When a group of my friends came together last summer to plan a bridal shower for me, they knew two things: 1) I'm not one for cutesy, girly themes and 2) I love sandwiches. My favorite part of the chic, theme-free party they created was a build-your-own bánh mì bar, a Vietnamese-inspired twist on the usual sandwich platter.
A bánh mì buffet isn't radically different from the usual sandwich set-up, but I asked my friends for some tips on sourcing and making the components.
• The bread: The traditional bánh mì baguette is made with a mix of rice flour and wheat flour, which gives it a light texture and crisp crust. If there is a Vietnamese bakery in your area, it is worth seeking out the loaves for their special texture, or try a local Vietnamese restaurant — my friends contacted a local restaurant and were able to buy bread in bulk. Otherwise, any soft baguette-type loaf will work, as long as the crust isn't too thick and chewy.
• The protein: Our spread included braised beef brisket, bought from the same restaurant that supplied the bread, as well as my friend Lydia's Asian-style spin on her mother-in-law's very Southern pickled shrimp recipe (linked below). Slow-cooked pork is another good make-ahead meat option, as is Bon Appetit's hoisin-glazed meatloaf. If you want to provide a non-meat option, try Emily's recipe for bánh mì with lemongrass tofu.
• The vegetables: Pickled daikon radish and carrots are traditional bánh mì accompaniments, but my friends simplified things slightly by skipping the pickling part, just cutting carrots and cucumbers into long matchsticks. A big bowl of sesame-red cabbage slaw was a crunchy side, or another garnish to be piled onto the sandwiches. And don't forget the cilantro!
• The condiments: Doctoring up store-bought mayonnaise is an easy way to add an extra layer of flavor to sandwiches. We had a roasted garlic version and a spicy Sriracha version, but there is a lot of room to play around with herbs, sauces and other flavorings to create a one-of-a-kind spread.
The brunch also included spicy Bloody Marys and store-bought shrimp chips, which echoed the flavors of the bánh mì buffet. It was such a tasty and inventive party, memorable for more than the sandwiches, of course — but dang, those sandwiches were good.
• Get the shrimp recipe: Lemongrass Pickled Shrimp at Apples & Onions
Do you have any other ideas for sandwich buffets that go beyond the usual?
Related: Smörgåstårta: 15 Savory Sandwich Cakes
(Images: Beth Liebetrau; Apples & Onions)
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Such a fun day!
That sounds awesome. Except the pickled vegetables (do chua) are my favorite!! Whenever I get banh mi I always ask for extra and when I make them at home I always make a double batch of do chua so I can serve more on the side...but then I'm a pickle fiend.
I love the idea, but I agree with Slow Lorus -- if I ever do this I couldn't possibly skip the pickling of the vegetables; for me that's what makes it a Bahn Mi instead of just a sandwich. :-)
Cool idea!
No disrepect meant but they already cut up the carrots and daikon, the next step is to mix together vinegar, water, and sugar, throw in the vegetables. Voila, seriously how hard would that have been?
Don't forget the hoisin sauce!
no pate?
Reading through the comments makes me feel like a jerk that we're harshing on this lovely bridal shower that Anjali's clearly wonderful, thoughtful friends threw for her!
How about a change in direction? I think it'd be fun to do a tartine buffet with a variety of toppings, all sorts of little pickle-y things, a selection of cheeses (goat cheese, ricotta salata, Manchego), condiments, thinly sliced ham or proscuitto, salmon maybe, a fig or date spreads/preserves, some veggies (radishes, asparagus, roasted red peppers).
Or steamed mantou (those flat flappy Chinese buns that David Chang/Momofuku brought to the mainstream) with an assortment of fillings like roast duck, charsiu, pork belly, mock duck and lots and lots of sliced scallions and hoisin.
Ooooh, what a fun idea! I would love to do this for my friends!
As a recent convert to these Vietnamese sandwiches, I say bravo to a creative meal!
I love these sandwiches. I lived on them while in college. You couldn't beat $2.00 for an amazing sandwich. Moving to the south, I really missed them. Much to my delight, we recently found a Vietnamese market that makes them. You just need to get there before noon. They sell out fast.