On Sunday, we drove over to our favorite Vietnamese place where we both ordered a bahn mi. My dear other half was first introduced to Vietnamese food by a colleague when he first moved to Virginia to start his new job in 1990 (navy career first, then this civilian job here and now retired from his last job for many years). Pho soup was the first dish. Our son and I arrived several months later. We delayed our arrival so that he could finish his school year. These little snippets of information are probably repeats, so apologies if you remember them from before. When we arrived, dear other half introduced us to Pho Soup soon after. Years later while commuting back and forth from Washington DC every day, he got super hungry half-way home. He saw this place and we have been going to it off and on ever since.
It is the best one we have ever had and even though we don't get it that often, as it's quite a trek to get there, we don't go anywhere else for this particular sandwich. Below you will see an old photo just to show you what it looks like. (We had a chuckle later on the same day of our latest trip. This same bahn mi photo popped up on his computer. It said 'here is where you were exactly one year ago', and just by coincidence, here we were again.)
It is a meatball sandwich made out of pork, nothing fancy to look at but take my word for it, it is a taste sensation. Nothing like the Italian meatball because of the seasonings. Those strips of veggies, carrots, cucumber, daikon radish and cilantro (maybe not the cilantro) are slightly pickled. There are also slices of hot pepper, sometimes mild, sometimes not so much. We also always enjoy our car picnic in the shop’s parking lot. It is our special treat. Moving on!
We have the loan of a truck for a little while thanks to family, and they told us we could use it as much as we liked. Very grateful as we are downsizing and have so many things to take to places where they might make good use of what we no longer use or need. Things that are beyond use, we will be taking to our local refuse center. (We started this process quite a while ago but are now able to gather momentum thanks to the truck.)
In the meantime, I thought I would introduce you to the ducky family. Not real duckies of course, just the ones on the dashboard. I didn't know this before and those of you who have jeeps probably do, but when you are out and about, you might come back and find a yellow rubber duck resting on the hood. The family has accumulated quite a collection, as you will see in these photos, and no doubt they have given their fair share.
This is the day we went to the garden center so I will share more of those photos soon.
Those little duckies are sure very cute! Happy May!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed them Angie. Happy May to you also :)
DeleteI sure learned something new here today! Ducking a Jeep! I had never heard of it and had to Google it. I love it! I especially like the big purple duck with the stars. Be sure that they do not overrun the birdies at the bird feeder! You will have to keep a close eye on them. I have read that dogwood trees are terribly finicky and hard to grow. I don't want to burst your bubble, but thought you should know.
ReplyDeleteAll good advice Ginny and thank you for letting me know about the dogwood. I would rather know than not :)
DeleteLove the ducks.
ReplyDeleteAnd dogwood trees are beautiful.
Thank you Sue! Happy you liked their duckies :) Dogwoods are beautiful. I look forward to them blooming at this time of the year.
DeleteThe garden center is beautiful and seems to have a lot of variety.
ReplyDeleteThe sandwich looks similar to the ones I've been making for years. It must have been very tasty.
I used to put such ducks in the bathroom when I bathed my children, what did you remind me of, Denise!
Have a nice month🪻🌷🌼🐞
Thank you Katerina! Interesting that you have been making something similar. It is very tasty. I did that with our son also. Sweet memories for both of us I think :) I wish you the same for a lovely May.
DeleteThe roll as we call them look delicious and how odd that you were in the same place the year before, brings a smile to the face.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of the ducks and a jeep but sound ok to me Denise.
We call them rolls too Margaret. I found its history, which in part reads:.
DeleteBánh Mì (pronounced BUN-mee) is the Vietnamese term for “bread”, but it also refers to a special kind of sandwich: a culinary fusion of two cultures and a prime example of how food is always tied with history… The story begins in the mid-19th century when Vietnam fell under French colonial rule.
The full history of how this sandwich came to be can be read here:
https://banhmibistroaz.com/banh-mi/
It is very interesting.
That's a fun thing to have happen Ducks on a jeep. I love the collection. Good for you to start downsizing. We have a council kerbside clean up this week and I had a friend help me take boxes of out of date, unnecessary things from our garage to the kerb.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane, sounds like an excellent way to get rid of any unwanted items :) I am looking forward to making our start.
