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Corinne Trang on Vietnamese Pho, Noodles Every Day, and Life

Corinne Trang on Vietnamese Pho, Noodles Every Day, and Life

September 10, 2009

Corinne Trang is a prolific cookbook author and Asian cuisines and culinary expert. Her latest book, Noodles Every Day, is my kind of book. I love anything slurpable, pho or otherwise. So now that her new book is out, I am excited to have an opportunity for a Q&A with Corinne Trang. I got her to do a noodle face-off between pho and other noodles, and talk about finding one’s roots, writing books, teaching others, making food and living life.

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Thumbnail image for Improving the Pho Menu For Mainstream Appeal

Improving the Pho Menu For Mainstream Appeal

September 7, 2009

Pho going mainstream? Not quite yet. The pho menu needs a major improvement or facelift. Pho noodle itself is great, but the pho menu needs to get with the 21st century. Many existing pho restaurants have huge menus, but large pho menu does not equate to quality pho. Having clear and easy to understand pho menu will improve the clientele’s pho experience, and will definitely attract new business. Here’s why.

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Thumbnail image for Pho in the Philippines: Have Filipinos Taken to the Pho Phenomenon?

Pho in the Philippines: Have Filipinos Taken to the Pho Phenomenon?

September 5, 2009

Vietnamese pho is, without argument, the most well-known noodle dish from Vietnam. Pho noodle has swept all across the world, making those who tasted it so enamored with the dish that they always want more. So how is Vietnamese pho doing in the Philippines, a mere 1000 or so miles east of Saigon? Are Filipinos as taken in by pho as, say, the Americans and the Australians?

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Thumbnail image for Quoc Viet Foods® Steadily Growing and Bringing Vietnamese Pho to the Masses

Quoc Viet Foods® Steadily Growing and Bringing Vietnamese Pho to the Masses

September 1, 2009

Quoc Viet Foods® specializes in manufacturing Vietnamese pho soup bases and other seasonings. The company is the first to use modern technologies to convert the traditional Vietnamese pho into convenient soup base form. If you’re looking for a quick pho recipe to make your own pho in less than an hour, it’s possible with pho products from Quoc Viet Foods. It’s a great option without giving up authenticity, taste and quality. Read more on how Quoc Viet Foods began its journey to bring pho to the mass.

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Thumbnail image for A Conversation With Viet Culinary Author and Teacher Andrea Nguyen

A Conversation With Viet Culinary Author and Teacher Andrea Nguyen

August 28, 2009

Andrea Nguyen is a celebrated food writer and teacher with a unique ability to interpret traditional Asian cooking styles for modern cooks. Andrea’s first book, Into the Vietnamese Kitchen, received three prestigious James Beard and IACP cookbook award nominations. Her new cookbook, Asian Dumplings, hits the shelves on August 25th, 2009. I was happy and honored that Andrea Nguyen agreed to an interview. Read about my interview with Andrea, what makes her tick, plus her views on the state of Vietnamese pho.

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Thumbnail image for Pho Etiquette

Pho Etiquette

August 19, 2009

Pho etiquette: How to eat pho. Vietnamese pho is an easy dish to pick up and enjoy. To the casual diner, consuming pho only requires your ability to place your order, and hold chopsticks and spoon in your hands. For those ready for something more, pho etiquette is your next goal. There are specific customs to follow, while other protocols are left to individual interpretation and choice. Here’s a collection of pho etiquette to help you come closer to pho and Viet culture.

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Thumbnail image for Vietnamese Pho – No Longer Comfort Food Just For Vietnamese

Vietnamese Pho – No Longer Comfort Food Just For Vietnamese

August 10, 2009

Vietnamese pho is becoming the comfort food of choice for many non-Viet people, according to a new survey. The one very important thing that pho has going for it, that many other foods don’t have, is the global pho markets and supplies are now already in place wherever Vietnamese live. You name it, and Viet refugees and their descendants are there – the U.S., Canada, Asian countries, Australia, Europe. Pho doesn’t have to take the time to spread, because it’s already there!

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Thumbnail image for Instant Pho: How Good Are They?

Instant Pho: How Good Are They?

July 29, 2009

There is a reason why instant ramen, and instant pho, took the world by storm. In today’s fast-paced life, instant pho caters to a need to feed and satisfy hunger in less than five minutes. In recent years instant pho comes in foam cups or bowls. All you need is to add hot water and let it sit for a few minutes. The question is not if instant pho is good or bad, but if it is good for your health. Here’s my take on instant pho.

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Thumbnail image for Saigon’s Luong Son Quan – Bo Tung Xeo: Beer Garden Vietnamese Style

Saigon’s Luong Son Quan – Bo Tung Xeo: Beer Garden Vietnamese Style

July 25, 2009

Luong Son Quan Bo Tung Xeo is a great place to hang out with friends for diner and lots of drinking. Sort of a beer garden, Vietnamese style. But it’s much more than that. On the menu are exotic dishes for “nhậu,” the Vietnamese term for eating and drinking, with emphasis on the drinking part.

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Thumbnail image for On Viet People’s Expectations, Standards, and Ideals for Pho vs. Non-Viet

On Viet People’s Expectations, Standards, and Ideals for Pho vs. Non-Viet

July 25, 2009

What are the characteristics of a great pho? For a non-Vietnamese person, how can you decide if the pho you just had was authentic or not? Here’s my take on Vietnamese people’s expectations, standards, and ideals for Pho vs. non-Vietnamese’s. It’s pretty hard to screw up pho if the restaurateur knows anything about Vietnamese food, but it’s always up to you to decide.

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