09/22/2018 | 28m 23s | Video has closed captioning.
Huell samples Vietnamese sandwiches at a shop in Rosemead which makes its own high-quality ham and headcheese and steamed pork loaves served on its own baguettes. And then he’s off to L’Artisan du Chocolat, a Los Angeles chocolate maker.
Aired: 09/22/18
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning
Announcer:VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSERIS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.
I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE IT IS, SATURDAY MORNING.
GET READY FOR AN ADVENTURE.
HERE'S THE SETUP.
I AM A BIG FAN OF JONATHAN GOLD.
HE IS THE FOOD WRITER, THE RESTAURANT CRITIC FORL.A.
WEEKLY.I READ HIS COLUMNS EVERY WEEK, AND I LIKE THE SAME KIND OF FOOD, THE SAME KIND OF PLACES THAT JONATHAN LIKES.
SO TRUTH IN ADVERTISING, WHAT WE HAVE DONE THIS SATURDAY MORNING, I'VE JUST PULLED ONE OF HIS LATEST ARTICLES OUT OF THE L.A. WEEKLYAND WE'RE FOLLOWIN' THROUGH ON SOME OF HIS FAVORITE PLACES.
THE FIRST ONE IS HERE IN ROSEMEAD.
IT'S CALLED MR. BAGUETTE, AND THEY SPECIALIZE IN SOMETHING THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.
BUT IT SOUNDS GREAT.
SO WE'RE GOIN' INSIDE MR. BAGUETTE TO CHECK IT OUT.
OK, WE'RE INSIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT HERE.
FELLAS, I'M HUELL HOWSER.
Brian Tang: YES, MY NAME'S BRIAN TANG.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Quan Ho: MY NAME IS QUAN HO.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE I READ THIS ARTICLE IN THEL.A.
WEEKLY,AND JONATHAN GOLD WAS RAVING ABOUT YOUR... IS ITBANH MI?
Quan:BANH MI, YES.
Huell:BANH MI.
Brian: YES,BANH MI.
Huell: WHAT ISBANH MI?
Brian: IT'S AN ORIGINAL NAME FROM FRENCH.
IT'S THEBANH DAC MI.
BANH DAC MIIS SOME KIND OF A BREAD.
Huell: IT'S A BREAD.
Brian: YEAH, IT'S A BREAD, YEAH.
Huell: BUT HE SAID IT WAS LIKE THE VIETNAMESE VERSION OF A SUBMARINE SANDWICH.
IS THAT RIGHT?
Brian: YEAH, THIS MIX, YOU KNOW, VIETNAMESE AND FRENCH WE MIX TOGETHER.
Huell: SO PART OF THE VIETNAMESE CULTURE WITH THE FRENCH MIXED IN.
Brian: EXACTLY, YES.
Huell: AND IS THIS... Brian: YEAH, ALL KIND OF THIS ONE, YES.
Huell: SO THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.
Brian: OH, THIS ONE, YEAH, YEAH.
NUMBER ONE, NUMBER 2, THE SPECIAL OF THE HOUSE, AND NUMBER 5, NUMBER 6 WOULD BE THE SPECIAL ORDER CHICKEN, AND ALL KIND WOULD BE VERY, VERY GOOD.
Huell: WOW, IS THIS WHAT YOU SPECIALIZE IN HERE?
THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE COME HERE FOR IS THEBANH MI?
Brian: YES.
Huell: WHY?
Quan: IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT, WE PROVIDE WITH ALL THEBANH MIAND CROISSANT AND ESPECIALLY THAT VERY TASTY FRENCH COFFEE.
Huell: OH, FRENCH COFFEE.
WELL, CAN WE TASTE IT?
CAN WE SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE?
WHAT DO WE DO?
WE COME UP HERE AND ORDER... Brian: [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] Woman: [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] Brian: [SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] YEAH, ICE MILK COFFEE, PLEASE.
Huell: WHAT DID YOU JUST ORDER FOR ME?
Brian: YEAH, THIS ICE MILK COFFEE FRENCH, ORIGINAL ONE.
Huell: OH, THIS IS FRENCH... Brian: YES.
Huell: COFFEE.
Brian: YEAH.
FRENCH.
Huell: AND COULD I HAVE ONE OF THE SANDWICHES?
Brian: OH, ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET, DO YOU THINK?
WHAT'S THE FAVORITE?
Quan: YES, WE CALL IT A SPECIAL SANDWICH.
Huell: SPECIAL SANDWICH.
WHICH NUMBER IS IT UP ON THE... Quan: NUMBER ONE, THAT'S CALLED SPECIAL SANDWICH.
IT HAS 2 KINDS.
ONE, IT COME WITH PLAIN, AND THE OTHER ONE HAS LITTLE SEED ON IT THAT IS SESAME.
Huell: AH, SESAME SEEDS.
Quan: IT'S VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL AND VERY FLAVORFUL TASTE.
Huell: WOW.
NOW WOULD YOU--LOOK HOW BUSY THINGS ARE BACK HERE.
YOU'RE MAKIN' A LOT OF SANDWICHES.
Quan: YES, WE DO.
