Chinatown Cheers

... "Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came". Or so goes the song from the infamous Boston bar. I've got my only little version here in Boston that I have to blog about before I lose the moment.



So I'm back in town, haven't had a chance to go grocery shopping yet so not much in the way for packing lunch - still not back into the staple of PB&Js and need to give tuna a rest. So had to run to grab a bite again today and not wanting to pay for a $8 sandwich I made a run for chinatown to pick up a vietnamese sandwich. I asked if my coworkers were interested and they'd never heard of the sandwich. Granted I didn't either until I started working near by.



What I like about the sandwich - it has a vegetarian option and is hard to replicate at home - some of the veggies are marinated in something. Plus they're cheap. So figured I'd pick up three - two for me and one to share with folks so they could try it.



What I like about the store I go to is that you walk in and it's a crowd with all these old chinese (maybe vietanemese) men sitting around at these small tables drinking coffee. It's basically a bakery with some tables. And you feel like you're in another country - rarely hear english and when you do it's beginner english. Every now and then I'll see a westerner. Well, I don't go often, but I think it's because I've introduced friends to the place. Anyways, one of the ladies who makes the sandwiches remembers me. I order the sandwich with "no hot" and I also don't like the salty fish sauce. Maybe that's why she remembers me - she can never understand why I don't want the fish sauce. In the past she's tried to convince me it's good for me and I should have it. Today, I walk in and she does a little wave and says it's been a long time. It was so sweet and slightly awkward. I was suprised she remembered me. She got my order going right away while helping others with the bakery part. I've never really carried on a conversation with her as the language is a barrier, but I was touched.



Well, I'm awkardly bouncing around the store as there's no convienent place to stand and still be out of the way. I'm contemplating one of the pastries but luckily decide against it. I had just brought some cash with me and not my wallet. So I was super embarrased when she hands over the sandwiches and asks for $8.25 and I only had was $8. She was sweet and waved away the extra. I felt awful after her being so sweet and remembering me. I planning on going next week so will make it up then, but she doesn't know that so I feel bad until then. Still, overall it gave me the nice warm fuzzies.