I’ve been reading passionate posts about Vietnamese sandwiches or Banh Mi for years on food blogs, but like Sonic franchises, you couldn’t find one in NYC. While West Coasters argued about authenticity and cost ($5! No $2.99!) we couldn’t even get an inauthentic one….until Banh Mi Saigon invaded Little Italy.
The novelty of getting an exotic sandwich in the back of a jewelry store seems like a No Reservations producer’s wet dream. I couldn’t wait to try it, until I saw what it was: a cube of grey mystery meat (paté) with an unidentifiable cold cut slice on a baguette. No thanks.
But then, the Baoguette franchise started popping up all over the place. Within a few months of opening, they had a vegetarian option: The Veguette. The light, crusty bread is just the type people have poking out of their grocery bags in French movies, the Kung Pao soy is nicely flavored, the carrots add come crunch and the pickled diakon sets it apart from run of the mill vegetarian sandwiches (bite me, lettuce). My one gripe is with the cilantro—and not because I’m a cilantro hater. They lazily grab a bunch of cilantro, stems and all and throw it into the sandwich.
At $7 (plus the fact that it’s cruelty-free) this would be considered ‘Hipster Banh Mi,” but it’s the only way for vegetarian eaters to get in on the fun. Baoguette may be the Chipotle of Vietnamese sandwiches, but we don’t mind because it’s delicious. And admit it, that paté looks scary whether you’re a meat-lover or not.
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