Banh Mi

Ingredients

• 4 small baguettes or 2 regular baguettes, cut into four 6-inch sections
• mayonnaise
• butter, softened to room temperature
• chicken and pork pâté or prepared pâté, optional
• 12 slices cold cuts such as vietnamese pâtés (cha lua or cha que), prosciutto, smoked ham or thinly sliced roast turkey
• 1 hothouse cucumber or 3 small 1 pickling cucumbers, peeled and cut lengthwise into 1⁄4-inch (0.5 cm) thick strips
• 1 1/2 cup everyday pickled carrots
• 4 fresh jalapeño chiles, cut diagonally into thin ovals, or 1 tbsp (15 ml) chile-garlic sauce or any hot sauce
• fresh cilantro (12 to 24 whole sprigs)
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 3/4 cup white vinegar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cup shredded carrots