Tag: Wisconsin

Food Alert: 3 States, 3 Bánh Mì.

You might be wondering what is that word ‘Bánh Mì’ means. Well In literal translation from Vietnamese it means bread, but it holds so much more than that. It is childhood memories, it is adulthood, it is family time, it is history, it is culture and it is traditions plus many more. Bánh mì is a Vietnamese cuisine that is gaining popularity in the US.

Let’s go into a little bit of the history if it!
Like I mentioned bánh mì translates to bread, but for the cuisine it uses a baguette that the French colonist introduced to Vietnam when it was still part of French Indochina along with some of the other ingredients. Sometimes it is called bánh mì thịt, just adding the word ‘meat’ to the end so you know it’s the person is talking about the sandwich and not about bread itself. Bánh mì has been considered a luxury cuisine a couple of times in history, during World War I and after the Fall of Saigon in 1975, but is now a common street food. It has become a staple food of Vietnam and if anyone remembers H’Hen Nie, Miss Vietnam 2018 wore bánh mì as her Miss Universe national costume.

H’Hen Nie, Miss Vietnam 2018 wore bánh mì as her Miss Universe national costume.

There are different variations of these viet subs, but the ones that I will be comparing today are all Bánh mì đặc biệt which is a special combo sandwich. In these special combo sandwiches, you’ll find these ingredients:

• Vietnamese baguette
• Sliced pork or pork belly
• Chả lụa (pork sausage)
• Head cheese or brawn
• Fresh cucumber slices
• Cilantro
• Pickled carrots and white radish (shredded form)
• Jalapeños
• Maggi seasoning sauce
• Mayonnaise
• Liver pâté

bánh mì đặc biệt or special combo Vietnamese subs or sandwiches

I grew up eating these subs and I absolutely love them to this day. In the last month, I have tried 3 bánh mì đặc biệt from 3 different places, which happen to be all in different states. So here is from least liked to most liked.

The first place is from a restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin. I don’t really want to put the name of the restaurant out there because they have other foods that are really good. I had really good pho from them actually, so I won’t knock them down for just one food item. Their subs were okay though. I probably wouldn’t get any subs there again, but if someone else did they are still tasteful enough to eat.
So one main ingredient that makes up a bánh mì đặc biệt is the bread right? I mean it’s in the name. Well the reason why they are my least liked is because their bread was flat, not airy like a baguette. It seemed like they scooped the breading out like how Jimmy John’s does? Also their bread was really wide and the inside ingredient portions did not match at all. The shredded pickled carrots and white radishes were all cut super thin where you could barely tell that there was any in it.

The second place is right down from where I grew up in Kentwood, Michigan at B&N Sandwiches located in the Golden Bridge Plaza. I’m probably a little bias, but the bread there has a nice crunch when you bite into it. The veggies are cut into good sized pieces, the only thing that I would change about it is the inconsistency of the sandwich. Sometimes there isn’t enough of one ingredient compared to the last time you bought some. Overall all, I would really recommend them to everyone!

The last place is from Ha Tien Super Market located in St. Paul, Minnesota. All the bánh mì that I have ever had, Ha Tien Super Market has made it the best! The bánh mì has a nice crunch to it, the inner ingredient portions are more than you can ask for. They really fill the baguette up. I really like cilantro too, so the amount of veggies that they throw on is perfect. *chefs kiss*
I don’t know what else they use, but there is just way more flavor in their subs. I would travel again back to St. Paul just to get more. Might have to go back pretty soon to get some!!

I will always be trying other places, so there will be more food blogs on these Vietnamese subs! It’s nice being able to write foods that I grew up eating and that are a part of who I am. I’ll start doing more of these, it makes me feel a little more connected to my roots and my family since I moved away. The area I live in now doesn’t have too many Vietnamese restaurants like they do back in Michigan.
I also wanted to quickly add that while bánh mì (and other Viet cuisines) are gaining popularity here in the US, please don’t try to take these dishes and americanize them to make a profit off of. Do not do what has been done to Mexican/Hispanic foods. Foods should be shared with others along with their traditions and origins, even if someone else puts their own twist on it, but shouldn’t be monetized. It’s quite insulting, but that’s another topic for another time.

bánh mì đặc biệt or special combo Vietnamese sub or sandwich from Ha Tien Super Market

Until next time though. Should Pho be next? Let me know in the comments or through my socials! Stay hungry ♡

On My Own Time.

For the past few months, I’ve been able to kind of reset, start over and change how I’ve lived my life. Something I didn’t think was possible because I felt so stuck in a routine that didn’t allow me to have any time for myself. I quit my jobs and moved which allowed and forced me to find out what I would like for myself and what I don’t want to fall back into. It is 3 AM and I’m sitting at a breakfast bar inside my room eating a cheese, meat and carrot box, drinking kombucha and feeling pretty happy and content with life.

