Operation: Flushing Pho

I am a manager at Docks Oyster Bar on Third Avenue. We employ a sushi chef, Ming. Ming is a rockstar, he carves up sea critters draped in jeans and a bandana. He's also mysterious, and quietly kind. I find him vaguely attractive. That's why today for lunch I sat next to him at the bar, and tested his savvy.

Me: I'm crazy about pho.
Ming: You?

Ming needn't say much, but it was all in the expressions. I am non-Asian, and hence suspect. He sized up the sincerity of my claim, first skeptical. I waxed on about sriracha and thai basil, the delicate balance of onions and beef broth. I sang the virtues of a simple tai, or extravagant dac biet. I scoffed at the notion of ever paying more than $6.50 for a decent bowl. My authenticity was incontrovertible; his dark eyes lit up behind his usual hazy reserve. I had him impressed.

Ming: You must go to Flushing.

Flushing. Or Flushing-ish. Apparently there is a Chinatown in Queens, wherein lies the Promised Land. None of this Manhattan fool's Chinatown drivel, he promised. Tomorrow, he assured me, he will bring me the address, written in code on the back of a chameleon, to appear only when held in the fleshtone hands of a true Follower. I can practically taste the hoisin...

Doppelganger

One day into the project. Discovered Pho Fever . Momentary despair. It's an ambitious site filled with information on pho, itself like a steamy pho soup brimming with bean sprouts. Impressive detail on eating technique -- but I'm a little suspicious of the north/south pho divide described, and the origin story; but, could be wrong -- will investigate and report back.

In re, the blog title: Okay, they've got a t-shirt of this slogan over at Pho Fever. Although we thought originality possible, it turns out permutations of 'pho' substituted for 'what' are easy to come by. But our runner-up title, pho-to-eat -- well, it is too on the nose. So we're going with the winner.

Hello Phở!

Searching for the perfect bowl, mostly (or at least starting) in New York City. Let the adventures in Phở begin!