Lets just put this out there, I'm in love. It's been about 4 months since the first time I've had it and I have been craving it ever since. I'm in love, with PHO (pronounced FA.) It's a Vietnamese noodle/soup dish of goodness that will just make your tummy want more.
That's exactly what I did, I went and got more. I ran some errands after work and then went to go get some dinner... by myself. Yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of eating out by myself because I usually eat way too fast and don't get to enjoy the food like I'm supposed to. Anyway, I walked into the restaurant and I was the only customer and I thought "hmm, this won't be so bad." The girl behind the counter asked "just one? you can sit anywhere." Just as I take a seat, a good looking, well dressed man comes in and says "table for one please." Could this really be happening? This is like something out of an awesome romantic comedy "please ask me to join you, please ask me to join you" I thought to myself. Then I thought "hmmm, maybe I could ask him to join me?" My sister put the halt on that after I texted her my situation stating that he could in fact be "a killer."
All I can say is, thank God neither one of us asked the other for their company. First things first, I do not know how to use chopsticks and I always hate asking for a fork in authentic restaurants such as this. So I sucked it up and tried my best to eat my PHO, failing miserably and dropping the sticks quite a few times. Then to top that, I made my soup way too spicy and lets just say those Vietnamese sure know how to clean out the sinuses. My nose was running so much, I wasn't able to enjoy my food. I was too worried about wiping my nose every 35 seconds and trying not to look like a moron. With no paper napkin options, I had to secretly wipe my nose as I pretended to wipe my mouth... as well as pretending to cough and make it look like I had a cold. All in all not a very sexy look and I don't blame the guy for not asking me to dine with him.
Long story short, I ended up asking for a "to go" container and took my meal home with me to make sure the embarrassment didn't go any farther. I ended up finishing my dinner while watching The Bachelor with a dear friend of mine. It was a very productive night to say the least :)
You are adorable! I have no idea how to use chopsticks either. I get weird looks when I ask for one and they look at Rich using chopsticks. Forks are way more efficient.
ReplyDeleteBTW, thanks for the pic. Rich was like, "Baby, I'm going to make pho this weekend." Win Win :)
Also for the hot sauce - you are not supposed to put it directly in the bowl. You have to use a sauce bowl. Siracha, Hoisin sauce and whatever else sauce you like. I use Siracha, Hoisin, chilli oil, and a squeeze of lime, then mix. Rich just uses the first two. My uncle uses the first two and a dash of fish sauce. The sauce is on the side because you twirl up the noodles, put it in the spoon, pick up a piece of "choice" meat (this is when Rich tells me Chopsticks are better), dip the meat in the hot sauce, place in deep spoon on top of noodles, and slowly lower your noddles to get broth in the spoon. Then you eat. That is when you a get a taste of all the complex flavors - granted that the broth is killer.
Hey, I had no idea until my Uncle taught me this "Pho etiquette" a few years ago. My ba on the other hand, let us eat like unrefined cave children (that's how the other Asians look at us, but I am sure other people get a pass).
Try it. It tastes so much better. Love you.
I did put it in the little bowl and swirled my noodles around like you're supposed to. However, I put about a fist full of jalapeños in the soup and with all the messy eating a lot of sauce got in the soup. It was still TOTALLY delicious :)
ReplyDeleteYou eat the jalapenos??? Wow, you are brave.
ReplyDeleteI have a great, easy Pho recipe. I love that stuff. SERIOUSLY LOVE IT.
ReplyDeleteDon't give up on chopsticks. Once you get it, you'll be like, Dang, it was this easy all along?
I had that epiphany about a year ago because my company orders sushi all the time and I couldn't bear to be the one guy using a fork.