AVERAGE IS WE HAVE 1,000 CUSTOMERS COME EVERY DAY.
Huell: 1,000 CUSTOMERS.
Quan: AND MORE.
Huell: WOW.
AND THEY ALL GET THE SANDWICHES.
OK, HERE IT IS.
BOY, THEY'RE QUICK HERE, TOO.
LET'S OPEN THIS UP.
OH.
NOW THIS JUST HAS... Brian: HAM.
THIS ONE MADE WITH HAM AND HEADCHEESE AND MEATLOAF.
Huell: OK, SO HAM, CHEESE, AND MEATLOAF.
Brian and Quan: YES.
Huell: NOW CAN YOU PUT OTHER THINGS ON IT?
LIKE, DO YOU PUT MUSTARD, MAYONNAISE, PICKLES?
Brian: YEAH.
YOU CAN PUT IT IN.
Huell: DO YOU PUT THAT ON YOURSELF OR DO YOU ORDER THAT?
Brian: YOU ORDER THAT, YES.
Huell: OH, LOOK.
Brian: THIS IS THE CROISSANT.
Huell: OH, MY GOSH.
LOOK AT THAT CROISSANT.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
SO YOU SPECIALIZE IN THESE?
NOW WHAT ARE THESE LITTLE MEAT-- THEY LOOK LIKE LITTLE MEAT PIES OVER HERE.
Brian: YEAH, IT'S MEAT PIE.
SPECIAL FROM FRANCE, YEAH.
Quan: WE HAVE 3 KINDS.
IN THE FRENCH WE CALLPATE CHAUD.IN FACT, WE HAVE CHICKEN, BEEF, AND PORK.
Huell: AND WHAT ARE THESE CALLED?
Quan:PATE CHAUD.
Huell:PATE CHAUD.
Brian: YES, IN FRENCH.
Huell: SO THIS IS REALLY A VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY THE FRENCH CULTURE IN VIETNAM.
Brian: VIETNAM, YES.
Huell: NOW WERE YOU BORN IN THIS COUNTRY?
DID YOU COME HERE FROM VIETNAM?
Quan: WELL, IN FACT, WE CAME FROM VIETNAM.
Huell: SO DID YOU HAVE A RESTAURANT IN VIETNAM?
Brian: UH, NO, YEAH.
Quan: THIS GENTLEMAN HERE, HE'S PRESIDENT AND CEO.
BUT IN FACT, IN THE PAST, HE'S IN JEWELRY BUSINESS.
Huell: IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS.
Brian: YEAH.
Huell: SO YOU SEGUED FROM JEWELRY TO MEAT PIES.
Brian: ALL BECAUSE MY FAMILY IN FRANCE, THEY OWN ABOUT 45 STORE IN FRANCE.
MY SISTER, YES.
Huell: OH, LOOK, SHE JUST KEEPS BRINGIN' STUFF OUT.
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST BUY THE BREAD.
Brian: THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL BAGUETTE.
Huell: THAT'S WHY THE PLACE IS NAMED BAGUETTE.
Brian: BAGUETTE, YES.
Huell: SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST--PEOPLE COME HERE JUST FOR THE BREAD AS WELL.
Brian: YES.
Huell: OR YOU CAN CUT IT UP AND MAKE A SANDWICH.
Brian: FOR A SANDWICH, YES, OF COURSE, YEAH.
Huell: HERE'S A HAPPY CUSTOMER OVER HERE DRINKING...THE FRENCH COFFEE.
Man: YES, SIR.
Huell: THAT'S WHAT YOU COME HERE FOR.
Man: THAT'S WHY I COME HERE.
I LOVE THE COFFEE.
Huell: NOW, ARE YOU FROM VIETNAM?
Man: YES, SIR.
Huell: SO IS THIS AS GOOD AS THE COFFEE YOU REMEMBER FROM VIETNAM?
Man: I THINK MUCH BETTER.
Huell: BETTER?!
Man: BETTER.
MUCH BETTER.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
Huell: WHAT MAKES IT BETTER?
Man: BECAUSE THE QUALITY HIGHER.
THE QUALITY.
YEAH, QUALITY.
THAT'S REAL COFFEE.
THAT'S REAL 100% REAL COFFEE.
Huell: OH, THE QUALITY!
Quan: THE QUALITY OF OUR COFFEE IS SO SPECIAL THAT YOU CANNOT-- NO ONE CAN BEAT IT.
Huell: WELL, WHAT MAKES YOUR COFFEE SO SPECIAL?
Brian: WE USE THE FRENCH COFFEE AND MIX WITH ITALIAN.
Huell: AH, SO YOU'RE MIXING IN A LITTLE BIT OF ITALIAN IN THERE.
THEY DON'T DO THAT IN VIETNAM.
Quan: WELL, WE DON'T.
Huell: SO THIS IS KIND OF A... A TYPICALLY LOS ANGELES WAY OF MIXING... Brian: YES.
Huell: A LITTLE BIT OF VIETNAMESE, A LITTLE BIT OF FRENCH, AND A LITTLE BIT OF ITALIAN.
