I finally learned how to make pho. I mean, how to really make pho. Not the pretend-to-know version I tried out before. Pho real.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Come on, you saw it coming. It’s in the title. Geez.
This past weekend I was home with my parents, and after having already had some fine Vietnamese fare…my mom suggested we make pho. Yes, please. And I learned in detail the steps to make pho my mom’s way. The best way. This beautiful bowl of noodles will leave you sweating buckets as you eat it in this especially hot midwest weather. But you won’t care. Because it’s good. Hey, if you don’t suffer for your food, is it really worth eating?
Which brings me to another point. My mom has endured so much to raise my siblings and me (six of us, mind you), and she showed her affection through food. She cooked every day, not only at home but as a chef at a Vietnamese restaurant. She would make us breakfast during school days, lunch, and dinner - before she would leave for work at 3:45. And wouldn’t be home until after 10:00. That would be the time she would finally get to herself and a chance to eat. But she always made sure we were well fed first.
Now after recently fighting a sickness that left her slightly weak and without an ability to taste anything but bitter or salty, she relies on us to taste her dishes and adjust for seasoning. I haven’t had to adust once. Her cooking is always amazing.
And after learning how to make one of her most prized dishes (of many) when I was home, hopefully mine will be as well.
Kim Nguyen: i may seem sweet, but i'm extremely sarcastic. at least that's what i've been told. i'm not quite sure what to make of that. perhaps i embody the sour patch kids in their sweet yet sour nature. what color would i be? i'll leave that up to yello - er...you.
Comments
Seth Fein (Seth Fein) says:
(Posted July 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am)
Post that recipe, yo!
I know these Jewish hands won’t be able to capture the authentic flavor that yr moms can dish up — but I still gotta try!
Sarah (Sarah) says:
(Posted July 24th, 2008 at 6:36 pm)
Simply put, I love you.
Lisa (Lisa) says:
(Posted July 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm)
Great blog, sis! Mom would be proud!
ms recipe (ms recipe) says:
(Posted August 1st, 2008 at 11:54 am)
Found your site from the champaign blog. Nice blog, enjoyed reading it all. I’m a food lover.
dan goldberg (dan goldberg) says:
(Posted August 29th, 2008 at 9:52 am)
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the217
Buzz Magazine
Kim Nguyen
i may seem sweet, but i'm extremely sarcastic. at least that's what i've been told. i'm not quite sure what to make of that. perhaps i embody the sour patch kids in their sweet yet sour nature. what color would i be? i'll leave that up to yello - er...you.
Tammy Nguyen (Tammy Nguyen) says:
(Posted July 23rd, 2008 at 12:31 am)
Hi….will you be able to post the recipe that you learned from your mom? It’s amazing how hard they work to provide for the family. I know how it is, I come from a family of 5 and both my parents worked 2 jobs but seemed to still find time to cook us a good home cooked meal.