Bánh Mì for You and Me

At first bite, the grilled pork Vietnamese sandwich (bánh mì) from L.A.'s Nom Nom Truck – the top scorer in the first two weeks of Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race – tastes simple, ordinary, unexceptional. But don't let the first bite fool you. The exceptional quality of Nom Nom's grilled pork sandwich does not spring from any unexpected "wow factor," or from a sudden rush of unusual flavors; the exceptional quality of Nom Nom's bánh mì emerges from the straightforward, harmonious blend of fresh, high-quality local ingredients.
You'll first be struck by the freshness of the twelve-inch baguette, which tastes as if it had been removed from the oven just minutes prior to placing your order. One bite of this bread, and you begin to realize why the French are so obsessed with it. Next you'll be struck by the freshness of the vegetables and herbs, with the cilantro so crisp and aromatic that you seem to taste it not with your tongue, but with your nose. The thin slices of carrot, cucumber, and daikon add a refreshing crunch to each bite, with the jalapeño flying in low for a bright, spicy burst. The honey grilled pork adds some needed weight to the sandwich, which might otherwise float out of your hands and into the ether. You may want more pork at first, but by the end you'll appreciate the proportions, which leave you feeling nourished and full, but never heavy.
Each element of Nom Nom's grilled pork sandwich achieves a life of its own without alienating the other ingredients – standing out while also complimenting and even augmenting the power of the other elements, like a Hall-of-Fame-caliber player in a well-managed ball club. When a sandwich truck has this kind of commitment to fresh, clean, local ingredients, simple becomes more than just simple; it becomes extraordinary.