PHO Pho pho

When I started my new role last year, on my first team meeting my manager asked me, “Whats one thing in the world more people should know about?” I said, “Pho.”

My journey with Pho started in 2012. I started my first ‘real’ job, and who is now my best friend, was partnered with me so make sales calls. Our jobs required us to be on the road constantly, so we had to eat out everyday. When I was on the road with my friend Naomi, we ate pho about 3x a week! We never got tired of it. She loved is so much, and I was just beginning my journey with it.

My relationship with Pho changes so much. When I first began eating it in Philly, I would eat it plain. That is because I didn’t know all of the condiments you can add to it. Sometimes I would add a drop of Sriracha, or chili paste, but never added it religiously.

When I lived in Texas, I would eat my Pho with 4 to 5 lime slices. I indulged in the lime flavor with my broth and It was heaven! I felt like I uncovered a secret to Pho, that all it needed some lime and nothing else.

Now that I live in Detroit, don’t really use anything to enhance my broth. I start to eat the Pho plain, and enjoy the first taste of the broth. Then, I add sriracha and other condiments to enhance the flavor as I go.

The last time I ate Pho, I heard the restaurant owner say that it takes him 10 hours to make the broth. That is when I knew, I would never try and make this at home, I would enjoy it by the professionals.