My love for carbs

March zoomed by so quick, I didn't realize it's already mid-March. Besides the time change throwing me off, and having out-of-state guests for several days, I'm also a mama... ok I don't sound that busy, but I'm sure I had a lot more going on than I realized.

When my babies take one of four naps during the day, I'm either napping with them, or running errands. On one particular day I couldn't find my babies anywhere. Normally I could hear their bells (they both have the same bell, but I could tell who is who by their rhythm, now how's that for a mom). However on this strange day I searched their usual territory, calling out their names, but nothing. Until I found them in their new favorite spot.

In the closet on top of the extra mattress, taking a nap.

And little brother decided to join the fun.
Just thought I'd share that with you. Ok anyway, I could go on forever about my babies, but let's talk about food.

So today's post is quite simple. While I was snacking on carbs and fats and sodium, I thought a time where a friend asked, "If you could eat one thing forever, what would it be?" I almost thought this question was impossible, since I love food from different cultures and I'm spoiled enough to say that I normally eat what I crave. I've put the question aside, for many many years. (My friend asked me this question back in 2000, and I still had no answer!)

But today is a new day. It's official, I realized how much I absolutely love this.


Quite simple, no? Give me a good loaf of French Bread (I prefer the Vietnamese kind), good quality butter, laughing cow cheese, brie, or any other spreadable cheese, or a bottle of Maggi (Vietnamese crack, or soy sauce for the unknown). Ok, so it's not really one thing, but bread is my #1.




I know I inherited this love for carbs, fats and sodium from my parents (on the downside, my siblings don't share this love with me). When my mom and I went to the mall, we always stopped by Grain D'or (now know as Anderson Bakery) to buy cheese bread, pesto bread, herb-butter bread, 5-grain bread, you name it, we got it. When I was a small child, my mom toasted sliced Wonder bread, spread a bit of butter, let the warm toast melt the butter and sprinkled some sugar on top. It doesn't sound right, but the elements fit so well together, try it for breakfast with your cup of coffee! It's fabulous!

When I walk into Costco, the smell of baked goods really tickles my fancy. At 4pm Safeway has committed to having warm, fresh bread or it's free. My favorite non-Asian hippie market makes their breads so perfect, so right for me (organic, that is). I just love the warmth and the squishy soft yet crustiness of bread. Ok, I'm having a big drool-fest just thinking about it.

Even though I love many breads, my #1 is Vietnamese French Bread. Because it doesn't give me heartburn, it doesn't make me feel heavy and guilty, and I don't gain six pounds from it, like I do from other breads.

When I lived in the Bay Area, I had more access to French Bread, fresh daily. But now that I live 700 miles away, the closest Vietnamese bakery is about thirty minutes away, or I can buy the stuff that has been sitting on the shelves at my local Asian market and revive the bread in the oven at home. And it's still delicious.
Isn't it so cute and small? A bag of these petite rolls cost a little more than a bag of the regular sized rolls, but I figured the small rolls would benefit me through portion control... so wrong. I had three rolls, and still wanted another one. On the upside, eating three small rolls gave me guilt, so I had to stop, while if I have one large roll I would've gone for another... since it's just one more large roll. I have the mentality to believe two large loaves is acceptable, while three petite rolls is pure fat-ass, even though two-and-a-half smalls is probably equivalent to one large roll.

I didn't eat the whole stick of butter, but I probably could! And I know I mentioned that I like high quality butter, but I also forgot to mention that I'm unemployed, so I settle for the next best thing, Tillamook. I also use unsalted to cut down on the sodium, so I could have more Maggi =)


Can you see how soft and fluffy and flaky it is? Imagine this crunchy yet airy piece of bread topped with sweet cold butter all melting in your mouth. Ok, this is too food-porn for me.



I really thought this post would be short and to the point, but I guess I could go on forever about bread and butter. So I end this post with the question, If there was one thing you could eat everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be? I'd really like to know!

Have a nice weekend!

Lanvin French Bakery
8211 NE Brazee St
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 252-0155