From Steelers coaches to bridge closings, we do not always embrace a change. The same thing happens to our dining habits. In Pittsburgh we visit the same places with the same people over and over again. On the anniversary of my fifth culinary article here at Boring Pittsburgh, I decided to explain a food experience a little differently – and how it reminded me of something. This all happened Tuesday at the Vietnamese eatery in the heart of the Strip District – Pho Van.
An original Vietnamese dish, pho is more than just a soup; it is more like a meal. How does one even pronounce Pho? (Think ‘Fuh‘, not ‘Foe‘). Since the only time Pittsburghers say ‘Pho‘ properly is when it’s followed by ‘–king Roethlisberger interception‘ – I thought this was as good a time as any to pay a pho place a visit. Served hot with a lime wedge, jalapeno slices, sprouts, basil and mint – pho can be as spicy or as mild as you like and it always fills you up.
So I experienced Pho Van differently this week. I was joined by someone we’ll call ‘L‘. She in fact made up the ‘TableforTwo‘ for almost two years of my life. When the tablecloth of our relationship was yanked out in a magic trick gone horribly wrong, we were left to pick up the dishes that came crashing to the floor and I was left being TableforOne. With our broken dishes in hand and with very little fanfare, we went our separate ways six months ago. So with an idea like a flashfire in a frying pan, I once again set up a table for two.
Pho Van was quite busy for a Tuesday evening. It was clean, well staffed and informal. Pictures of well stocked Vietnamese markets lined the walls and a thatched faux ceiling finalized the experience. The pho here can have beef, tripe, seafood or chicken. On the menu there is vegetarian pho, pho with meatballs, eye of round, beef tendons, brisket and many other combinations. They also have a great selection of drinks – jasmine and dragon eye oolong tea, soy bean milk, hot coffee and fresh coconut juice. Their grill platters sport an array of prawns, pork, beef various mixtures of fried rices. Even if you are vegetarian, there is tofu salad, papaya salad, fried rice noodles, lemongrass tofu, vegetarian spring rolls and so much more. All the pho is around $7. Just like our Pittsburgh dining choices, the combinations and possibilities at Pho Van are endless.
Not to get too personal, but let’s talk about ‘L‘ for a minute – her culinary résumé is as complex as the choices at Pho Van. Spontaneous and open to many things, she is a culinary compatriot if there ever was one. I remember showing her how tasty hard boiled eggs are with a little cocktail sauce inside. And as she grew up in Hawai’i, she introduced me to dishes such as Hawaiian chicken and even Spam Musubi – a block of rice with a slice of grilled spam wrapped in seaweed. But not being raised in Hawai’i, I never became a fan of spam musubi (although the chicken was quite good).
I will admit the pictures were hard to take because I was a bit nervous. We sat down, went through some formalities and I ordered the Shrimp on Sugar Cane. It was late and they were out of sugar cane, so instead I received it with whole shrimp. My dish was complex yet everything was delicious. It incorporated ingredients such as crushed peanuts, noodles, bean sprouts, mint, and pickled carrots. I enjoyed it all. On the side was a homemade and wonderful chili garlic sauce. ‘L‘ ordered the Grilled Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick. It came with a heaping side of rice and many crisp fresh vegetables.
During the evening ‘L‘ and I talked, told stories and laughed. We reminisced about the fun times and shared the stories of things that brought us together. Something happened that night that I will not soon forget – we officially became friends again. Our common bond is – and always was – the food.
So I say to you Pittsburgh, go somewhere that you may never have been before. Reach out for something or try to look at something old with a new appreciation. Take a chance. Go on a culinary adventure where you do not know where you may end up.
And while walking back to the car after an interesting evening, I learned a lot more about myself then I knew six months ago.
Maybe now would be a good time to try spam musubi again…