Vietnamese sandwich talk in Wall Street Journal

 

Vietnamese sandwich talk in Wall Street Journal

Google “Fifty Sandwiches with a Side Order of Chagrin” and you should find a Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Oanh Ngo Usadi, who shares a story about living in Port Arthur in 1984 with a father who made Vietnamese sandwiches.

She and her brothers were “already busy every day of the week folding and delivering 500 newspapers,” so I’m assuming she refers to the venerable Port Arthur News.

Her father created Budget Sandwiches in the far corner of Howard’s parking lot.

“The number of hamburgers we sold the entire first month was in the single digits; the Golden Arches down the street had nothing to fear. The work was relentless as we made almost everything from scratch, roasting our own meat, whipping our own mayonnaise, and shredding and pickling our own carrots,” she writes.

“ From our shop, we watched the seasons and traditions of our adopted homeland unfold around the supermarket. From the sea of red, white and blue of the Fourth of July, to the turkeys of Thanksgiving, the festivities of Christmas and New Year's, the sound of bagpipes around St. Patrick's Day, we loved them all. For each season and occasion, we decorated our stand to match those we saw around us. But given our shaky knowledge of American culture, many traditions still eluded us,” she continues.

The story goes on to tell of the day their small business received a phone order for 50 sandwiches, and how frantic preparation became. No one came for the 10 bags of sandwiches.

Alas, this is the tale of a “holiday” with which the family was not familiar. The writer notes she winces each time the calendar reads April 1.Ngo Usadi now lives with her family in Basking Ridge, N.J.

Calling Crafters to Groves

We’re getting craft crazy around here, and that’s a good thing. Taste of Gumbo, Etc. added crafts to its March show and vendors are asking how to sign up next year.

Now the Kizmet gang in Groves is seeking arts, crafts and food vendors for the city’s big affair.

The Groves Affair of the Arts Committee, and with the Groves Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Center will  co-sponsor the 4^th Annual Groves Affair of the Art, set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at the picturesque Celebration Park, 4411 Lincoln Ave. They’re looking for painters,

sculptors, quilters, jewelry makers and others who make pretty, useful or tasty things.

Supervised children will get their own canvas to create their own art. Hey, do I qualify?

It’s free to attend and you’ll get to hear Party Chiefs and Smokin’ Joe & The True Tones.

Vendors, get with the creative people of Kizmet Studio & Koffee Bar at 6039 39^th or The Groves Chamber of Commerce office at 4399 Main Ave. Call them at (409) 962-9300 or call The Groves Chamber of Commerce at (409) 962-3631.

“A Streetcar Named Desire”

I just experienced this American classic for the first time through the skilled Beaumont Community Players’ cast. The set was pure New Orleans and the cast will continue to put out amazing theater mojo through April 12. Go see Tennessee Williams as directed by Gina Hinson.

Ddoiron@panews.com