DAMN

my very good friend ian came up to AMPERSAND TATTOO
to get a LOT of his leg tattooed yesterday,
and he came bearing tricerataco holders in every color for christmas,
from him, and chantal, and albee,
and he showed up extra early for something extra special.
y'know what is was?
YUP.
sandwiches.
ha!!!
even when it isn't sandwich week,
it's still a great idea to have a sandwich.
facts.
and these were especially expert ones.
check it:

BIG BANH BANH M'IAN.
homemade bread,
homemade sesame-ginger teriyaki glazed tofu
mashed avocado,
red onion,
pickles,
tempeh bacon,
fried sweet potato circles,
quick-pickled peppers,
toasty sesame seeds, cilantro, and scallion sprankles,
and a slap of vegan mayo to complete the look, neighbors.
these sandwiches were 100% NO joke.

good bread makes better sandwiches and it all starts there.
a couple cups of king arthur bread flour.
a fat scoop of vegan butter,
and all the rest of the things i've listed a billion times....
i'm sayin'.
i've made a lot of banh, and they ALL meant somethin'.
that's what's so F*ing cool about 'em.
-
the peppery pickles were so simple-
1/2 cup hot rice wine vinegar,
1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and enough water to cover 1 cup of sliced radish, jalapeno,
sweet baby bell, and red chili peppers. i left that soaking all morning,
and by ten a.m. it was F*ing perfect.
-
tempeh bacon is something we always add, isn't it?
and y'know why we are always gonna keep adding it?
...because it's great.
-
fried sweet potatoes give me a good feeling.
i bet i would've been happy with a red onion,mashed avocado,
and sweet potato disc sandwich.
i mean it.
coconut oil and salt and a splash of water to steam 'em a little,
and you've got thin-sliced slabs of sweet spud charred just enough to give them
that added manliness on each side.
that's dope.
-
pickles, and cilantro and scallions all add some lively greenery
and a whole spectrum of flavors.
that's how you get layers of complexity in something you stuff between buns.
yeah.
you like that.
-
the teriyaki was phenomenal-
1 tsp sesame oil;
1/4 cup tamari;
1 tsp non-GMO organic cornstarch;
1/2 tsp ea GPOP black pepper and cayenne;
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds;
1/2" bud of grated fresh ginger;
2 T rice vinegar;
1 T lemon juice;
2 T brown sugar;
2 tsp agave;
a dash of liquid smoke....
word up.
you ain't never ever even had nothin' so awesome.
....and when you dip your tofu in a little cornstarch and flour mixture,
with sriracha flakes and cayenne and ground coriander in there?
maaaaaaaaaaaaaan.
look:

YO.
that's what's good, b.
*
and then we tattooed a bee knee,
a bouncing bunny,
and a sketchy fox,
all around and up his leg.
drawn on with marky-markers,
and tattooed over the course of several hours.
he took his lumps like a stoic soldier,
but i was so spent afterwards i forgot to take a picture of the epic one-take drawings
i made on his body.
f'real, though.
the tattforce was flowing freely yesterday,
and i didn't sketch or redraw NUTHIN'.
ol' one-take albie was in full effect.
can't wait to eat sh!t tomorrow on a day of bambams.
that's what happens, kids.
it all costs something, and for every hot fireball,
there's a cold doo-doo butterball waiting to replace it.
that's the tattoo world,
and that's what's coming my way for sure.
meanwhile,
it's a snow day, even if i don't see any yet.
that's cool.
that means more time with special people,
and more is always what i'm all about.
and when it's all unfolding in front of me,
i'm grateful for the time i have been given;
never quiet, never soft.....