When you're little, what's one of the first rules your parents set down about eating? "Don't play with your food!". This traditional Vietnamese dish defies that statement, and it couldn't be more delicious!
First, how do you say it? The name "pho" is commonly mispronounced- people say the "o" so it rhymes with "whoa", with a long vowel sound. The actual way to pronounce it is to pronounce the "o" like the second "a" in "lava". A phonetic spelling would probably be something like "fah". Say it. Go ahead. It's a lot of fun, right?
What's even more fun than saying the name is making your bowl of pho. Pho comes in three basic flavors: chicken, beef, and vegetable. In each bowl, there a lots of veggies, rice noodles, and if you have the meat, your chosen meat. When the bowl is placed in front of you the fun is just beginning. There are so many different options for add ins: scallions, hot chilies, bay leaves (these give flavor, but you don't eat them- trust me), lime, lemon, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts... the list goes on and on. *Side note: my favorite combo was chicken pho with lime, scallions, bean sprouts, a few bamboo shoots, and one bay leaf- it was incredible.* Add different combinations of these add ins to create a completely different pho experience every time you eat it! Creating your perfect bowl of pho is not only fun, it is almost an art. Seriously- once you hit that magic combination, you'll want to write it down, because chances are you won't remember. Some people say that "chicken soup feeds the soul". I fully believe that pho does the same thing- only better. Find your perfect bowl at a Vietnamese eatery near you. I promise you won't regret it!