Quan: EXACTLY, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW THAT COOKING AND ALSO CREATING THE NEW FOOD MENU JUST LIKE AN ART.
AND THAT'S WHY MY SUPERIOR IS DOING THAT.
Huell: YEAH.
WITH HIS BACKGROUND IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS.
Quan: EXACTLY.
AND THAT'S WHY HE WANTS TO BRING THIS CONCEPT TO SERVE AND TO... Brian: THE NEW GENERATION.
Huell: THE NEW GENERATION.
YOU TELL ME THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME HERE?
Woman: YES.
IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE.
Huell: WHAT BROUGHT YOU IN?
Woman: 'CAUSE I WORK--I'M GOING TO SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET, AND IT SMELLS GOOD.
I COULD SMELL THE BREAD.
Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE NOW.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET?
Student: NO.
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
PROBABLY A TURKEY.
Huell: SO YOU'RE GONNA GET THE TURKEY AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE NAME OF THE SANDWICH IS CALLED?
Student: NO.
Huell: IT'S CALLED...
IT'S CALLED...HELP HER OUT A LITTLE BIT.
THE NAME OF THE SANDWICH IS CALLED... Brian: WHICH ONE IS IT?
Huell: THE BA... Brian:BANH MI.
Huell:BANH MI.
Student:BANH MI?OK.
I'LL HAVE THAT.
Huell: THIS IS HER FIRST TIME.
HERE SHE GOES!
Student: HI.
CAN I HAVE A... BANH MI?
Cashier: WHAT KIND MEAT?
Student: WHAT KIND OF WHAT?
Huell: WHICH KIND OF MEAT?
Student: MEAT?
TURKEY.
Cashier: TURKEY.
OK. Huell: TURKEYBANH MI.
Cashier: ANYTHING ELSE?
Student: NO, THAT'S ALL.
Cashier: OK. $3.52.
Student: OK. Huell: SEE?
THAT WAS EASY!
AND THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME IN HERE.
Brian: YES.
EASY TO ORDER.
YES.
Huell: SO A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN NOT KNOWING EXACTLY...WHAT TO ORDER.
BUT YOU GOT IT PRETTY WELL SPELLED OUT FOR 'EM UP HERE.
Brian: YES WE HAVE ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE ALSO...
UNDER THE MENU.
YOU SEE THAT?
Huell: YOU HAVE IT IN ENGLISH AND IN VIETNAMESE.
BUT YOU BETTER GET IT IN SPANISH... ITALIAN...FRENCH... AND ANYTHING ELSE!
Quan: EXACTLY.
AND BESIDES THAT WE ALSO HAVE NOT ONLY THE MEAT BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT IS ON A DIET THAT WE HAVE THE VEGGIE HAM.
THAT IS MADE OF VEGETABLE.
Huell: A VEGETARIANBANH MI.
Quan: YES.
EXACTLY.
Huell: NOW, WHAT HAVE YOU ALL LOADED UP ON HERE?
Father: OH, JUST SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA TAKE OVER FOR OUR TRIP TO SANTA BARBARA.
Huell: SO YOU GOT SOMETHING TO GO.
WHAT DID YOU GET?
IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME HERE?
Father: YES.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE, BUT MY WIFE HAS BEEN HERE SEVERAL TIMES.
Huell: AH, SO YOU BROUGHT YOUR HUSBAND TODAY.
Wife: ACTUALLY, MY BROTHER BROUGHT ME HERE.
Huell: OH, YOUR BROTHER BROUGHT YOU HERE THE FIRST TIME... YOU LIKED IT.
NOW YOU'RE BRINGIN' YOUR HUSBAND HERE.
AND WHY DO YOU LIKE IT SO MUCH?
Wife: BECAUSE IT'S EASY AND IT'S DELICIOUS.
THAT'S WHY.
Father: IT'S LIKE A FAST FOOD.
SO YOU CAN BRING IT WITH YOU ON A TRIP.
AND ALSO IT CAN STAY FOR ABOUT...HALF A DAY, AT LEAST.
SO IN CASE YOU'RE HUNGRY, SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE A BITE.
Huell: ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU'VE GOT, WHAT, 2 SANDWICHES...
Wife: YEAH, AND ONE COFFEE.
Huell: AND THAT'S GONNA LAST YOU ON YOUR TRIP TO SANTA BARBARA.
Father: YEAH.
DEFINITELY.
Huell: WELL, HAVE A GREAT TRIP!
Father: OK, THANK YOU.
Huell: GOOD MORNING.
WHAT ARE YOU ORDERING?
Man: I'M ORDERING THE SANDWICH.
Huell: MM-HMM.
THEBANH MI.
Man: YES.BANH MI.THERE YOU GO.
EXACTLY!
Huell: I'M LEARNING!
Man: THAT'S VIETNAMESE FOR SANDWICH.
Huell: YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.
YOU'RE FROM VIETNAM?
Man: NO, ACTUALLY, MY PARENTS CHINESE, BUT I WAS BORN VIETNAM, RAISED THERE.
Huell: AH!
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF HOME HERE.
Man: YES, LIKE A HOME, BREAD, EAT, YOU KNOW.
