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?
I 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
1We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
2Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?
3Utterly pent articles, Really enjoyed reading through.
4Very interesting details you have noted, regards for posting. “The thing always happens that you really believe in and the belief in a thing makes it happen.” by Frank Lloyd Wright.
5Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
6Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website in web explorer, might test thisK IE nonetheless is the market leader and a big component of other folks will omit your wonderful writing because of this problem.
7F*ckin’ tremendous things here. I’m very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
8I like the helpful information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
9Oh my goodness! a tremendous article dude. Thank you Nevertheless I am experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting an identical rss drawback? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
10Hello there, I discovered your website by the use of Google while looking for a similar subject, your website got here up, it seems to be good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
11Hi would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a fair price? Kudos, I appreciate it!
12Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
13It’s truly a great and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
14Appreciate it for helping out, good info .
15Hmm it seems like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any helpful hints for inexperienced blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
16Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
17I loved as much as you will obtain performed proper here. The caricature is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get bought an impatience over that you would like be turning in the following. in poor health surely come more before once more as exactly the similar just about very steadily inside of case you shield this increase.
18I’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!
19Have you ever considered writing an e-book or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
20There are definitely a number of particulars like that to take into consideration. That may be a great level to convey up. I provide the thoughts above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where a very powerful thing will be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged around issues like that, but I’m sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls really feel the impact of only a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
21Hi, 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.
22What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & aid other users like its aided me. Great job.
23Spot on with this write-up, I actually think this web site needs rather more consideration. I’ll probably be once more to learn way more, thanks for that info.
24I keep listening to the reports talk about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the finest site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?
25I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great posts.
26Thank you for another fantastic article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
27Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
28I like this site very much so much excellent info .
29I think this internet site has got some rattling fantastic information for everyone :D. “America is not merely a nation but a nation of nations.” by Lyndon B. Johnson.
30I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Fantastic work!
31I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
32hello!,I like your writing so so much! percentage we keep in touch more about your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this space to resolve my problem. May be that is you! Having a look forward to look you.
33