In the winter of 2006, I accompanied two friends on a journey through Southeast Asia for three weeks. We spent a week in Thailand, one in Cambodia, and a final one in Vietnam. During this time, I found paradise. When a man finds something close to heaven, it is difficult to replicate if it is not at the same place with the same people. Me and one of my friends – a beautiful, young lady – visited the Temple of Confucius in Hanoi. Outside of one of the gates, we sat down on a little curbside cafe operating out of a small stall. There, I had the best Ph? that man can taste. Heaven. Later that night, we attended a wonderful opera that capstoned the experience.
Upon arriving home, I tried to find something that could bring back that experience. To find paradise anew. I found Pho Quynh in Baton Rouge. I have eaten Vietnamese in California, Utah, and here. This place is as close to that little stall – and heaven – as I have found in the States so far. Today, I went with my eldest brother and a friend of ours. While they were no beautiful lady, enough stimulating conversation was provided to get me to the time when the food arrived. We had some delicious eggrolls and springrolls with peanut sauce. My course was a bowl of beef pho – with fatty brisket, round steak, and tripe. Add a little Thai basil, beansprouts, and chili sauce for magic. I considered licking the bowl, but I remembered sometime in the hazy past my mother warning me not to be uncouth at the table. Although I was able to restrained myself, the temptation was mighty. Go check it out for yourself.