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.
Vietnamese pho at a Fall Festival? Pho for charity? Pho bo, pho ga and bun bo Hue as festival foods? Maybe unheard of a few years back, but with the popularity of pho raging everywhere, pho just may become the next big festival food. It already is in Little Saigon (of course.) And have you seen the pho vats? Check out the video.
Here’s the ultimate noodle face-off between pho and other Asian noodles. Ratings are based on deliciousness of pho, degree of difficulty to make pho, degree of difficulty to serve pho, number of ingredients required for pho, and pho popularity among non-Asians. You may think we have our own bias on a pho blog like this, but the numbers (and results) make a lot of sense.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hu Tieu the noodle or Hu Tieu the dish? This post will help begin to clear up some confusions about what Vietnamese hu tieu is and how it may be enjoyed. For a Vietnamese it’s pretty much common knowledge. But for others it’s probably been one contradiction after another where seemingly different dishes are all called Hủ Tiếu! You can now order your hu tieu with confidence and then enjoy it with peace of mind.