pagodas on the first day of Tet, many manage to keep the tradition. Of course there is no strict requirement that one has to be looking at and praying to the Buddha at a certain day, for a certain amount of time, or with a certain prayer. Tet is not a religious based tradition. But many Buddhist and even non-Buddhists like to go to the pagodas on the first day of Tet to have a peaceful start of the new year, to feel spiritually lightened (hopefully enlightened as well) and pure on the important day. Many also choose to eat no animal product on this day, as it’s the new spring and every creature deserves to be happy and live in peace. Nonetheless, vegan restaurants are somewhat scarce in the conservative town, places with banh chung banh tet for sale don’t generally make the vegan version, and to deprive a Vietnamese of banh chung banh tet on a Tet’s day is somewhat cruel. So the pagodas take on the precious task.
Dua mon is pickled vegetables, here packaged in jars, and apparently on sale for $5? I believe I haven’t had dua mon. I’m not big on veggies in vinegar-sugar-salt mix, the only exception to me is pickled bean sprout (dua gia). But perhaps because every house during Tet is so overabundant with meat and glutinous rice, the dua being a bit tart, a bit sweet, crunchy, and light is a nice change in both taste and texture. In fact, with its economic nature and longevity, a big jar of dua on its own makes Tet in poor households.
Back to the star of Tet food. The square ones are banh chung, the cylindrical ones are banh tet. Banh chung is wrapped in dong leaves, banh tet is wrapped in banana leaves (theoretically). Banh chung declothed:
and quartered:
Mother got to the banh tet before I did, with a knife. I was 5 minutes too late to grab the camera. So here, in all gruesomeness, six “khoanh” of banh tet:
If you’re wondering, yes, their basic structure, except for the shape, is the same. Thick coat of glutinous rice outside, simple mung bean paste inside, since these are vegan banh made and sold at the pagoda. The meaty version of banh chung has lean pork amidst the bean paste, and that of banh tet has fatty pork. The outermost rim of glutinous rice is somewhat greenish yellow, naturally dyed by the leaves wrapping them and the long cooking process, in which they are submerged in water for hours. Banh chung was born in the North of Vietnam over 2000 years before Jesus was born, and especially made for Tet and Tet only. It even has a myth to explain its symbolism. Banh tet was its little brother, made for easy cooking and carrying, more popular in the South, available in one form or another all year long. The rice layer is soft and gummy, the bean paste middle is a little salted and sweetened. It’s vegan, but it doesn’t lack flavor. It’s really really heavy though. One khoanh of banh tet for breakfast and I was full from 10AM until 7PM! I would have been starved otherwise, classes all day, and school cafeterias don’t serve vegan food. That means if you like to keep yourself reasonably full, with 6 bucks you are full for 3-6 days of banh tet, and 4-8 days of banh chung. Pretty good huh?
Hi there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
1Perfectly written content material, appreciate it for information .
2I rattling lucky to find this web site on bing, just what I was looking for : D as well saved to favorites.
3Thanks for all of the work on this website. Gloria takes pleasure in getting into research and it’s easy to see why. A number of us notice all relating to the dynamic tactic you make very useful guides via this web site and therefore foster contribution from other individuals on that subject so my child has been starting to learn a lot of things. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You’re conducting a stunning job.
4Hmm is anyone else having 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 suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
5You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
6Those 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!
7Rattling informative and good complex body part of content, now that’s user genial (:.
8Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your web site in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your magnificent writing due to this problem.
9Nearly all of what you mention happens to be astonishingly appropriate and it makes me ponder why I hadn’t looked at this in this light before. This particular piece really did turn the light on for me as far as this subject goes. Nonetheless at this time there is actually one factor I am not necessarily too comfortable with so while I attempt to reconcile that with the actual core theme of your position, permit me see what the rest of your subscribers have to say.Nicely done.
10Very great visual appeal on this internet site, I’d rate it 10 10.
11Hi I am so glad I found your website, I really found you by error, while I was researching on Bing for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the great work.
12Hello.This article was extremely fascinating, especially because I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Tuesday.
13Very interesting subject, appreciate it for putting up.
14I always was concerned in this subject and still am, appreciate it for putting up.
15Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
16of course like your website but you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to inform the reality nevertheless I’ll certainly come back again.
17I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
18Hi there, I found your web site by way of Google while searching for a related subject, your web site got here up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
19I believe you have observed some very interesting details, regards for the post.
20I really thankful to find this website on bing, just what I was searching for : D also saved to bookmarks.
21Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was seeking this certain information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
22I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
23I believe this site has some real superb info for everyone :D. “The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” by Edith Sitwell.
24I conceive this web site holds some rattling excellent info for everyone. “In this world second thoughts, it seems, are best.” by Euripides.
25I haven’t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
26The subsequent time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I know it was my choice to learn, but I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can fix if you happen to werent too busy searching for attention.
27Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
28I carry on listening to the news update talk about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i find some?
29After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
30I genuinely enjoy reading through on this site, it contains superb content.
31Good day I am so grateful I found your web site, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a remarkable post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the great job.
32