“Xoi banh day” is not the name of a type of sticky rice, nor does it refer to a type of banh day. In Hue, this name is a combination of xoi and banh day - two traditional dishes of the Vietnamese people. If visitors come to Hue and hear the call of “xoi banh day here”, just call the caller and you will have a piece of sticky rice and banh day for breakfast.
Sticky rice and sticky rice cakes are usually sold by women on small trays, sometimes carried on a shoulder pole, sometimes carried on their hips. On the shiny brown bamboo tray, the white, round sticky rice cakes are arranged neatly like rows of corn. When someone comes to buy, the women will skillfully peel off each layer of sticky rice cakes and place them on a piece of lush green banana leaf.
The sticky rice cake of this dish is quite thin, hidden inside the crust is the golden color of the bean filling. The girls quickly pinch a pinch of white sticky rice from the side, place it in the middle of the sticky rice cake, then fold it into a crescent shape. Then, spread a layer of fragrant scallion oil on top.
But that is not enough! Diners must dip the sticky rice and rice cake with sesame salt to make it more delicious. Holding the package in hand, you can smell the fragrant aroma of sticky rice from the sticky rice and rice cake. Then gently take each piece of cake and dip it in the sesame salt. Take a bite and you can immediately taste the stickiness and fat of the sticky rice and rice cake, plus the salty and sweet taste of crushed mung beans and sesame salt.
Ms. Nguyen Bich Ngoc (40 years old), a native of Hue, shared that this is a dish that is associated with her childhood. The sticky, rich taste of sticky rice and sticky rice cake makes her remember it forever. Even though she lives far away from home, every time she returns, she tries to buy it to eat.
Nowadays, sticky rice and rice cake are not as popular as they used to be. This dish can only be found in markets and on street sidewalks by street vendors. However, anyone who has ever tried it will be delighted and impressed by the unique culinary creation of sticky rice and rice cake in Hue.