Huell: DO YOU GET SOME JUST FOR YOURSELF OR DO YOU BUY IT FOR OTHERS AND TAKE IT BACK WITH YOU?
Man: YEAH, BUY OTHER, TAKE BACK WITH ME.
Huell: SO YOU'RE BUYING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
HOW MANY ARE YOU GETTIN'?
Man: UM...6.
ACTUALLY, 9 ALL TOTAL.
Huell: 6?!
9?!
Man: 6 BUT 3 MORE DIFFERENT TYPE.
Huell: OH, MY GOSH.
YOU'RE KEEPING THESE PEOPLE IN BUSINESS!
Man: YEAH.
BECAUSE THE REASON IS THE FOOD HERE IS ESPECIALLY VERY GOOD.
THE BREAD IS VERY CRUNCHY.
AND THEN...
SOMEHOW THEY LEARN IT FROM EUROPE, YOU KNOW, THEY CALL MR. BAGUETTE.
AND THE BREAD IS SO GOOD SO CUSTOMER KEEP COMING BACK AND BACK AND THIS PLACE GETTING VERY POPULAR.
Huell: SHE'S LOADED DOWN.
YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO EAT IT ALL, WERE YOU?
Woman: NO, BECAUSE...IS VERY GOOD, AND I NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT FOR MY HOME.
Huell: YOU'RE TAKIN' IT HOME.
NOW, ARE YOU A REGULAR CUSTOMER HERE?
Woman: YES, I COME EVERY DAY.
Huell: HOW'D YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE?
Woman: I JUST CAME ONE DAY AND I REALLY LIKE IT AND I STILL COME IN EVERY DAY.
Huell: NOW, ARE YOU VIETNAMESE?
Woman: NO, I'M NOT.
Huell: YOU'RE FROM... Woman: EL SALVADOR.
Huell: OH, EL SALVADOR!
DO THEY HAVE SANDWICHES LIKE THIS IN EL SALVADOR?
Woman: NO.
NO.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE.
Huell: DO YOU HAVE COFFEE LIKE THIS?
Woman: NO.
IS NEW FOR ME.
Huell: SO THIS IS ALL NEW!
Woman: YES.
Huell: WHICH MAKES YOU HAPPY, BECAUSE YOU'RE INTRODUCING PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO THIS CULTURE, TO THIS FOOD.
Quan: EXACTLY.
THAT'S OUR PURPOSE.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO BRING THIS CONCEPT TO ALL CAUCASIAN AND TO ALL ETHNICS.
AND ALSO THAT WE WANT TO BRING THIS CONCEPT TO THE NEW GENERATION.
Huell: WOW.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOUR NAME IS... Esperanza: ESPERANZA.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Esperanza: NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
Huell: YOU GOT YOUR SANDWICH!
HOW IS IT?
Student: IT'S REALLY GOOD.
Huell: DOES IT TASTE AS GOOD AS IT SMELLS?
Student: YEAH, IT DOES.
Huell: SO YOU'LL BE BACK.
Student: I'LL BE BACK.
Huell: HOLD THAT THING UP AND SHOW EVERYBODY WHAT YOU GOT.
OPEN IT UP FOR US...
SO YOU GOT THE TURKEY, THE TOMATO, CHEESE, AND THE LETTUCE.
Student: AND THE BREAD.
Huell: AND THE BREAD.
THE BREAD'S GOOD, TOO.
Student: UH-HUH.
IT IS.
Huell: BOY, YOUR PLACE IS BUSY THIS MORNING.
YOU GOT WORKER BEES BACK HERE.
THEY'RE ALL MAKING THESE WONDERFUL SANDWICHES.
Quan: EXACTLY.
THEY ARE VERY BUSY, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS.
Huell: YEAH.
YOU BROUGHT US BACK BEHIND HERE BECAUSE YOU KIND OF WANTED TO SHOW US WHAT'S GOIN' ON BACK IN HERE...WHICH IS VERY INTERESTING.
YOU'VE GOT YOUR OWN--YOU BAKE YOUR OWN BREAD BACK HERE.
Brian: YEAH.
EVERY HALF AN HOUR, WE HAVE NEW BREAD COME OUT FOR THE OLD ONE.
Huell: SO IT'S ALL MADE FROM SCRATCH, FRESH RIGHT HERE.
Brian: YES, RIGHT--YEAH.
ALL IN HERE AND MAKE FROM SCRATCHES AND EVERY HALF AN HOUR THE NEW BREAD COME OUT.
THAT IS SESAME BAGUETTE.
Huell: WOW.
Brian: AND THIS ONE SANDWICH.
Huell: OH, OK. OH, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
YOU'VE GOT SHORTER BUNS...AND LONGER BUNS.
BOY, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL-LOOKIN' BREAD BACK HERE.
Quan: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE TRY TO SHOW AND TO BRING THE BEST QUALITY TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
Huell: YEAH.
AND HERE IT IS, ALL READY TO GO.
YOU SELL A LOT OF THIS, DON'T YOU?
Quan: YES.
YES.
WE SELL A LOT.
Brian: 5,000.
MINIMUM, 5,000.
Huell: A DAY?!
