Charlie at the subway entrance to the Museum of Natural History
I’ve been pressed for blogging time. That is, the time I formerly stole from my dissertation and used for blogging has been returned to dissertation-matters for the time being.
But my husband and I took a little jaunt to the Natural History Museum in New York City this past Friday.
[We used a Museum Pass from our local library. We got in free! Maybe a library near you has a similar program.]
It was wonderful, educational, everything a museum should be. (Except that art museums are my very favorite.)
Dinosaur fossils in foyer (which is under construction)
Afterward, we went quite a ways out of our way to go to Hanco‘s in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Now, their Yelp! reviews are great, but I might not have gone out of my way just for that.
[It was actually an easy subway trip on the B train downtown, switching at Rockefeller Center to the F train to Brooklyn. Having our iPhones handy certainly doesn't hurt. Especially since the NYC metro transit system does not seem as user-friendly to me as others (London, Berlin, D.C.) do.]
Instead, I heard about Hanco’s from a recent episode of the best radio show ever, This American Life. (My husband and I are regular supporters of the program, which is saying something on a tight budget. I promise you, NEVER have I wanted to do housework more than when I have an not-yet-listened-to podcast of the show waiting on my iPod.) Their episode called “Million Dollar Idea” starts with a story about Hanco’s.
Unassuming store front, Hanco's of Cobble Hill
There’s another location in Park Slope, Brooklyn, which I know to be a nice area. I’m not really sure how the locations compare. This was a small restaurant. A lot of their business is either take away or delivery, I’m pretty sure. If I lived in the area, it would be hard not to order from Hanco’s very frequently … or hourly. There were two other tables occupied during our time there, and several people were in and out over the duration. But the restaurant definitely wasn’t busy like it reportedly can be during lunch hour.
Inside Hanco's, looking at the entrance
I am quite a fan of Vietnamese food as it is. I love their cold, summer rolls (with shrimp and peanut/hoisin dipping sauce). I am a big fan of the vermicelli that mixes sweet and savory, cooked and raw, soft and crunchy.
So, it’s no surprise that I should love Vietnamese sandwiches. But until hearing about Hanco’s, I had no idea that Vietnamese sandwiches even existed! Now, I shall never forget:
Please witness the unmitigated deliciousness of the Hanco's original sandwich.
Patrons can pick the sandwich they desire based on their contents, which can be pork, chicken, or tofu, at least. Variations in spiciness are the second attribute one must choose. I went with “medium.” It was spicy, but a just right kind of spicy. The texture and flavor variations that I love in vermicelli were also packed into the sandwich, encased in a crunchy pressed roll.
Crunchy? Soft? Tender? Yes.
The other attraction at Hanco’s is the bubble tea. Unfortunately, they were out of tapioca (bubbles) the day we visited. Tapioca is, by far, my favorite way to have bubble tea. But we could choose between lychee jelly and mango jelly. I chose the former, Charlie the latter. We both got our “bubbles” with a coconut flavored milk concoction that may have included green tea. I’m not quite sure.
Lychee Jelly Bubble Milk
Again, the play with textures is just part of what makes bubble tea so much fun. I’ll have to try them again, since the jellies just can’t compete with tapioca in my book. The coconut flavor was very fresh and cool, perfect for a beautiful August day in the City.
So, Hanco’s, until we meet again …
Hey-oh. I listened to that episode recently.
I also had never heard of Vietnamese sandwiches, but they look great. Please tell me you listen to Radiolab too? I have to say, my radio crush on Ira has been surpassed by my radio crush on Jad. If you haven’t, start with the “Animal Minds” episode, and follow ASAP with “Parasites” and “Space” and “Pop Music.” If you’re already familiar with the glories of Radiolab or if we’ve had this conversation recently and I’ve just forgotten because it’s summer and my brain is off its leash, then talk to me on FB and tell me all about your favorite episodes and how you too embarrass yourself by frequently quoting random facts to acquaintances in a “Guess what? I heard on this one podcast I listen to all about a parasite that makes its way into your brain through your…” kind of way.
DEVON, I was the one who told you about Radio Lab! Silly girl. Yes, I love them both. But I love Ira best.
I have that very affliction (if something so wonderful could be so terribly termed an “affliction”). But I listen to so many podcasts while cooking and cleaning and jogging and driving that I often have to pause to remember, “Wait, where did I hear this fun fact?”
A good problem to have.
Oh yes, Vietnamese sandwiches… I think they are an odd mix of Vietnamese tradition with a dash of French influence thrown in for good measure. Isn’t it funny the way a country’s food changes when they are ‘colonised’ by another country. Well, ‘funny’ is perhaps the wrong word! ‘Interesting’ is a better choice.
Glad the menu items were good enough to steal.
I’ve got to try some bubble tea, and soon.
Hi Kara, your blog is fantastic. Really enjoy reading about the food and travel. What is your dissertation on by the way?
Shamz,
I’m late to respond (SORRY). My dissertation is on women in the (various) endings of the Gospel According to Mark, especially focusing on what’s called the “Long Ending” (Mark 16:9-20). It’s a confounding piece of ancient literature, to be sure, so I’m quite challenged as I work on it.
Thanks for your compliments and thanks for asking about my dissertation.