One thing I’ve learned and trying to incorporate more is doing things on my own time. Waiting until it feels right for me and not rushing into things. I’m not talking about chores, but life decisions. It may be a great opportunity, but if it feels too rushed then it’s okay to say no. When the time is right for you, then go ahead and revisit it. If it’s not available then it wasn’t meant to be. Finding your own timing with things can be a little difficult, but when it’s time you’ll know.

Don’t let anyone tear you down for not doing something right away because it’s what they want for you or because it’s what they expect from you. Some people will even try to use your own timing to make you look bad and make themselves better because you seem happier than them. They just want what you have, pure jealousy. Choose schooling when you feel ready and motivated, choose that job that you’re happy to work at instead of the one where you make tons of money, but you’re completely miserable. You know what’s right for you and only you can live for yourself.

I’m taking this time to not only enjoy my freedom and getting to know my new area, but to make sure I’m choosing me correctly. Making sure I have time to actually make the right decisions. From school, work, and my life outside from those I don’t want anything less than happy. I’ve been doing things on my own time and I couldn’t be happier about it.

SALLY ♡ T

Imagine.

Imagine waking up happy the moment you open your eyes all the way until you fall asleep. Imagine less roads traveled and more of that time spent surrounded by love and laughter instead of your radio and your solo concerts. Imagine less conversations through the phone and more in person. Imagine lonely days being less lonely, each day filled with loving stares, more hugs and more kisses. Imagine a world like that.

Big news though, I don’t have to imagine it anymore because I finally get to live like that. I moved to Wisconsin.
You read that right, I moved to Wisconsin.


All I have to say about it is: it feels right.

SALLY ♡ T

The Happy Of 2020: Part One.

I’ve been writing a lot about the bad of 2020, so I wanted to lighten up the mood with the good things that came my way this year. If you haven’t noticed yet, I’m a sad girl and when I say that I mean it in the ‘sad boi club’ way. There’s just something about me that just is attracted to sadness I guess.

Let’s go start with the beginning of the year, pre-pandemic, with my job promotion. I got promoted to assistant manager at my workplace and this is the first job that I have ever gotten promoted at. I went from being a hostess to assistant manager and I think I’ve done the best that I could, given the circumstances of this year. The restaurant is still up and alive, so I couldn’t have been that awful. I really am proud of myself for the hard work that I’ve put in to have earned the promotion. I feel super honored that everyone believed that I could fill in the spot and most coworkers made me feel so welcomed and appreciated. I really hope I made a difference there.

Right at the beginning of our quarantine phase, I was suppose to attend a show in Chicago of my favorite artist. Unfortunately, that got cancelled due to everything shutting down, but I still kept the weekend off and spent it in Wisconsin with my boyfriend. Well that weekend, turned to a week, turned into three months. Yep, a three month stay with my boyfriend and his family. Being a long distance relationship, you don’t get to do one of those often. I wrote a little about it in a previous blog post, so I’ll spare the details here. Being long distance has it’s ups and downs, so being able to be together everyday like a regular couple was very needed.

A rest. Because of things shutting down, my job shut down for a couple of months and boy did I need that. My life was getting consumed by work and that was wearing and tearing me down. I got to find the balance between my mental health and everything else in my life. I had the time to put into myself. It was hard at first and I still struggle with it now, I feel more connected with myself and not like i’m just going through life like a robot. I now know how to set up boundaries between work, social and personal life. I am also caught up with all the sleep that I’ve ever missed.

I fucking did something that I never thought I would ever do, but glad that I did. I BARELY conquered, but conquered a 8 mile hike with a 14,278′ elevation, Grays Peak. For somewhere who is not an active person at all, I fucking did that shit. I’m so proud of myself, it was crazy. We went hiking within 12 hours of being in Colorado, my lungs were not having it. You can also read about all of that here! In the blog post, I said I wouldn’t do it again, but I’m over that and would love to go on another hike like that. It’s rewarding and beautiful.

I turned 25 this year. The day after I got back from Colorado and had a lovely charcuterie board birthday picnic with my friends. I am a quarter of a century now! This year I’ve learned that time really does go by fast and in a blink of an eye, you just grow up. I’m very blessed to have everything that I do and very blessed to have all these people around me that love the shit out of me. This year I’ve really seen who is there for me, through the good and the bad. I really love this life that I was given. I talk all this shit sometimes, but really I’m having a good time. People can sit there and say I’m not doing anything with my life and try to belittle me, but I know where I’m at and at least I’m doing everything that makes me happy.