DeleteThe sandwich looks and sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteWhat cute collection of rubber duckies. I had a friend who had a jeep for a while and she told me some of the things jeep owners do. I've never owned the type of vehicle that does anything special.
Thanks Ann :) it’s interesting about these jeeps. I remember something about Mini Coopers having get togethers.
DeleteI hope the tree that you hope to get is the right one for growing in your garden. A dogwood tree sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda :) It will be interesting to see which one we eventually pick.
Deletecute little duckies and I love the view of traffic behind them. but only because you are in it and not me. I have never had Vietnamese food but the sandwich looks good. that is to funny about the 1 year ago same place.. the loan of the truck came at the right time.
ReplyDeleteYes, we get a lot of traffic around here and this was a light day :) our next favorite food is Thai. It certainly did and we are very grateful to the family for the loan of their truck.
DeleteWe have to make a concerted effort one day to begin downsizing. The task seems so overwhelming at the moment, but I know once progress is made it will seem less so. Happy May Day to you and Gregg!
ReplyDeleteMost definitely overwhelming but we will both get there :) Thanks Linda! Happy May Day to you and Bob also.
DeleteI love the tradition of the ducks! Great fun! Happy May Day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it is indeed a fun tradition. Happy May Day to you also :)
DeleteI like Vietnamese food. I will look for the sandwich. You are taking your downsizing seriously and getting things done.
ReplyDeleteTrying to Red but we are determined :) If you enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, I expect you will enjoy this one.
DeleteCute ducks, happy May Day! The sandwich looks good.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine, tastes wonderful! :)
DeleteI used to buy a Vietnamese sandwich when I was working downtown, but since retirement, I haven't had one. You are right. The meatball sandwiches are delicious!
ReplyDeleteThat’s great Gigi :) I have tried others and enjoyed but this one is by far an all-time favorite
DeleteI love the family of technicolor duckies. Too cute and the sandwich looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see that a year ago you were doing the very same thing.
Hugs Cecilia
Thank you Cecilia :) It was a very interesting coincidence.
DeleteHow delightful going about with you in the springtime! Of course the ducks add a lot. Aloha
ReplyDeleteYou are always welcome to come with us on our trips out my friend :) Aloha!
Delete💞
ReplyDelete❤️👍🌻🦆🐤
DeleteI never knew about ducks for Jeeps but Carole of From My Carolina Home does a little sporty car group and they do ducks, too! They're awfully cute. I'm not terribly familiar with Vietnamese food -- I'd love to try some. It sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanie, I will check Carole’s car group out next time I visit :)
DeleteOh, how I love dogwood. I hope you find a great spot for one. Those duckies are fun. I might get a wee bit distracted with them sitting there. That sandwich looks delicious. Happy May Day to you!
ReplyDeleteMe too, love to see the dogwoods appear this time of the year :) As for the duckies, I am glad I wasn’t driving. Happy May Day to you also.
DeleteSuch cute little dashboard duckies, Denise! Your sandwich looks mighty good. Sounds like a good annual trip to enjoy one. It sounds as though you are doing well with downsizing. We seem to be dragging our feet on that. Maybe on these really hot days the spirit will move us to do better like you all!
ReplyDeleteI love their collection a lot! And the seashells. We dragged our feet longer than I care to admit Martha Ellen. Would much rather go for a bhan mi, haha. I am so naughty :)
DeleteOh, look at all the duckies you have! I didn't know you collect them. Duckies are so delightful, and whenever I see that special one, I pick it up for my grandgirls. Those are some neat looking shells too. Seems we like the same things, Denise. ; )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
They're lovely aren't they Sheri? Alas they're not mine. We have them on loan while we borrow their truck for the week to help us with our downsizing. I bet your grandgirls love theirs from you :) It's nice that we like the same things.
DeleteIts lunchtime here now so that sandwich is making me super hungry.
ReplyDeleteLove the duck family- very bright and cheerful to enjoy.
I hope you enjoyed something tasty Beverley :) The duck family is very cute.
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