Although the Belgians and the French like to fight over who was the first to put succulent steak on a plate next to a pile of crispy fries, the simple and satisfying dish is a staple of French bistros from here to Paris.

Last night, Ba Bay played host to a pre-Taste of the Nation banh mi smackdown to raise money for Share Our Strength, an organization that fights childhood hunger. The competition pitted chefs from Ba Bay, Dino, Lyon Hall, Proof, PS7’s and The Source against each other to see who could create the best banh mi.