"Innovative" bun cha sandwich with Vietnamese flavor

Once listed in the Oxford dictionary as a symbol of Vietnamese cuisine, banh mi has been associated with Vietnamese life for many generations. From the baguette introduced more than a century ago, Vietnamese people have created a version of banh mi with its own flavor - familiar but constantly innovative. Each sandwich is a reminder of memories, combining familiar flavors with modern creativity.

From French baguette to Vietnamese "human delicacy"

Banh mi was introduced to Vietnam during the French colonial period, initially just a crispy baguette with white inside. Over time, the Vietnamese people changed it to suit their taste: the crust was smaller, the inside was more spongy, the fillings were varied with pate, sausage, eggs, braised meat, herbs and sliced ​​cucumbers. Since then, the dish has carried the mark of cultural exchange, gradually becoming a familiar part of Vietnamese life, both simple and demonstrating the creativity of Vietnamese people in cuisine.

Nowadays, banh mi is being renewed with many variations in flavor and ingredient combinations. In Hanoi, a culinary space near the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam is telling the story of Vietnamese culture through each dish, in which banh mi has many unique nuances. On the menu, names such asRemembering Mom bread, Bun Cha bread, Overseas Vietnamese bread, Neighborhood bread...evokes the familiar yet new flavors of Vietnamese cuisine.

Each dish on the menu is associated with a memory, a different perspective on culture. The entire space carries the spirit of “contemporary Vietnamese culture”, decorated with paintings.Toad teacher, Ly dynasty dragon motifs, crab lanterns, fish, dragons and folk tales. Each detail continues the story of the tradition of learning and creative spirit of the ancient Vietnamese people.

Not just a combination of ingredients, new versions of banh mi are also a means to tell about Vietnamese culture in a new language.Bun Cha Breadcarries the familiar taste of Hanoi, with grilled pork, sliced ​​cucumber and herbs. “I want to make it so that when diners take a bite of bread, they can still feel the full flavor of bun cha”, Ms. Thanh Huong - owner of Miss Hanoi shared.

Meanwhile,Miss Mom Breadevokes a family meal, with braised pork, eggs, and pickles. “Everyone has eaten braised pork and eggs cooked by their mother. When you take a bite of this bread, you will feel the taste of your memories,” she said.

Vietnamese BreadIt bears the mark of a French-Vietnamese fusion, with rich country liver pate and crispy fried onions.Neighbor's BreadBringing a bit of Southern flavor, combining pig ear stew, sour mango and mildly spicy Vietnamese coriander, creating a feeling that is both rustic and surprising.

Each sandwich is made from Vietnamese ingredients, delicately processed to retain the distinctive flavor and modern touch. Each sandwich costs from 70,000 VND, targeting international tourists and young people who love contemporary Vietnamese cuisine.

"Innovating" dishes from familiar things

The creativity in today's banh mi does not lie in the recipe, but in the way the chef preserves the Vietnamese soul in each flavor. Instead of "Westernizing" Vietnamese dishes, they find ways to preserve the identity with fish sauce, pickles, crispy crust... along with skillful creativity, all creating a delicate combination, bringing a new feeling to diners.

Banh mi has gone beyond the name of a street food, rising to become a symbol of the unique culinary culture of the Vietnamese people. The delicate combination of the salty taste of braised meat, the sour taste of pickles, the spicy taste of chili sauce... makes banh mi not only a dish, but also a cultural "language". From familiar ingredients, the Vietnamese have created a small dish but full of a vibrant contemporary spirit, identity and reaching the world.

Article: Hai Anh, Photo: Miss Hanoi