Lunch at Brewbakers, Middletown, CT

May 2, 2025

Lunch at Brew Bakers, When Vietnam Crashes the BBQ Party (and Everyone’s Better for It)

I’m always on the hunt for a meal that breaks the mold, and today, I struck lunchtime gold. A little birdie (named Facebook) whispered in my ear that Brew Bakers was serving up something special. Enter: the Brisket Bánh Mì — a glorious culinary mashup where slow-roasted brisket pulls up a chair at the Vietnamese flavor table.

We’re talking tender sliced brisket lounging on a rich, velvety layer of pork pâté (aka the umami MVP), crowned with a crunchy, zingy crew of pickled radish, carrot, and cucumber. A soy-Sriracha aioli drizzled on top gave it a creamy little kick, and the fresh cilantro brought the brightness like it had just come from yoga class.

But let’s talk about that French roll, crusty, chewy, and sturdy enough to hold all that flavor without falling apart like me in the third episode of The Bear. It was the unsung hero of the whole thing: not flashy, but totally essential, like the drummer in a great band.

Every bite hit all the notes: tangy, creamy, crunchy. A true yin and yang of flavor that made me want to high-five the kitchen and write haikus about pickled vegetables.

Brew Bakers always brings the good vibes, and this brisket bánh mì was no exception. 10/10 would eat again. Probably tomorrow.