Banh Mi Catering History
If you find that you choose the same lunchtime sandwich every day you either know exactly what you like, you’re very fussy or you might be stuck in a not very creative food rut! Variety is the spice of life as the saying goes and that’s what Brisk catering in Melbourne is all about. We just love new food ideas and we like pushing the boundaries.
That’s why Vietnamese –style banh mi catering is becoming more and more popular. It’s the type of lunchtime food that’s ideal for corporate catering in the docklands and the areas that surround it. That’s because banh mi is interesting, packed with flavour and a step on from the humble sandwich plus it gives real sustenance when you need it.
What is a Banh Mi?
For those of you unfamiliar with banh mi, it’s a sandwich but not just any sandwich it’s a Vietnamese style sandwich and its popularity has risen, particularly in recent years although it’s actually hundreds of years old. Originally a staple street food item back in the 19th century, the idea was shipped overseas by our Vietnamese friends and Vietnamese settlers that decided to make Australia their home. Banh mi isn’t just served in Vietnam or Australia. Many cultures and countries have adopted it as one of their own favourite lunch-time dishes. If you’re a frequent business traveller you may well have come across it in the USA, in Canada, Japan and other Asian countries.
What is Banh Mi Made Of?
So, now you know where it comes from and when best to eat it, we’ll tell you what it’s made of. Similar to a French baguette, the bread that surrounds the filling is slim and crunchy. Inside the bread there are lots of options, we have the following inviting fillings (but watch this space because we are constantly updating our offering):
- BBQ Asian chicken
- Lemongrass beef
- Pork
- Tofu & vegetables
There’s something for everyone, even if you’re a non-meat eater.
What do they Taste Like?
Different to the traditional sandwich or baguette, what you’ll notice about banh mi is the combination of tangy and sour – that savoury filling complemented by just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy the taste-buds and they’re filling enough to keep you happy until late afternoon.
Quick Banh Mi History
We bet you didn’t know that originally, banh mi was the staple food for poor Vietnamese workers and were sold in the late 1800’s in food carts in the busy, working areas of Vietnam. They were seen as filling and generally nutritious food and the idea obviously stuck because you’ll still see them served on the streets of Vietnam today. Of course, back in the 1800’s, wealthy people would avoid Banh Mi as it wasn’t seen as “good enough” for them – not the case today! In fact, some of our biggest corporate customers specially request their platters of banh mi for important business meetings; they’re the perfect food to impress when a meeting runs through lunch!
So the next time you want to try something a little different or if you’ve got a business lunch coming up that spans a long meeting, don’t stick to the norm…try Brisk Catering’s banh mi.