As I started typing, just more and more good things starting coming up, so this will be broken up into parts. I’ll post the second part soon! Sometimes it is nice to type up positive stuff, maybe I’ll try to start to doing that more often, lol. I also have another giveaway soon as well, so keep an eye out for that blog post to come out and follow me on Instagram for the notifications!

SALLY ♡ T 

To My Mr. Sweetface,

The chances of you reading this is close to none or when I’m too old to remember about this blog, but to my little Mr. Sweetface ♡

To explain why you’re Mr. Sweetface, I thought it was such a cute nickname from one of my favorite shows, Jane the Virgin. In the show, she unexpectedly got pregnant and that’s what she called her son. With you, you came into my life unexpectedly, but in a good unexpected way. Actually the best unexpected way that could happen.

Today is your birthday (I posted this a day later) and I can’t be there to celebrate with you, but just know how much I’m celebrating you from afar! We’ve been in each others life for 2 years now and I can’t even explain how special you are to me. Our bond is very special and no one will take that away. You are my best friend when I come visit over there and I love how much you “bother” me. (I never see it that way, btw.) One of the sweetest kids in the WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEM. That’s right, solar system! Even though I’m the adult, you have taught me so much more than what I taught you, to love someone as their own. I’m truly grateful for that and how open you’ve been to letting me in. There’s so much I wish I could tell you now, but as time passes and your big brain expands more you’ll understand it better. You are really one of the greatest blessings in my life.

I hope you’ll see that I’m not here to replace anyone or to take anyone away, but to make my own little space in your heart. I want to be there for you, for everything and to be able to share those moments with who you already share it with. Just know I am always here for you. Our hello’s, goodbye’s and I will miss you’s are still so special to me and warms my heart every time.

I can’t wait to hear all your fun facts and see all your new projects the next time I’m over. Miss you tons and hope you had the best birthday yet. You’re super loved and I hope you know that!

SALLY ♡ T

Food Alert: Madison, Wisconsin

Are you ready for more food and drink boomerangs? It’s probably my favorite thing to do haha. Today’s city is Madison, Wisconsin and you’ll notice that I’ll be writing a lot about here or already have, but the answer for that is because my boyfriend lives in Wisconsin. So I do spend a good amount of time here and you guys already know that we both like to eat. Let’s jump into the food though!

When I arrived into town, our first food stop was to the new asian market that just opened called Global Market and Hall. It is a market, but it also has a food court inside with many different stands to choose from. I can’t remember the name of the food stand that I ordered from (oops), but I got a bowl of Beef Brisket Pho and a side of Barbecue Pork Buns. The Pho broth wasn’t as flavorful like how Pho usually is, but the beef brisket was really good, tender and just melts in your mouth. I was pretty disappointed with how dry the pork buns were, but I’m the type of person to give places a second chance, so hopefully next time it will be better!

If you guys follow me on snapchat, then you know my new favorite thing to eat are seafood boils in a bag. I can eat these forever! I usually get full quick, but when it comes to these, I will sit there for hours eating everything like I have a bottomless stomach. This one is from Ragin Cajun Seafood. You always have to get the House Special flavor, which is all the flavors combined. They have a good variety of seafoods in their combos compared to other seafood boil places that I’ve been to as well. So far King Cajun Crawfish in Orlando is my #1, but Ragin Cajun Seafood is pretty good if you find yourself in Madison, Wisconsin!

You can’t enjoy all these yummy entrees and big meals without some desserts. Treat yourself and top it off with some sweets! The boyfriend has a bigger sweet tooth than I do, but it’s starting to rub off on me. I do have a soft spot for boba and pleasing pretty looking drinks. We had to go get some drinks and dessert from Le C’s Patisserie & Tea House! Ugh, I wish we had places this like in Grand Rapids. Pretty tea drinks are so pleasing. We got the Flamingo Boba and the Peach Green Tea with Rose Flower and Lemon. Both are very delicious!

The dessert that we picked to try was the Caramel Coconut Custard Cake. It tasted so much like Flan, but with a soft custard/pudding like texture. It was really good! I wanted to get about 5 more just to eat. The desserts come in such cute boxes, white all over and gold on the inside. Felt like I was about to eat a million dollar cake. Both yummy and satisfying!
If you guys were wondering, my favorite thing is to make my boyfriend make boomerangs with me and he probably gets so annoyed with it hahah.

There’s so many other locations to eat at and a couple more seafood boils to try over in Wisconsin, so I’m ready for all of that. Don’t worry, these Food Alert post won’t be going away anytime soon. I think these are my favorite to write about and share. Recommendation for other food places are always welcomed, you can post them in the comments below or on the contact page!

SALLY ♡ T