My First Pho 🍲

Winter has come to Dallas! It will be brief, but it will be "unseasonably cold" for the next day or so (and maybe again and even more so next week!). Since it was raining, Toby worked from home rather than battle traffic and lose valuable time. We are fortunate we can do this. 

Around lunch time he ran out to get a haircut. I texted him, "Why don't you bring home Pho for us?" He loves it and has been wanting me to try it. Our last attempt to try it together was unsuccessful because the line was too long on another rainy, cold day. For a while, I had a negative association with it that I had to get over, which I did. Now I'm ready to try it! 

Toby also loves ramen, but it is not terribly gluten free friendly with the wheat noodles and meats usually marinated in gluteny soy sauce. We thought we'd found a solution with a restaurant that advertised GF noodles. The first time we went, I ordered them and specified that I had an allergy and they brought me the ramen with pork and all was well. The second time we went they informed us that the pork was marinated in soy sauce, as was everything, and while they still had GF noodles, anything I chose to put on them would not be. What on earth?! I don't know if our server was uninformed or what, but I am so allergic, I cannot take chances. We've not been back since; nor have we found another option for us. 

Pho, which is very different, is much friendlier to my food allergies. The noodles are made of rice and there is less use of soy sauce (which has wheat in it unless it is Tamari). Also, I have noticed the broths are lighter, which I appreciate (although I'm not opposed to a very rich, thick broth). 

Toby texted me back that he got me "Bun Bo Hue which is technically not pho, if you're particular about that. Pho is chicken only. This is beef and pork in a spicy broth. But it's good. Hope you like." And he also said, "OK, got you and Augie some special treats. 😘" And, "Well, they're very GF friendly here. That's all I'll say." (Augie also developed a gluten allergy as he grew up.)

So I eagerly anticipated his return and checked his blog only to find he had already posted a little something about it. 

The food looked and smelled wonderful. I liked all the veggies that they include as well as the fresh herbs - basil and cilantro. The portions were generous, especially the broth. It came with fresh jalapeños, Sriracha, pepper paste, and Hoisin. (I was not certain about the Hoisin, so I substituted with a GF one I have here.)

I'm not averse to spicy things - I grew up on the Mexican border and have been known to use Salsa and jalapeños as toppings on sandwiches even. But, by far, Toby has the greater tolerance for spice. Still, I put some of all of it in my Pho. That was a very bad decision as it turned out. While the spice was not more than my mouth could tolerate, something there set my lips on fire - an allergic fire. They began swelling and the burning increased to scary levels. I iced them (literally melting an ice cube in record time) and had to take some Benadryl. I've rarely had that happen - and when it did it was boiled crawfish. Suffice it to say, Toby will be eating Pho for dinner. 

My poor husband felt terrible! He regretted not getting me the proper chicken Pho. He loves spice and just wanted us to try that as well. But I think I'd like any of it. I just need to be careful about whatever it was that set me aflame! I wish I was certain what it was. Oh, well. Perhaps next time. 

His treats were a great call though! 

They called them Moshi, which made me expect the Japanese dessert which I do not care for. In reality, they were really like tartlets: creme brûlée, pumpkin, and Vietnamese coffee. (Years ago, we used to frequent a Vietnamese restaurant in Plano that served proper Vietnamese coffee which we really came to enjoy. Sadly, they quit making their steak in a Vietnamese style because Americans didn't care for it. Well, we're American and we really liked it!) Anyway, these little things were fantastic!

I'll be honest about something else though. Regardless of flavor, I have to make modifications to how I eat Pho (and even Ramen). I don't care for the long noodles in soup that require some level of slurping them up. I grew up in a family where you were expected to eat silently. God forbid you even inadvertently or accidentally smack your lips or lick your fingers. That would get you a special kind of admonishing glare, if not a harsh verbal reprimand. I also don't like messy food. (I often eat pizza and other "finger foods" with a fork and knife.) When you slurp noodles, the broth flicks on things. So, I cut up my noodles up so I can eat them with a spoon which is sometimes hard to do in restaurants that give you those little bent spoons, but I make it work. Yes, I guess I'm prissy like that. 

Remember this from Seinfeld? 

Yeah, I was doing stuff like that long before that episode came out. 

So, Pho today didn't work for me. But I do like the flavors and soups are among my favorite things to eat. Plus, Toby loves this so we will definitely be trying this again! 

A very special thanks to my sweet husband who tried very hard to make this a very good first experience, which matters far more to me than how it actually turned out. It wasn't your fault, Toby! ❤️

Thanks for reading!