Worldly Desires
It hasn't been a French colony since 1945, but one of Vietnam's most recognized dishes echoes France's long-lasting influence. Instead of just sliced meat, Superior Pho's banh mi sandwich ($4.95) includes a smattering of a French staple: pate. The sandwich, on the menu at the popular MidTown shop since shortly after it opened in 2002, pairs savory pork with a small pile of snappy cucumbers and jalapenos all tied together with spicy mayo. House-pickled daikon and carrot slivers add a briny, sweet and sour bite. Although owner Manh Nguyen is notoriously furtive about his recipes, he is willing to let slip that he marinates his pork overnight in a secret blend of spices. Some is sliced thin and the rest is made into the pate, flavored with thyme and chardonnay — an umami mix of chewy textures. "I love French food and I got the exposure to it, so I marinate the meat with a lot of French ingredients," says Nguyen, who emigrated from Vietnam in 1975. "When you eat it, there are different layers of herbs in that little piece of meat." 3030 Superior Ave., Cleveland, 216-781-7462, superiorpho.com