Saturday, January 16, 2010

Death Row Meal

It might just look like an average bowl of chicken noodle soup, but it's so much more. It's pho, and it's all that I have been eating, craving, or thinking about for the past two weeks. This soup starts off deceivingly simple: noodles, broth, chicken, and a few aromatics. It's served with bean sprouts, Thai basil (the best herb on the planet), and sliced limes on the side. On the table is a homemade chili sauce that is super hot but very addicting. There is no wrong way to eat pho. Kris adds nothing to hers, and I add everything to mine. It creates a unique and completely different experience for the both of us. For her, she gets a soul warming bowl of chicken noodle soup. Filled with familiar tastes of her youth. Plump chicken, perfect noodle, and a flavorful broth. For me, I get a complex, ever changing bowl of pho. The meal starts off simple. Then the hot broth starts taking on the flavors of the Thai basil and chili sauce. It changes, it transforms. By the end of the bowl, it's nothing like it was when I started it. And then...it's gone. Leaving me satisfied, happy, and full. On the drive home my thoughts are filled with the meal; my mouth still tingling with the flavor of the chili sauce. I always think that I might turn the car around and go back, but I never do. I just go home and start planing my next visit, my next bowl. Will it be beef noodle soup, next time? I take out the wrinkled menu from my back pocket. Hours: 7 days a week from 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Pho for breakfast? I can't think of a better way to start my day.

3 comments:

She Loves Wine said...

It looks WONDERFUL... I love soup.

Bob said...

I love pho as well, fortunately we have lots of places out here. Ever try making it yourself?

Lakeside Smoker said...

Yeah, we're real lucky here too. I have a few great places only one town over from us. I have never attempted to make pho. I think some things are best left to the experts.

-Mike