For many years, locals and tourists have often called this place “Banh Xeo Pagoda”, instead of its official name, Dong Lai Zen Monastery. Previously, the pagoda was known as the Reclining Buddha Pagoda, because of the 6-meter-long reclining Buddha statue placed in the yard. After the pagoda started serving banh xeo to guests, the new name naturally appeared through word of mouth and has been commonly used to this day.
According to Venerable Thich Chon Phap, the practice of making banh xeo at the pagoda was initiated around 2006, when Venerable Thich Thien Chi was the abbot. On the 15th, 29th, and 30th days of the lunar calendar, Buddhists came to the pagoda to worship and make banh xeo together to eat. After that, the number of visitors to the pagoda gradually increased on weekdays, so the pagoda decided to maintain the banh xeo making, serving all day. On average, the pagoda makes about 800 banh xeo each day. On weekends or big holidays, the number is greater.
Volunteers diligently pour banh xeo on blazing stoves at Dong Lai Zen Monastery, serving it for free to hundreds of people every day.
In the temple grounds, the cake-making kitchen is the busiest and most laborious place. There are two men in charge of making cakes, each sitting in front of a row of stoves arranged in an arc with 9-10 cast iron pans. Under the sweltering sun and the heat rising from the blazing wood stoves, they have to work continuously, adding oil, scooping dough, coating the pans, adding fillings, watching the fire and transferring the cakes to plates. The smoke from the kitchen is thick but the work still goes on steadily.
Behind, locals and tourists lined up in an orderly manner to take their pancakes to the dining room. In the dining area, a few people were in charge of picking vegetables, washing them, and arranging them on plates. Each serving included: crispy golden pancakes, fresh vegetables, and a bowl of dipping sauce. After about an hour, someone would take over the shift of making pancakes so that the remaining person could rest. Mr. Ngo Tuan Vu (a local resident) is one of the veteran pancake makers. Mr. Vu said that he has been doing this job for nearly 20 years.
“I have been doing this since the time when Master Thien Chi was still the abbot. Each cake I make carries the meaning of charity, seeing customers happy when eating makes me happy.” Despite the hard work, pouring cakes under the hot weather and the kitchen smoke stinging the eyes, the whole team always remains calm, cheerful, and behaves politely with each customer. The people who do charity work in the kitchen seem to be used to the busy work pace, never resting but still exuding a leisurely, gentle spirit true to the spirit of Buddhists.
Ms. Be Tu (a Buddhist from Go Quao district, Kien Giang province) said: “I have been taking people to this pagoda for more than 30 years. The vegetarian cakes are delicious, fatty, have clean wild vegetables, and the dipping sauce is delicious. It has become a habit, now I come every year”. Tam (living in Ho Chi Minh City) went to the pagoda with a group of friends in a 16-seat car for the first time and shared: “I was taken by a local friend. The cakes here are delicious, and the service is attentive”.
Every day, hundreds of people come to Dong Lai Zen Monastery to worship Buddha and find peace of mind. The golden, hot banh xeo seem to carry the whole heart of the silent waiters in the kitchen. Anyone who has been here once will forever remember the rich flavor and sincere affection.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ngoi-chua-dai-banh-xeo-mien-phi-moi-ngay-a422415.html
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