Sandwich shop goodies 12 – Chuối nếp nướng (grilled banana in sticky rice)
They all look the same. A myriad of things wrapped in wilted banana leaves sitting on the counter at a banh mi shop. Few patrons seem to notice the snacks as they occupy themselves with sandwich orders and the more meal-like rice or noodle to-gos, so much to the extent that the sellers too have little interest in selling their counter treats. Humbly, I point to these slender, charred and dry parcels piled in a box near the Pockys and inquire about their name. The hostess throws me half a glance infused with boredom, “Chuối nướng,” she moves her lips. So “grilled banana” they are.
It takes an utterly simple form: a banana inside a sticky rice shell inside a banana leaf, charcoal grilled. Crispy, then chewy, then gooey sweet it goes as you sink your teeth through the bounteousness. It’s the factoriless meatless corn dog sans wooden stick of Southern Vietnam. Children would wait around old grandmas in the ‘hood to watch them grill the banana dogs and drool; adults would grab the banana dogs for breakfast, lunch, or late night snack when a wind chills and the grill warms.
It’s one of those things that can’t go wrong. Some cook the sticky rice plain, then serve the grilled dog sectioned and bathed in coconut milk with a pinch of sesame salt or peanut salt. Others do it My Tho style: the sticky rice is cooked in coconut milk and later mixed with coconut shavings before wrapped and grilled. Many cloth their nana dogs with just a band of nana leaf, mainly for easy handling of the sticky rice on the grill and near other dogs, but the dogs get crispier too. Meanwhile, Ba Lẹ ladies bundle up their dogs like they would with bánh tét, less charred, more aroma from the leaves.
Like banana bread pudding, banana dogs are exclusively made with chuoi su, a solid, stout, dense and white banana that grows like weed in the Asian tropics but is nonexistent in the States. The sad substitute Cavendish lacks consistency and sweetness and gooeyness. Yet, chuối nếp nướng still hits the spot like waltzing in the rain.
These nana ricewiches, as Noodlepie lovingly nicknamed, were 2000VND a steal (~10 US cents with the current exchange rate) in 2005. In 2007 the Gastronomer took the bite for 3000VND. I have no idea how much they cost now on the Saigon streets, with crazy inflation it might just be 10000 for all I know. But here at Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ in Oakland, nana dogs will go home with you for $1.75 each.
Address: Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ (East Oakland)
1909 International Blvd
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 261-9800
Previously on Sandwich Shop Goodies: khoai mì hấp (steamed cassava)
Next on Sandwich Shop Goodies: Bánh xu xê (couple cookie)
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …
1you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
2Hi there, simply was alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate for those who proceed this in future. Many people will probably be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
3This design is spectacular! You most 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!) Excellent job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
4Pretty component to content. I simply stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to say that I get actually loved account your weblog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing in your feeds or even I success you get entry to consistently rapidly.
5Keep functioning ,impressive job!
6of course like your web site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will definitely come back again.
7This web site is my inhalation, real superb style and perfect content.
8I am lucky that I detected this blog, precisely the right information that I was looking for! .
9Its good as your other articles : D, appreciate it for posting. “Even Albert Einstein reportedly needed help on his 1040 form.” by Ronald Reagan.
10This design is spectacular! You obviously 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!) Excellent job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
11There is evidently a lot to know about this. I assume you made some nice points in features also.
12I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. All the best
13Fantastic items from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff prior to and you’re just extremely fantastic. I really like what you have obtained here, certainly like what you are stating and the way during which you assert it. You’re making it enjoyable and you still care for to stay it sensible. I can not wait to learn far more from you. This is actually a wonderful website.
14I too believe thence, perfectly indited post! .
15Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
16I couldn’t resist commenting
17Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
18Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
19Hello very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also?KI’m happy to find so many helpful information right here within the put up, we want work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
20Wow, incredible blog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The full glance of your website is wonderful, as neatly as the content material!
21Howdy very cool site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I am satisfied to seek out so many helpful information here within the submit, we need work out extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing.
22Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was looking for!
23Hello. Great job. I did not expect this. This is a great story. Thanks!
24Hiya! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa? My blog goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you are interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!
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.
26Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
27구미오피는 이 페이지에서 구미의 오피스텔 형태 공간에서 일반 관리 서비스를 제공하는 곳을 뜻합니다. 프로그램 이름만 보고 결정하기 어렵다면 관리 항목과 실제
28구미오피는 이 페이지에서 구미의 오피스텔 형태 공간에서 일반 관리 서비스를 제공하는 곳을 뜻합니다. 프로그램 이름만 보고 결정하기 어렵다면 관리 항목과 실제
29구미오피는 이 페이지에서 구미의 오피스텔 형태 공간에서 일반 관리 서비스를 제공하는 곳을 뜻합니다. 프로그램 이름만 보고 결정하기 어렵다면 관리 항목과 실제
30Regards for this grand post, I am glad I noticed this site on yahoo.
31I reckon something really interesting about your weblog so I saved to fav.
32Good web site! I really love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
33Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
34