I would do anything: including getting pho - you know, Vietnamese beef noodle soup - 5 times in the last week and a half. It seems my dearest one has moved from PB&J (see last post) to craving this soupy, noodley goodness. I try to ply her with other possible foods, but now she insists that she could eat pho everyday at every meal. I wonder if this is true - probably not because the next craving will come along. So in the meantime we have been checking out various noodle huts in the Portland area which, thankfully, there are many to choose from because Jooae doesn’t want to keep going to the same one in case they start giving her looks. Now, if you have not had pho before, you are really missing out. Basically it is a clearish, beefy broth with thin rice noodles and some onions. The fun part is what you can get included in it. The basic is very thin sliced beef brisket - you can choose lean, fatty or both - and thin sirloin. If you are more adventurous, you can also add things like tripe (you can google it), meatballs, tendons, and other yummy things. My theory is that the more of these types of offerings they have, the more authentically Vietnamese it is. Finally, you get a plate with beansprouts, sliced hot peppers, something like cilantro leaves, and limes. You can add various combinations of these things to add extra flavor. All in all it is a hearty, yet at the same time light, meal (its not an oxymoron, just try it). Whether you are pregnant or not, I believe you will enjoy it (and with that I will collect my kickback from the Vietnamese Pho Restaurant Association).
Get a Hot Bowlful of Goodness
