A face from the past

[christopher575]

My daily stop for bahn mi (vietnamese sandwiches) is Bahn Mi Saigon aka New Saigon Deli. More on the subject of bahn mi later, but the short version is that I go there the most. And by the most, I mean that in 20 work days a month I probably go there 19.

While my sandwiches (one for me, and one for a co-worker who pre-pays me for two weeks at a time) were being made, I heard a familiar voice. I looked back at the sandwich area and was surprised to see one of the women who used to make sandwiches for me at Saigon Gourmet, which I didn't link because it's now closed. And that's a damn shame. I only ate in their restaurant once. The pho was good, but the space was pretty tight and a little filmy. Their sandwich and to-go counter, however, did a brisk business. It wasn't uncommon to see a line of 8 people waiting to order sandwiches, and they were so efficient that it never took long. The slowpokes at Bambuza could learn a lesson or two from them.

I walked over and asked, "Didn't you work at Saigon Gourmet?" and explained to my current sandwich gal that the woman next to her was my ex. I'm not sure if she recognized me, because I hadn't shaved my beard yet when they closed, but she said to make sure to come back to Banh Mi Saigon as I walked out.

Right before I went out the door I heard the other girl say, "He's here every day."