88 Comments

That couple is depressing. We lived in Vietnam for three months and as Americans we were worried the Vietnamese might hold a grudge -- as they very well could! Nope, didn't bat an eye. Lovely people.

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We had a similar worry when we were in Cambodia. I totally would've understood a grudge. But it was just the opposite. We had so many positive experiences, even when we found ourselves in difficult conversations about war and genocide. We met several people who had strong feelings about U.S. policy in the 1970s, but those feelings didn't extend to American people.

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Woh…that sandwich looks great! You should write a book of quotes. Just from today:

“Because even after the fighting stops, the hate always seems to endure.”

“Racism is a cudgel used to deny dignity and opportunity to people labeled as “other.”

“Racism is a cancer that rots society from the inside.”

“ Why is she saying racist shit to me? Do I look like a fellow traveler?”

Howto create your own QR code (static, which is just a link or dynamic which is trackable):

https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-QR-Code

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Thanks! Feel free to highlight and restack any of those, if you like.

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That vegan banh mi is really fucking good. I'm ordering one today. And, yes, fuck racism. Ima punch a nazi today if I see one on the way to pick up my banh mi.

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Enjoy!

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That’s a lot of questions and I have a short memory so I’ll stick with the sandwich aspect: the best sandwich in the world is the Rajun Cajun at the Other Coast Cafe in Ballard, Seattle. Sure you need a shower after eating it because the spicy mayo drips down your arms. And sure you have a sore mouth for a week from the toasted baguette scraping the skin off the roof of your mouth. But….it’s amazing.

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Oooo. I’m south of Seattle. I will have to see if it can be made free of a few allergy items.

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FYI there is a Mendocino Farms in Emeryville— which is en route from the Oakland Airport to San Rafael. 5333 Adeline St

Emeryville, CA 94608

I’m going to check out that vegan banh mi.

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Enjoy!

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2) I just walked by the taco bell CANTINA upscale restaurant I tried once, nine years ago. What a pile of feces.

4) I used to work by a mendo. It's expensive but good. I often brought my racist friend. He's an economics PhD so it's to change the subject to something else he's wrong about (misogyny, classism, ageism, how our 401k plan works, etc.).

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How can one man be so wrong about so much? Don’t answer that. I know that man. Not literally, but we all know the type.

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Should read "it's easy to"

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QR codes as an option - fine.

QR codes because they outright refuse to provide a physical menu - bye.

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You can get a physical menu at Mendo, so they stay on my list. Thankfully!

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The vegan banh mi sounds awesome - nothing like a cheesesteak from Jim’s in Philly, but. . .

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A life goal is to go to Philly and eat a real cheesesteak

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If you’re ever in Christchurch, New Zealand take a wee trip to the suburb of Fendalton, this will be your first hurdle because you will be judged on how you pronounce Fendalton, some say Fen-doll-tin and there are those who say Fendilltin ( one quick rushed word) but no matter how you pronounce it you will be judged and, more than likely, found wanting.

But I digress.

Get to that suburb then onto the corner of Clyde and IIlam (Eyelam)Road and there is a group of shops on one corner and one of them is a bakery. Just walk into the slightly looking seedy shop, all white it

Es and echoey tile floor with only two Formica topped tables and, randomly, 3 chairs none which match.

Just march assuredly up to counter and ask for a hot roast beef sandwich and you then watch the guy behind the counter craft a slice of heaven just for you.

A slice of the whitest, softest, this wasn’t made by nature bread slathered with butter, two slices of hot roast beef, topped with a thick gravy which is then sprinkled with pepper, then another slice of that bread also slathered with butter and slapped on top like a seal of approval. Its then slipped into a plain brown paper bag handed to you with the obligatory “ you want anything else?” But you won’t need anything else, you’ve got it all in one little brown paper bad

A roast beef sandwich. Simply delicious.

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Mendocino sounds rad. Wish we had one in WA.

I make my own food as I have a plethora of intolerances. Because of your last Taco post I’ve been on a Mexican food kick. Last night we had gf burritos with grilled chicken, onion, black beans, lettuce, salsa and Avacado. Really messy and yummy.

I had a black friend who wouldn’t drink Coke because they supported apartheid in S Africa 40 years ago.

A wealthy Jewish guy I knew refused to buy a Mercedes because it was Hitler’s car. In both instances I am positive those companies have been thru many CEOs and Board of Directors’.

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Mendo is rad. I also know lots of older Jews who won’t buy German.

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I used to live near a Mendocino Farms. Love that place! The Vegan Bahn Mi if s a go-to. I also enjoy the Sandwich Study of Heat.

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No racism there that I can recall, but who knows what future visits may bring!

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I don’t know that sandwich. I always want to try other stuff, but I don’t want to cheat on the bahn mi.

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Most American Tacos aren't genuine tacos. The Mexican Taco is closer to what we'd call a burrito. The taquito is closer to a chalupa rolled up. lol.

But that doesn't stop me from ordering three tacos and two enchiladas when I eat at a Mexican restaurant.

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Food Racism. It's there for when all the other versions are claimed.

How can you choose to not like a cuisine because of its cultural origins? It's just fucking FOOD.

I'm also really hungry having just read this - and very jealous, as there's (surprise!) not one of these places anywhere within a few thousand miles of my home! Mendocino Farms sounds like another reason that Tupac was right ... 'Let's show these fools how we do it over on this Westside/

'Cause you and I know it's the best side'. Vegan banh mi, indeed.

Loved this post.

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Tupac was way ahead of his time.

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A prophet.

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While your vegan Bahn mi DOES look fabulous, we have a Vietnamese inspired restaurant in tiny Freeland on Whidbey Island. They make killer pho (and have a neon sign in the window that reads "phoreeland")and the best pork Bahn mi, as well as the most killer meatloaf sandwich I have ever eaten in my entire life. If you're ever in the neighborhood I highly recommend it, Fare Market in Phoreeland WA.

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I need to be in that neighborhood!

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You would be there every day. It's the best thing that ever happened to Phoreeland. It would be worth a vacation here just for Fare Market.

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Interesting take. I’ve (unfortunately) come across Mr. Clueless too many times to mention. But fair play, my wife and I experienced WAY more prejudice about our relationship in the Vietnamese community than we ever did outside it.

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I miss the Indian wrap they used to have at Mendo… that was my favorite on their menu!

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I don’t think I ever tried it. Bummer that it’s gone. What do you get now?

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