YOU'RE KIDDING!
Brian: YES.
TRUE.
ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: YOU ALL ARE RICH!
Brian: JUST SPENDING.
YOU KNOW, THE PRICE VERY GOOD PRICE.
WE WANT PROMOTION THE NEW CONCEPT DURING THIS TIME, YES.
Huell: OK, CONTINUING OUR TOUR BEHIND THE COUNTER, I SPOTTED SOMETHING DOWN HERE...TO DRINK THAT YOU SAID IS ALSO VERY AUTHENTIC.
WHAT HAVE WE GOT RIGHT HERE?
Brian: THIS ONE THAI TEA.
Huell: TYTEE.
Brian: THAI.
THAI.
Huell: THAI TEA.
AND WHAT IS THIS GREEN?
Brian: THIS ONE SOME KIND OF...
THEY CALL PENNY WORTH.
Huell: CAN WE GET A GLASS OF THAT AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?
I'M NOT SURE I KNOW WHAT YOU CALL THIS.
Quan: THE PENNY WORTH LEAVES.
SOME PEOPLE, THEY CALL PENNY LEAF.
Huell: PENNY LEAF.
Quan: YEAH, PENNY.
THE LEAF IS SMALL, IS ABOUT PENNY SIZE.
Huell: WHAT IS THAT HE'S PUTTING IN THERE?
Quan: SUGAR.
Huell: SUGAR?
AND YOU JUST MIX IT UP... AND THAT'S IT?
Quan: THEN WE PUT SOME ICE IN THERE.
Huell: CAN I DRINK IT JUST LIKE THIS?
Quan: JUST LIKE THAT.
TRY IT.
Huell: LOOKS LIKE COUGH MEDICINE.
Quan: WELL, NO.
IN FACT, FOR THE TRADITION OF VIETNAMESE STYLE, WHEN PEOPLE--SOMETIMES THEY DEHY--THEY KIND OF FEEL A LACKING OF WATER WHEN THEY'RE WORKING, RIGHT?
Huell: DEHYDRATED.
Quan: DEHYDRATED.
AND THEN THEY DRINK THIS ONE.
Huell: OH!
OH, BOY, THAT'S GOOD!
Quan: EXACTLY.
Huell: IT TASTES ALMOST LIKE GRASS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DRINK GRASS JUICE?
Brian: YES, SIMILAR.
Huell: SO THERE'S SOME GRASS IN HERE?
Quan: NO.
NO GRASS.
IN FACT, THIS IS THEY CALL THE PENNY LEAF.
THE LEAF IS JUST LIKE ABOUT A QUARTER SIZE OF THE QUARTER AND IT HAS ONE SMALL STEM BENEATH.
Huell: A LITTLE LEAF.
WHERE DO YOU GET THE LEAVES?
Quan: WELL, IN THE MARKET.
NOW, VIETNAMESE PEOPLE COME OVER HERE, AND THEY--WE GOT IT FROM THE FARM.
Huell: SO DO YOU GROW THAT IN CALIFORNIA NOW, THE LEAVES?
Quan: THE LEAVES, THEY GROW IN CALIFORNIA.
Huell: WOW!
THIS IS VERY GOOD AND VERY AUTHENTIC.
Quan: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Huell: YOUR FIRST TIME HERE AND YOU ALL ARE LOADED DOWN.
NOW HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE?
Father: ACTUALLY, WE BEEN IN THE DRIVE-THROUGH MANY TIMES AND BACK AND FORTH AND MY WIFE KEEP POINTING TO THIS PLACE AND IT'S REALLY CROWDED AND WE GIVE IT A SHOT, SO... Huell: DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FOOD THAT YOU GOT HERE TODAY?
HOW DID YOU KNOW WHAT TO ORDER?
Father: I WOULD SAY THIS IS KIND OF MODERNIZED OF VIETNAMESE- STYLE OF FAST FOOD.
AND IT LOOKS VERY CLEAN AND IT LOOKS VERY STYLISH.
SO I WOULD SAY JUST GIVE IT A SHOT.
IT SEEMS TO BE VERY CONVINCING SO FAR.
Huell: DO YOU LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
Father: NO, ACTUALLY, I LIVE IN ARCADIA.
SO I DROVE HERE JUST TO GIVE IT A TRY.
Huell: REALLY?!
Father: YES.
Huell: WHATCHA GOT THERE?
2 PIECES OF BREAD!
Woman: YEAH.
NO MEAT INSIDE.
JUST THE BREAD.
Huell: SO YOU LIKE THE BREAD.
Woman: I LIKE THE BREAD.
Huell: WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS BREAD?
Woman: OH, I TAKE HOME, I EAT WITH THE ROAST DUCK AND THE CHICKEN DUCK.
Huell: OH, ROAST DUCK!
Woman: YEAH, ANY KIND YOU WANT.
THAT'S THE FREN BREAD.
Huell: FRENCH BREAD.
Woman: YEAH.
ANYBODY VIETNAMESE, THEY LIKE IT.
Huell: WE GOT 2 GENERATIONS HERE.
THIS IS YOUR MOM.
Son: YES.
Huell: SO FOR HER THIS IS VERY TRADITIONAL.
