Lecture Notes: The Evolution of Banh Mi

Introduction

• Banh Mi's evolution is tied to French colonization in Vietnam.
• Originates from the French Jambon-beurre sandwich and charcuterie boards.

French Influence

• French introduced dishes like flan, pate, foie gras, coffee, and baguettes.
• Charcuterie boards contained meat, cheese, liver pate, pickles, and spreads.
• Banh Mi was inspired by these French dishes but adapted to local tastes.

Composition of Traditional Banh Mi

• Bread: Vietnamese-style baguette made with 50% wheat and 50% rice flour.
• Fillings & Toppings:
  • Mayonnaise or butter.
  • Protein such as pork, chicken, tofu.
  • Fresh vegetables: cucumbers, pickled daikon, and carrots.
  • Condiments: soy sauce, fish sauce, or Maggi seasoning.
• Combines all five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.

Bread Speciality

• Banh Mi translates to "wheat bread."
• Lighter and flakier than traditional French baguettes due to rice flour.

Styles of Banh Mi

• Northern Style:
  • Simple with butter, pate, salt, pepper, cucumber, and cilantro.
  • Similar to the original French style.
• Saigon Style:
  • More elaborate with one or two protein fillings, herbs, fresh and pickled vegetables, multiple spreads, and spices.

Banh Mi in Vietnamese Cuisine

• Typically consumed for breakfast or as a midday snack.
• Breakfast version includes scrambled eggs, onions, and soy sauce on a buttered baguette.

Preparation Protocol

• Fresh and warm bread.
• Spread mayonnaise and Maggi Seasoning.
• Add protein, pate, pickled daikon and carrot, cucumber, herbs, and jalapeño.

Protein Fillings

• Varieties include pork, beef, chicken, fish, tofu, fried egg.
• Special Combo or House Special includes cold cuts, pate, pickles, and cucumber.

Essential Ingredients

• Maggi Seasoning: Swiss origin, adds umami flavor.
• Mayonnaise or Butter: Keeps bread moist.
• Pate: Traditional spread tied to French influence.
• Additional toppings: cucumber, scallion, herbs, pickled daikon, and Laughing Cow Cheese.

Banh Mi Variations

• Sweet Banh Mi: Vietnamese ice cream sandwich with ice cream, peanuts, and condensed milk.
• Affordable treat costing about 21 cents in USD.

Banh Mi's Global Journey

• Post-Vietnam War: Vietnamese refugees brought banh mi to the US.
• Became popular in the 1980s, especially in Silicon Valley.

Luxurious Banh Mi

• Chef Peter Cuong Franklin's $100 banh mi at Anan Saigon:
  • Truffled mayonnaise, French pate, sous vide pork, foie gras, pickles, herbs.
  • Served with sweet potato fries, caviar or truffled mayonnaise, and prosecco.