vietnamese baguette for banh mi

[catroast]

Hi where can I find a good baguette for banh mi in the city

[twinkie83]

boulangerie belle bleue on jean-talon east and cartier. they are what is used in a lot of the banh mi shops. and they are the most popular bread there so not only you don't have to ask but you just tell them how many you want (2.25 for half a dozen i believe)

[catroast]

what should i ask for? banh mi baguette? is it cash only?

[twinkie83]

there's interact but it's $5 minimum i believe. you can ask for baguette or just tell them how many you want, they'll know. everyone who goes there pretty much buy only the baguette

[lagatta]

That is a rather droll effect of French colonialism in Africa and Asia - La Belle bleue is Maghrebi; funny that "Indochinese" shops use their bread...

[twinkie83]

i know but it's the perfect size and all

[maj54us]

Since banh mi is influenced by the french baguette maybe look for a "boulangerie française" that make a great baguette. I suggest

mamie clafouti
1291 Avenue Van Horne
Outremont, QC H2V 1K5
[phone]

3660 rue St Denis
Montréal QC H2X 3L7
(croisement St Denis et Cherrier)
Métro Sherbrooke
438-380-5624

[catroast]

Vietnamese baguettes are made in part with rice flour giving them a lighter, more airy consistency.

[maj54us]

Interesting, do you think that the banh mi places around Montreal use Rice Flower? I'm curious to try and taste the difference.

[catroast]

some places do - i am pretty sure that vua uses some rice flour and ba le did as well. the often discussed place at st-denis and jean talon doesn't - in fact their bread and banh mi are terrible imo.

check this thread http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/809962

[mugen]

The difference is that the French baguette (if made properly) will have flavour, whereas the Vietnamese one will have none - it's not unfair to say that the whole point of them is to have no structure or flavour.

[kpzoo]

Marché Hawai usually (but not always) has them. They come in bags of 3.

[catroast]

are they any good?

[kpzoo]

If you a fresh batch, yes, they're very good. They aren't always super fresh, so it's hit or miss.

[unlaced]

Could you just buy the baguette from your favourite banh mi place?

Else, in Verdun, Marche InterAsia sell baguettes for banh mi. Tthey also sell their own version of banh mi, which is ok, but not the best - edited to add, it is only ok because of the fillings used, not because of the bread, the bread is good!