Son: YEAH.
SHE'S A VEGETARIAN TODAY, SO SHE ONLY BOUGHT BREAD TO EAT WITH, UH, SOY SAUCE.
Huell: NO MEAT.
Mother: YEAH, NO MEAT.
Huell: SO SHE JUST LIKES THE PLAIN BREAD.
Son: YEAH.
NORMALLY, SHE'LL EAT WITH CONDENSED MILK OR JUST DIP IN, LIKE, COFFEE, CREAM, SUGARS.
Huell: ISN'T THIS INTERESTING THAT WE HAVE THIS WHOLE GENERATIONAL THING GOING HERE, THAT SHE'S HERE BECAUSE SHE LIKES THE TRADITIONAL BREAD.
YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE...
Son: I LIKE THE TRADITIONAL BREAD, TOO.
I WORK IN PASADENA.
I RUN DOWN HERE AND GET LUNCH LIKE THIS, TOO.
Huell: YEAH, BUT IT'S KINDA NICE THAT THE TWO OF YOU ARE HERE TOGETHER.
Son: [LAUGHS] YEAH.
Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU.
Mother: THANK YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
Huell: DID YOUR FRIEND TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PLACE?
WHAT DID SHE SAY?
Red sweater woman: SHE SAID, "OH, THEY HAVE THE NEW MR. BAGUETTE SANDWICH JUST OPEN.
GO TRY IT."
I SAY, "OK." COME TO TRY.
OH, IT'S GOOD!
YEAH!
AND COFFEE IS GOOD, TOO!
BETTER THAN STARBUCK!
[BOTH LAUGHING] Huell: BOY, JUST SINCE WE GOT HERE, THIS PLACE IS PACKED!
LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN HERE!
Quan: EXACTLY, BECAUSE THANKS TO OUR CUSTOMERS, THEY LOVE TO COME TO MR. BAGUETTE.
Huell: BUT IS IT A WEEKEND THING?
Quan: WEEKEND, WEEKDAYS ALSO THE SAME.
ESPECIALLY EARLY MORNING.
PEOPLE GO--THEY GRAB THE SANDWICH FOR LUNCH, FOR BREAKFAST.
Huell: SO IF PEOPLE WANNA COME AND DON'T WANNA HAVE TO STAND IN LINE, WHAT TIME OF DAY SHOULD THEY COME?
Quan: WELL, THEY CAN COME AND OUR EMPLOYEES, THEY WILL SERVE VERY, VERY QUICK.
Huell: OH, SO IT'S QUICK EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
Brian: MAXIMUM OF 3 1/2 MINUTE COMPLETE THE ORDER, YES.
Huell: NOW, BE HONEST.
ARE YOU ALL A LITTLE SURPRISED AT HOW WELL YOUR PLACE IS DOING HERE?
Quan: WELL, IN FACT, WHEN WE FIRST START THIS BUSINESS, WE EXPECT CUSTOMERS COME IN THIS MUCH.
THE REASON WHY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR CUSTOMERS LOVE BANH MI, ESPECIALLY.
Huell: THEY LOVE THEBANH MI.
Quan: YES.
AND THE FRENCH COFFEE.
Huell: BUT THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PLACE OUT HERE YOU CAN GETBANH MI,IS IT?
Quan: WELL, IN FACT, THEY HAVE MANY SPECIAL--THEY HAVE MANY PLACES.
HOWEVER, WHEN A CUSTOMER HAVE A CHOICE, THEY WILL COME TO THE BEST PLACE.
Huell: AH HA HA HA HA!
HE'S YOUR MARKETING GUY RIGHT HERE!
BUT THIS WAS YOUR FIRST RESTAURANT, SO THIS HAS GOTTA BE A REAL SENSE OF PRIDE FOR YOU TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS.
Quan: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND YOU WON'T BE SURPRISED.
BECAUSE THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, WE WILL BUILD THE NEXT PROJECT IN MONTEREY PARK.
Huell: MONTEREY PARK YOU'LL BE OPENING ANOTHER ONE!
THIS COULD BE A WHOLE CHAIN ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Brian: AND ALSO WE PLANNING WITHIN 5 YEARS WE BUILD MINIMUM 25 STORE IN CALIFORNIA.
Huell: WOW!
SO THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESTAURANTS, FOOD.
MR. BAGUETTE WILL BE A HOUSEHOLD WORD BEFORE LONG.
Quan: EXACTLY.
IN THE FUTURE I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BUY FOOD FROM OUTSIDE.
JUST COME TO MR. BAGUETTE.
AND THEY WILL.
Huell: HA HA HA HA HA!
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY.
WE CAME HERE KIND OF...ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.
YOU WEREN'T REALLY EXPECTING US, WERE YOU?
Quan: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
AND IN FACT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ARE BEING INTERVIEWED BY AN AMERICAN... Huell: ON TELEVISION.
Quan: ON TELEVISION.
AND BESIDES, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU COMING THIS MORNING.
WE WERE VERY SURPRISED.
AND WE WERE CONTACTING THE CEO AND HE WAS VERY SURPRISED.
