Fee Fi Pho Fa

The three musketeers....Shirley, Luis and I went to lunch today and had Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup at our favorite restaurant called Saigon 8.

No matter what time you show up to eat...this restaurant is always crowded.  In fact, the hours posted on the door is quite strange.....they don't have a "from" time....just an end time.

I never realized that people like to have Pho so early in the morning...because someone commented that no matter how early....people are eating Pho from 7 or 8 a.m.

Now this restaurant is all by the numbers.  Shirley and Luis have memorized the number of their favorite type of Pho and can order it by the corresponding number.  They like the kind that has dumplings with egg noodles.  I on the other hand just tell them that I want the veggie one with tofu.  These dishes have a relish tray that consists of fresh basil, beansprouts, lime, chili peppers and today this scratchy leafy thing....we don't know the name of.

They don't bring the check to the table...you have to tell them your table number when you go up to the cashier to pay the bill.

I also like their Thai iced tea...without the bubble thing--ees.  Ugh.

Now for the good part.  Is it pronounced FA or FO?  Different people say it differently. 

In fact, my friend Shirley has a corresponding joke she tells the first time she tried this dish....someone asked her if she wanted to FA and being 75 years old and a bit hard of hearing (oops...joke)....she thought she heard
F%*K and was taken aback.

Well, the 3 of us were like little ladies out to lunch.....because what's funny is that Shirley tends to repeat herself....Luis is very popular in this restaurant. He is also very prim and proper and has his own style...and well I am usually the serious one.  We gossip like 3 old hens (oops....my bad....Luis for referring to you as a hen...but you are really like one of the girls...that's how close we feel towards you).  You are like a well of information....especially computer tech--ie type of information.

Well having Pho in 100+ degree weather...Shirley found it to be quite refreshing.  When you get outside the restaurant it is sort of like you stepped into an oven.  The heat is dry and just hits you.  The steering wheel of your car is too hot to handle.  It may sound crazy....having hot soup in hot weather...but hey....we are quirkey that way.

Have FO or FA (translation:  FUN).  See veggie Pho below: