Michelle Darmody: Perk up your picnic with these international offerings
Summer Rolls
I still remember the first time I tasted a Ban Mi sandwich. it was not in Vietnam where they hail from, but over a summer working in America as a student. There was a tiny dark deli on my street and the owners must have been Vietnamese. They had a small counter way down the back of the shop, which always had delicious smells emanating from it. I chanced it and ordered one of their unusual sounding sandwiches. It was so good I can still vividly remember the taste, the mixture of strong meaty flavours, the freshness of the herbs and the tart sweetness of the pickled vegetables, all encased in warm crunchy bread. I returned to the deli many times. The sandwich recipe included here is not a true Ban Mi, as it is without the pâté layer, but it is very much inspired by the combination of flavours you find in this enduring and much-loved Vietnamese staple.