HE SAYS, "REALLY?"
AND WHEN WE CAME, IN FACT, WE DO NOT BEGIN ANYTHING FOR YOU.
Huell: BUT THAT'S THE BEST, WHEN YOU JUST WALK IN LIKE THIS AND SEE IT THE WAY IT REALLY IS.
AND WHAT I'M STRUCK BY IS THAT THIS IS AN HONEST TO GOODNESS AMERICAN/VIETNAMESE SUCCESS STORY.
YOU HAVE COME HERE TO THIS COUNTRY AND REALLY DONE SOMETHING QUITE WONDERFUL.
Quan: WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
AND BESIDES, I BELIEVE THAT'S, IN OUR POINT OF VIEW, WHEN WE COME OVER HERE WE WANT TO BRING THE BEST PRODUCT TO SERVE TO AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Huell: AND TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES.
Quan: YES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES.
THEY COME FROM THAILAND, VIETNAMESE, CHINESE, TAIWAN, HONG KONG--ALL KIND OF NATIONALITIES COME TO OUR RESTAURANT.
AND WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO SERVE THEM.
Huell: WELL, I PREDICT BIG THINGS FOR MR. BAGUETTE.
WE ARE JUST DELIGHTED TO BE HERE AT THE ORIGINAL MR. BAGUETTE HERE IN ROSEMEAD...BEFORE YOU GROW AND BECOME EVEN BIGGER AND MORE DIVERSIFIED.
BUT YOU DEFINITELY DESERVE ALL OF THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A VISIT TO THIS PLACE.
NOT ONLY IS THE FOOD WONDERFUL AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS GREAT, BUT WHEN YOU COME HERE YOU'LL BE HELPING AN HONEST TO GOODNESS AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY COME TRUE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL MORNING HERE AT MR. BAGUETTE.
FROM MR. BAGUETTE TO CHOCOLATE.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND IN L.A.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE CORNER OF 1st AND BEVERLY AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO A STORY ON THE FRENCH/KOREAN CHOCOLATE CONNECTION.
IS THAT RIGHT?
French man: THAT'S TOTALLY RIGHT.
IT'S A FRENCH/KOREAN VENTURE.
IN CHOCOLATE.
I AM ONLY THE CHOCOLATE TALKER, BUT MY WIFE IS THE CHOCOLATE MAKER ALONG WITH HER DAUGHTER.
Huell: OK.
SO YOU ARE THE CHOCOLATE MAKER.
YOUR NAME IS... Watung: WATUNG.
Huell: AND YOUR NAME?
Heitung: HEITUNG.
Huell: AND YOU ARE... Christian: CHRISTIAN.
Huell: THE SPOKESPERSON.
THE FRENCH SPOKESPERSON FOR ALL OF THIS.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES, YOU ALL GO BACK TO WORK BACK IN THERE.
COME ON, LET'S WALK THROUGH HERE, BECAUSE... WE'RE TALKIN' ABOUT CHOCOLATE.
YOU HAVE A CHOCOLATE SHOP HERE.
Christian: YES.
Huell: AND CHOCOLATE IS A LOT HARDER THAN MOST OF US THINK IT IS TO MAKE, ISN'T IT?
Christian: OH, TOTALLY.
IT'S A QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE, MAINLY, AND YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO MONITOR ALL YOUR WORK.
IF YOU STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS, MOST OF THE TIME WE HAVE TO START AGAIN FROM SCRATCH.
AS YOU CAN SEE NOW, MY WIFE IS MOLDING AN EGG FOR EASTER.
AND SHE HAS TO PRODUCE THAT 3 TIMES.
FIRST TIME SHE'S JUST PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF CHOCOLATE AROUND TO GIVE THE SHAPE-- Huell: LET ME SEE THAT AGAIN.
SO SHE'S PUTTING THE CHOCOLATE INSIDE THE MOLD...JUST TO CREATE THE SHELL.
NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT NOW?
Christian: THEN WE WILL DO THAT 2 OR 3 TIMES TO HAVE THE RIGHT THICKNESS OF THE SHELL.
Huell: OH, LOOK!
NOW, THAT-- IS THIS JUST THE SHELL?
Christian: THIS IS JUST THE SHELL.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS EMPTY.
Huell: NOW, IS THAT GONNA BE FILLED?
Christian: THIS WILL BE FILLED WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF OUR CHOCOLATE AND NEW FLAVORS THAT WE PUT ON THE MARKET FOR THIS OCCASION OF EASTER.
Huell: WHAT IS IT, THE TEXTURE?
Christian: SHE HAS BEEN TO SCHOOL FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS IN PARIS-- Huell: JUST WORKING ON CHOCOLATE.
Christian: JUST WORKING ON PASTRY AND CHOCOLATE, STARTING WITH PASTRY AND THEN SPECIALIZING IN CHOCOLATE.
AND SHE HAS ALSO HAS WORKED WITH THE MOST WELL KNOWN OR BEST PROFESSIONAL IN PARIS ALSO.
SO SHE REALLY KNOWS HER STUFF.
Huell: SHE KNOWS HER CHOCOLATE.
