"Um.. Do you know that guy?"

January 2010

Prologue
The Tenderloin-- Nestled between successful commercial areas and high priced residential areas, parts of the Tenderloin have historically resisted gentrification, maintaining a seedy character and reputation for crime. Squalid conditions, homelessness, crime, illegal drug trade, prostitution, liquor stores, and strip clubs give the neighborhood a seedy reputation. --Wikipedia

So what brings me to the tenderloin? The FOOD!

Okay, so I must digress and tell you a little bit about the fabulousness of Saigon Sandwiches. I am not sure how many of you are familiar with Vietnamese Sandwiches, but basically they consist of a bread-- usually a french roll, Dressing-- usually mayo, meat-- usually chicken, pork, tofu, or pate (pureed liver w/seasoning and veggies-- usually pickled carrots, onions, cilantro and jalapenos and occasionally some vegetables I am not familiar with. I think that when most people hear Vietnamese Sandwiches they think of Lee's. This is what I think of when I think of Lee's... stale french rolls that practically gashes the roof of my mouth, and food that feels like it was made at Burger King. You are lucky if you get meet and veggies in one bite, and they always seem to put all the mayo in the space of ONE bite... kind of gross. For those reasons, I am usually turned off to Vietnamese Sandwiches...



A few months ago I was convinced there was a place in the Tenderloin that had the MOST. AMAZING. VIETNAMESE. SANDWICHES. EVER. On a random day I stumbled across this Saigon Sandwich place and was shocked to see a line that reached to the end of the block. As I was passing the restaurant, I came across a couple in disagreement... the girlfriend was insisting on eating at Saigon Sandwiches while her boyfriend was insisting on eating at Lee's due to the lengthy wait. I am not exaggerating the scale of this girls temper tantrum. Mid sidewalk she starts yelling at her boyfriend, and going into a lengthy description of why she must eat at S.S. and not walk the two blocks to Lee's. I knew right then and there I had to try these sandwiches.

Story
I was headed threw the "loin" to Saigon Sandwiches for some delish cheap lunch. When I am downtown, I walk with purpose and as if I have a place to be... It seems to me that when you walk with purpose the crazies feel the "do not mess with" aura. However, on this particular day it didn't matter how much purpose to threw into my step, my aura was reading "TARGET". I was wearing brown tights, a bright flowing bohemian skirt, a pale yellow long sleeved shirt, and a green scarf... I was a walking target. I feel like I am a perceptive person, and I try to pay attention to the details... somehow my perception failed me on this particular day. I remember walking down Van Ness, turning onto Turk, Crossing Polk, and finally crossing Larkin... I even remember turning around when I got to the corner of Larkin and Turk.

I arrived at my destination excited that there was no line and only three people inside, "Yes!" I had missed the lunch hour rush! I walked into the store to see a totally normal couple looking at me like I was crazy, I grab my purse to pull out my wallet when all of a sudden I felt what seemed to be a hand grab the top of my head and slide down the crown my head to my pony tail and then "Woosh" my head flew back. That's right people, someone had pulled my hair! So, I did what any normal person would do, think "What the fuck?!" I turned around to a tall, scraggly, bearded, ashy faced, crazy man smiling and rapidly waving his hand at me. I yelled at him, "What the..?!" I think my raised voice must have startled him because he ran out the door.

I dismissed this weird incident thinking, "Welcome to San Francisco, and HOLY SHIT that was weird!" I ordered my Sandwich, and realized that the "normal couple" were still looking at me like I was crazy. I made eye contact with them allowing them speak to me when they asked, "Um.. Do you know that guy?" I wanted to yell at them, "REALLY?! Does it look like I hang out with homeless people, let alone homeless people who would pull my hair?" Instead, I laughed and said, "Nope. No idea who he is."