Phở

A typical breakfast for me consists of granola, yogurt or soy milk, a cup of tea, and occasionally a banana or whatever fruit I have hanging around. However, at least once a week I walk three minutes to my favorite pho shop and enjoy a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup, some fried goodness called “cuay” to absorb the broth, and a glass of iced tea, “tra da” all for less than $1.00.
I simply can not live in Vietnam and not write an entry about the nation’s favorite and well-known cuisine: pho (rhymes with “duh”). The most common kinds of pho are “pho bo”, beef pho, and “pho ga”, chicken pho. Typically, I walk into the stall, go up to the woman behind the steaming pot, hold up one finger and tell her I want one, “mot”. Usually, if they have them, I point to the basket of “cuay” sitting beside her and ask for a bowl of that too. I find a seat, grab a pair of matching chopsticks out of the holder, wipe them down with a napkin and wait for my bowl to arrive. I always become so excited when my pho is placed before me. I am a huge noodle enthusiast, so for this dish to be the pinnacle of Vietnam’s culinary notables makes this country all the more appealing to me. At my favorite pho shop, the bowl is filled with fresh rice noodles, deliciously seasoned beef broth, large slices of white onion, diced green scallions, and thin cuts of beef. Once the bowl is placed before me it’s at my discretion to decide how to garnish the delectable treat. Also on the table is a bowl of chili sauce, a plate of limes, another of small chilis, a jar of pickled garlic, and a small container of MSG or salt. The garnishes vary based on what region you are enjoying your pho, but this is the typical set up in Hanoi. Once the pho is properly prepared to your liking you are ready to eat! The Vietnamese use a spoon in their left hand to drudge up the contents of the soup and then lift them with their chopsticks in their right, but I find the process easier to just grab at my noodles with the chopsticks. After I have finished everything in my bowl, except for some broth, I am full, satisfied, and ready to start my day.