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June 2009

Thumbnail image for An Interview with Chef Didier Corlou on Vietnamese Pho and Cuisine

An Interview with Chef Didier Corlou on Vietnamese Pho and Cuisine

June 29, 2009

Chef Didier Corlou is one of the culinary authorities on Vietnamese pho and cuisine. He’s been in Vietnam since 1991 playing a vital role in developing and promoting Vietnamese cuisine to a new level. Here’s an in-depth interview with “Le Chef” Corlou on various aspects of Viet pho, from his own thoughts on how to cook pho, to pho franchise, to even pairing wine with pho!

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Thumbnail image for Pho Pronunciation – How to Order Pho in Vietnamese

Pho Pronunciation – How to Order Pho in Vietnamese

June 23, 2009

Take your pho experience to the next level. Here are audio files to help you order pho in Vietnamese language. The selection is based on a typical pho menu one may find at many Viet restaurants. Once you learn the basics, you can order your favorite pho anywhere without even looking at the menu. Nice huh? As always each dish pronunciation has both the Southern Viet accent followed by Northern Viet accent.

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Thumbnail image for Pronouncing Pho and Ordering Pho For the Confused and the Timid

Pronouncing Pho and Ordering Pho For the Confused and the Timid

June 20, 2009

There are probably 2 reasons why a non-Viet speaking person wants to know how to pronounce phở. The obvious reason is to be able to order your favorite dish at the restaurant. The other is to be able to talk about and share it with others about your own satisfying gastronomic experience. Being able to do both well becomes the third reason.

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Thumbnail image for Corinne Trang’s Culinary Tours of Chinatown and Andrea Nguyen in the Media

Corinne Trang’s Culinary Tours of Chinatown and Andrea Nguyen in the Media

June 18, 2009

On a few rare occasions I go off the pho path to highlight non-pho topics. I’ll give some buzz anytime for two of my favorite culinary experts, one on the East Coast, the other West Coast. I respect them and their works, so here’s what going on with Corinne Trang and Andrea Nguyen.

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Thumbnail image for Pho 24 Coming to the States to Take on U.S. Competition Head-On

Pho 24 Coming to the States to Take on U.S. Competition Head-On

June 16, 2009

Saigon-based pho franchise Pho 24 is planning to come west to the U.S., with plans calling for a number of Pho 24 restaurants to open in key American markets, bringing the most authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the American sophisticated palates. I must admit that given the chance to taste something authentically close to what’s available in Vietnam, without actually going there, that’s gotta be pretty cool.

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Thumbnail image for Pho in the Philippines – Battle for Pho Supremacy is Heating Up

Pho in the Philippines – Battle for Pho Supremacy is Heating Up

June 14, 2009

The popularity of pho is rapidly spreading in the Philippines. While there are some independent pho shops, the main pho battle in the Philippines seems to be between 3 key pho players: Pho Hoa franchise from Northern California, Pho Bac, and Pho 24 out of Saigon Vietnam. The battle for pho supremacy in the Philippines may have already started as more Filipinos become acquainted with pho.

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Thumbnail image for Banh Pho (Bánh Phở) – It’s All About the Square Noodles

Banh Pho (Bánh Phở) – It’s All About the Square Noodles

June 13, 2009

Why is banh pho so important in a bowl of pho? One can say that pho is not pho without the correct banh pho rice noodles in it. You can eliminate the garnishing, but you cannot take banh pho noodles out of a proper bowl of pho. And you can’t have just few strands of banh pho floating in the broth, you have to have a whole lot of them. Here’s the run-down on the importance of banh pho in the pho dish.

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Thumbnail image for Pho 79 on Hazard Avenue in Little Saigon – Still Good and Dependable Pho

Pho 79 on Hazard Avenue in Little Saigon – Still Good and Dependable Pho

June 6, 2009

Pho 79 is a popular name since many Viet arrived in the U.S. in 1979, plus many restaurants opened in Little Saigon in 1979 as well. My first bowls of pho in Little Saigon were actually at this Pho 79. There were very few pho restaurants in existence back then, and those in business were always packed with Vietnamese slurping their pho like there was no tomorrow

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Thumbnail image for Quick Beef Pho Recipe with Quoc Viet Foods’ Pho Soup Base

Quick Beef Pho Recipe with Quoc Viet Foods’ Pho Soup Base

June 6, 2009

Authentic beef pho recipes call for cooking the broth over a period of 3 or more hours. Properly done, this will get you the best pho broth the way it’s intended to be. But for those who want to take a shortcut and shave off a few hours, Quoc Viet Foods Beef Flavored “Pho” Soup Base is a great option. They’ve achieved converting the traditional Vietnamese products (including pho) into a convenient form.

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Thumbnail image for Pho Hoa Vietnamese Restaurant, El Cajon Blvd – Still Serving Great Pho

Pho Hoa Vietnamese Restaurant, El Cajon Blvd – Still Serving Great Pho

June 2, 2009

It’s been a long time since I last visited Pho Hoa on El Cajon Blvd. This place has been here forever (well maybe at least to the mid 1980’s as I remember), and its age can be seen in the exterior condition of the building. But don’t let the look deceive you, because inside you’ll find one of the best pho around.

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