it's more like a snack for two. we were still hungry after this so noodle soup was next. anyway, this thing "Banh Beo" [i saved the label for the photo] is not bad. the white 'cakes' have a sticky texture, probably sticky rice flour. the yellow topping is mungbean paste. fried scallions and sprinkles of dried shrimp powder. very bland as is that's why the dipping sauce is the key to taste. too little dipping sauce! i usually drink this stuff! hahah...in VN these are sold by roadside vendors, and to eat you just sit on a plastic stool that's so tiny and so low you'd think the stool is made for children playhouses, next to the dusty road, exhaust, filth and all. it's hard to pick up each cake with chopsticks so i put one in a spoon and use the spoon to get the dipping sauce.

another roadside snack in VN or Cambodia that kicks this thing's arse is called "Banh Khot" -has coconut milk and fried scallions, texture is soft, cooked in a cast iron pan similar to dutch cheese puff pan-, but that's all i can remember. maybe someday the VN grocer in the other town gets Banh Khot. i got Banh Beo from the same place so maybe there's hope.


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Good food is the basis of a good existence. (by Someone)

That looks really interesting! I'm going to assume you made the sauce. Which one/from what? Are there carrots?

We had dinner at an Asian restaurant in Winthrop [east side tourist trap Western town, we go at least once a year ] and my mother's nuoc cham was delicious! Actually so was my katsu sauce. They had a little bit of everything represented, but they did a real bang up job. I'll post some pics if they turned out.

no i didn't make the sauce. it comes with the whole thing, all frozen. both things freeze really well actually. i steamed the cakes and left the plastic sauce bag on the lid to thaw. that's it.

yes, carrot. this sauce is a classic. they use it for so many dishes in VN. i should make it and refridgerate for instant gratification. i do have several VN cookery books. going to give them attention for once.

more pix tomorrow. photobucket.com is under maintenance at the moment.

have a nice weekend!

looks like mashed potato cookies.

I want some Banh Cuon!!!!!

I haven't been to Pho Hoang in ages. I should go.

(I still prefer that one in Chinatown.)