The Banh Mi Gets Booya'd At Booya Bagels

Heard Chef Aaron Lau has a new Bagel sandwich at Booya Bagels. And it's bangin'. Think old Saigon meets NYC. Open wide for the new Booya Banh Mi Bagel by Booya Bagels...

Bagel master Chef Aaron Lau rocks the bagel scene once more with a new sandwich creation inspired by savory and rich French colonial notes with fresh and vibrant Vietnamese flavors capped by a cool New York spin. The Booya Banh Mi Bagel by Booya Bagels (P 420) masterfully brings all the elements together in a seamless fusion of fresh and savory flavors in between the perfect bagel. It definitely isn't your typical bagel sandwich, even unexpected and that's just the way Chef Aaron Lau envisioned it for his latest creation. Inside, rich savory layers of contrasting and distinct flavors all come together like each was made for the other in what the late Anthony Bourdain once described as "a symphony in a sandwich." Ready for a bite? Then, read on...

For those who know their bagels, Booya Bagels in Serendra and Glorietta remain the metro's top destinations for the New York classic. From the traditional Lox or smoked salmon to the hearty Italian and Chef's Lunch with Cheddar, bacon, salami, pepperoni and mustard or even just the Everything Bagel with the proper schmear of cream cheese, Booya Bagels has set the standard for the Jewish ring-shaped bread roll with that familiar hole in the center. From time to time, Chef Aaron Lau unleashes his creativity with new sandwich creations to complement his roster of traditional renditions (for more on Booya Bagels, see my previous posts Bagel Possibilities Unveiled With The Limited Time Hella Pastrami And The Strawberry Chocolate Bomb By Booya Bagels from last year, Booya Bagels Hits The Mainstream With The Formal Opening Of Its Glorietta 3 Branch from two years ago and #banginNYstylebagels: Now, These Bagels Are Bangin'. At Booya Bagels... from way back in 2022). 

Chef Aaron Lau described his latest creation as "definitely one of the most challenging but underrated" bagel expression yet to roll out from the kitchens of Booya Bagels. The multi-layered creation combines several different components, each made in-house for the Booya Banh Mi Bagel (P 420). First, a generous layer of premium imported butter is spread on the bagel like a proper schmear. Then, Chef Aaron Lau ditches the usual traditional pork and goes all-out with a tasty quartet of chicken namely the French inspired Chicken Galantine with its elegant notes paired with the bold flavors of chicken sausages, the textural crunch of chicken floss and finally a thick spread of chicken paté following the banh mi tradition. A variety of pickled vegetables completes the play with its fresh and clean notes cutting through the savory richness of the other components for that delicately balanced finish. 

Take a closer look at the cross section and you'll see the thick slabs of butter and chicken paté, Chef Aaron doesn't hold back on the good stuff. It's this complex and intricate layering of each component including the tediously prepared foursome of chicken galantine, chicken sausages, chicken floss and chicken paté that drives all the savory flavors complemented by the thick dab of premium imported butter and pickled vegetables. Everything is loaded on Chef Aaron's specialty bagel with its signature dense yet soft and chewy texture. 

And that first bite just seals the deal with a flavorful burst of savory notes from the chicken expressed in four ways followed by the creamy butter and deep earthy notes of the chicken paté with the sharp clean hints of pickled vegetables for balanced flavors. Like Anthony Bourdain described it, this is indeed "a symphony in a sandwich" with that Booya Bagels flair. And the bagel becomes the perfect vessel for the generous layers chicken prepared four ways, butter, and pickled vegetables. 

And just like your traditional banh mi, the fusion of French and Vietnamese culinary traditions is a seamless weave made even more special with the New York style bagel for a satisfying meal. It's banh mi unlike any other, and you'll only find it at Booya Bagels. Chef Aaron proudly shared that the new Booya Banh Mi Bagel now has a growing loyal following, mostly foreigners, looking for a savory bagel twist. And I'm definitely adding this to my list of picks along with the Lox, Italian and the Everything Bagel with the proper schmear at Booya Bagels. Find out yourself how banh mi gets booya'd...at Booya Bagels. 

Booya Bagels is located at Serendra Malls, Bonifacio Global City, 11th Avenue, Taguig City, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/getbooyabagels/ and https://www.instagram.com/booyabagels/ for more information and updates or call 0917 183 8817 for inquiries. 

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