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Van Loc One More Time, With Feeling


Being back in Edmonton for a wedding, the last one I'm returning for I have said, I stopped into a few old haunts, including Van Loc. The same little old ladies were behind the counter, and the prices had gone up another 50 cents. I tore open the wrapper, almost if I knew it would be the last time, and took this photo. I may never be back again, and the taste echoed that sentiment, as it was no where near as good as I remembered. I didn't grow up on these banh mis, or what I have been calling Vietnamese sandwiches. I changed all the tags today on the blog, to update where this blog has come from and where it is now. This sandwich may not have changed at all, but after all these years and all these different flavours encountered, I am saying farewell to this Vietnamese sandwich from my past. It has shaped me, and set a standard for all banh mi's, but I can't keep holding onto past sentiments. Good-bye! It's been swell.

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