Cuong's Vegan Sandwiches
Pictured above: Fresh Spring Rolls and Red Curry Sandwich
When I arrived at Cuong’s Vegan Sandwiches I was greeted by the cutest elderly Asian woman. She greeted me with a warm smile, gave me a quick rundown of what is on the menu, and then she left me alone to decide what I’m going to order. Cuong’s Vegan Sandwiches resembles most neighborhood Chinese restaurants in New York; minimal seating, no fancy furniture or decor, and little to no one sitting down inside for a meal. This restaurant offers great grab & go food, such as bubble teas (which I have yet to try), sandwiches, pastries, spring rolls, etc.
After a few minutes of deliberating, I was stuck on whether I should order the BBQ Gluten Sandwich or the Red Curry Sandwich. I shared my indecision with the lady behind the counter and she recommended me to order the Red Curry Sandwich. She expressed that it was her personal favorite sandwich on the menu, and she guaranteed that the spices in the sandwich would keep me warm in the -10 degree weather. I placed all of my faith in her word and ordered the sandwich and fresh spring rolls to go.
When I got back to the hotel I was extremely anxious to begin eating, because the smell of the sandwich wafted out from the bag the entire walk there. Once I got settled, the first thing I took a bite of was the spring rolls. This was my very first time trying spring rolls, and by the look of them, I was expecting to bite into a mouthful of bland veggies. To my surprise, they were very tasty. Of course, the peanut sauce that came with the rolls gave them majority of the flavor, but on their own the spring rolls were still delicious. The rolls were packed with fresh vegetables that were not overcooked, so they remained crunchy and flavorful.
When I opened the box that the sandwich was in, I was surprised at how big the sandwich was! This massive sandwich consisted of stir-fried sliced tofu, onions, string beans, zucchini, mushrooms, red sweet pepper, and slices of avocado. I found myself staring at the sandwich wondering where I should start. I turned the sandwich in all different directions and angles in hopes of finding a spot that could fit in my mouth. The search was futile so I decided to just dive in.
Beware that eating the sandwich could get real messy, real quick. The veggies were soaked in a spicy red curry sauce and it quickly made the bottom of the sandwich a bit soggy, so a wrong bite could turn into your entire sandwich falling apart. I had to turn the sandwich upside down to prevent it from falling apart, but then I had curry sauce dripping down my hands. Despite the mess, the sandwich was so so so so mouthwatering. The sandwich did not lack in flavor, spice or ingredients. It was absolutely perfect in my eyes.
