This is part 2 of the story of pho Hanoi and how the Co family pho dynasty keeps its pho through 5 generations. We meet one of the two remaining members of the second generation, who demonstrates traditional pho techniques at festivals and visits his descendants’ pho shops to pass on his experience and encouragement.
Pho Hanoi by the multigenerational Co family from the town of Nam Dinh. This video tells the story of pho Hanoi and how the Co dynasty keeps its pho through 5 generations. The video is narrated in Vietnamese, but I think non-Viet speaking pho lovers will find it fascinating too. Here’s a loose transcription I made to share with everyone. Some specific audio details may be lost, but the overall meanings are still intact. Enjoy.
Among the 3,000 or so YouTube pho videos there are many how-to-cook, how-to-eat and a variety of parody clips. After viewing a few, you’ll wonder why you’ve wasted a good chunk of your life on them, time that you’ll never get back. On the other hand, there are a few gems that will enhance your knowledge and appreciation of pho in many ways. Here are some of the best pho-related YouTube videos worth seeing.
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!
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.
Pho 24 is an up and rising noodle restaurant chain serving exquisite pho rice noodle dishes. Pho 24 now has store locations in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sydney, aside from its many locations within Vietnam. What’s with the number in the name? Another pho restaurant name with numbers? It’s actually not what you think.
A fascinating and definitive discussion of history and evolution of Vietnamese pho. The history of pho spans over a hundred years, from unification of Vietnam under French rule in 1887, to North and South Vietnam separation in 1954, and the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and beyond.
All-you-can-eat Pho? Well not quite, not here in the states anyway. I had all-you-can-eat pho in Vietnam, at Nha Hang Tan Son Nhat (Tan Son Nhat Restaurant), near the airport Tan Son Nhat in Saigon. The restaurant had a huge offerings of authentic regional Vietnamese delicacies, arranged into different food types at their own serving stations. But thank you very much, I’ll have another bowl of pho please.
Pho Hoa Pasteur holds a special place in my early teen heart and memory. Not just because of its hearty bowls of pho. No. Not the Pho Hoa Pasteur you’re thinking about. I’m talking about the original place in Saigon.
When you consider that ingredients are now much easier to source, that if you can recreate a great pot of soup stock in a cookie-cutting way over and over again, coupled with the fact that restaurateurs are more confidence about how a non-Vietnamese might accept and enjoy a healthy bowl of pho, you have a good formula for pho expansion.