Christian: SHE KNOWS HER CHOCOLATE.
ABSOLUTELY.
Woman: I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 4 YEARS.
Huell: AND HAD YOU EVER TASTED CHOCOLATE LIKE THIS BEFORE?
Woman: NO.
THAT'S WHY I KEEP COMING BACK.
Huell: HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE IT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T TASTED THIS KIND OF CHOCOLATE?
Woman: HMM.
THEY'RE VERY INTENSE CHOCOLATES.
THEY'RE VERY SPECIAL CHOCOLATES.
THEY'RE ONES THAT YOU TASTE IT ONCE AND YOU CRAVE 'EM AND YOU WANNA COME BACK AND GET MORE.
SO I ALWAYS COME AND BUY SOME FOR MYSELF.
I PICK UP ONE JUST FOR ME.
Huell: YOU MEAN JUST ONE PIECE?
Woman: JUST ONE PIECE JUST FOR ME.
THEN I TAKE SOME OF THESE BACK TO SOME OTHER PEOPLE.
Huell: SURE, YOU ARE.
SURE, YOU ARE!
IT'S HARD TO JUST EAT ONE PIECE, ISN'T IT?
Woman: IT REALLY IS, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY GOOD.
THEY'RE VERY RICH AND THEY'RE VERY FLAVORFUL.
Huell: DOES IT HELP KNOWING THAT YOU SEE IT BEING MADE RIGHT HERE IN THE STORE, YOU KNOW WHO'S MAKING IT AND HOW THEY'RE MAKING IT?
Woman: WELL, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MOST OF IT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH LOVE THAT GOES INTO MAKING THESE CHOCOLATES.
Huell: WELL, PULL OUT A GOOD PIECE OF--WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COME IN HERE?
Woman #2: EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS, BUT I LIKE THE DARK CHOCOLATE.
Huell: CAN YOU BRING ONE OF THOSE OUT?
DID YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS CHOCOLATE TO... Woman #2: SURE.
IT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE.
NO, THEROCHER NOIR.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE.
Christian: THAT'S YOUR FAVORITE, TOO.
YOU HAVE A TERRIFIC FRENCH TASTE... BECAUSE THISROCHER NOIRIS REALLY A BIG CLASSIC.
Huell: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS.
TELL ME WHAT'S IN IT, THEN I'LL HAVE HIM TELL US WHAT'S IN IT.
Woman #2: OK.
I TASTE HAZELNUT.
IS THAT CORRECT?
I TASTE HAZELNUT, I TASTE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE AND SOMETHING CRUNCHY BESIDES HAZELNUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
Christian: THIS IS WHAT WE CALL FEUILLETINE OR ROYALTINE OR WHATEVER, DEPENDING ON THE BRAND.
BUT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW THIS KIND OF VERY LIGHT, THIN COOKIE LIKE A DRY CREPE THAT YOU MAY FIND WITH YOUR ICE CREAM?
A LITTLE BIT IS KIND OF CRUNCHINESS?
SO IT'S VERY LIGHT AND IT'S EXTREMELY FLAVORFUL, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT--IT'S A BUNCH OF NUTS IN THERE.
Huell: SO THIS REALLY MAKES YOUR MOUTH EXPLODE.
Woman #2: IT'S PHENOMENAL.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE.
YOU WILL HAVE TO TRY IT.
Huell: WELL, YOU TALKED ME INTO THAT.
OH, MY GOSH.
ITHOUGHTI HAD EATEN CHOCOLATE BEFORE.
Christian: OH, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAY.
THANK YOU.
Woman #2: ISN'T THAT SOMETHING?
ISN'T THAT DELICIOUS?
AND TRY TO FIND THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT.
YOU...IT'S BEYOND.
CORRECT?
Huell: OH, MY GOSH.
Woman #2: SEE, AND THAT'S ALL HE'S REDUCED TO.
HE CAN'T-- THE ENGLISH IS JUST INADEQUATE.
Huell: AND YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE CASE OF THIS AVAILABLE.
Christian: OH, YES.
PERMANENTLY.
AND WE REFILL THE CASE WHEN IT BECOMES EMPTY.
Huell: FRESH EVERY DAY!
WELL, THAT'S BEEN IT!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE NAME OF THE STORE IS... Christian: AND THE NAME OF THE STORE IS--THE MANUFACTURER IS-- L'ARTISAN DU CHOCOLAT.
THE ARTISAN OF THE CHOCOLATE.
Huell: IT'S RIGHT HERE ON THE CORNER OF 1st AND BEVERLY, BASICALLY.
Christian: ABSOLUTELY.
Huell: AND WHEN YOU COME HERE, YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THIS CHOCOLATE TO CHOOSE FROM.
IT'S HOMEMADE RIGHT HERE IN THE BACK.
I'VE ONLY HAD ONE PIECE, BUT I'M ALREADY HOOKED.
WELL, THAT'S IT!
ON THE CORNER OF 1st AND BEVERLY...ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GOOD CHOCOLATE, FRESH CHOCOLATE, HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE--RIGHT HERE ON THE CORNER OF 1st AND BEVERLY.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] Announcer:VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSERIS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...
