Banh Mi- Vietnamese sandwich

Take a bite into one of Dung Vu's banh mi sandwiches, and then try to identify all the tastes and textures.

It's harder than you might think.

There's the bread, obviously, crusty on the outside, chewy inside. There's a clear and strong aroma of fresh cilantro, and the lingering spice from red chiles.
 

Banh mi sandwiches, like this one from Ky Duyen Cafe in Syracuse, include several layers of meat, vegetables and condiments. 

But what's that in between? Butter? Pork? Cucumber?

Yes, but that's still probably only half of the flavors packed into a sandwich that is the size and shape of a small football.
 

Banh mi (pronounced bunn mee) is a hugely popular sandwich in Vu's homeland of Vietnam, where vendors sell it from street carts in both cities and rural areas.

At Vu's Ky Duyen Cafe, at the corner of North Salina and Butternut streets, banh mi is the only food on the menu. They also serve rich and sweet Vietnamese coffee for morning and midday customers.

And Ky Duyen seems to be one of the few places in Upstate New York for members of the Vietnamese community to satisfy their craving for a freshly made banh mi. (Prepackaged banh mi are available at some Asian food stores).