I don't claim to even remotely know what an authentic bánh mì tastes like. But I thoroughly enjoy getting them at my nearest Vietnamese bakery/cafe/pho joint wherever I'm living at the moment, so here is my attempt to make them at home, based on bánh mìs I have eaten in Austin, Chicago, and Manhattan.

Now I usually wouldn't even attempt to re-create a sandwich that is so delicious and cheap already, and I absolutely love a classic bánh mì with ham, pork roll, pate, head cheese, and the like. But every once in a while I don't want to eat pork (pigs are so smart and cute!) and I find that the vegetarian options available are pretty sad.