Friends around me know that I am Vietnamese and immediately ask me about pho, ask me if I know how to cook pho, ask me why pho is so delicious, I can eat it forever and never get tired of it.
Young people enjoy a bowl of pho at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 in Seoul, South Korea - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
I don't know how to cook pho.
I do not feel proud of this point as I am Vietnamese.
I am studying abroad. When my friends know that I am Vietnamese, they ask me about pho, if I know how to cook pho, why pho is so delicious, they can eat it forever without getting tired of it.
We come from many different countries, different nationalities, but thanks to pho we talked to each other, as if we had known each other for a long time, as if no one had ever been so close to us.
I introduced them to Vietnam. They introduced me to the delicious pho restaurants here. I have only been here for a few months and have not had time to try all the pho restaurants here.
"Pho is elegance. The broth is clear and naturally sweet. A perfect harmony, just like the quintessential dishes of our French cuisine!".
"The pho is as good as my borscht! The broth is rich, warm, and makes me feel healthier right away!"
"The broth is light, like ramen but much lighter. Delicious!".
"Pho is very suitable for Korean taste. Here we can eat pho three meals a day."
"There are many noodle dishes in China, but pho is completely different. I don't know how to describe it, but it's really delicious."
"Of course not! Pho is the pride of Vietnamese cuisine. The broth is clear and naturally sweet from stewed bones, not just created by spices. Pho is not just a dish, but also a culture, a memory of many Vietnamese people."
We went to eat pho together. There are many other delicious dishes in Vietnamese restaurants, but we ordered pho. It's not that the other dishes weren't delicious, but pho was like a special mark that connected people who were different in everything like us, to meet and come together.
I still don't know how to cook pho.
I tried cooking at home. I wanted to show you that I am Vietnamese, I can also cook pho.
Pho connects friends across five continents - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
The truth is that not every Vietnamese person can cook pho.
I looked up the recipe online, then called home to ask my mother. She said that making pho requires patience. The bones must be washed, blanched, and simmered for four to six hours, then cloves, cinnamon, and star anise are added and simmered for another hour. Then add the spices and it’s done. And there you have it, a bowl of pho.
What pho is that? The thing in my bowl can't be called "pho".
I don't know what went wrong, it looks the same, but it tastes nothing like it.
My friend's face was distorted, he ate and pretended to praise the food, then said that he must have been away from Vietnam for too long, the essence of Vietnam had all disappeared.
No, I am Vietnamese. I am Vietnamese in my heart. I am Vietnamese in my flesh and blood. Not knowing how to cook pho does not prove I am not Vietnamese.
Maybe I was in a hurry to cook it quickly to eat, or because I didn't use the right ingredients. Because abroad doesn't have all the necessary ingredients to cook pho, so what I don't have, I replace with similar ones.
Vietnamese people have a saying: "Failure is the mother of success". This failure of mine will create future success. I will definitely cook the best pho in the future, so that my friends around the world will be amazed by Vietnamese cuisine.
And now, let's go eat pho.
Writing Contest Vietnamese Pho in My Eyes
As part of a series of activities promoting Vietnamese culinary culture under the program "Pho Day" initiated by Tuoi Tre newspaper, the writing contest "Vietnamese Pho in My Eyes" was launched on the occasion of the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024, which took place in Seoul (Korea) on October 5 and 6. The contest is for Vietnamese students studying abroad, Korean students studying at universities in Korea, Vietnamese citizens living and working in Korea and Korean citizens; a place for them to share memorable stories about pho, memories of the country, people of Vietnam or Korea associated with pho, memories of a real person, associated with or influential to this traditional dish. Good and impressive articles have the opportunity to receive prizes: 1 first prize: Worth 20,000,000 VND. 1 second prize: Worth 10,000,000 VND. 1 third prize: Worth 5,000,000 VND. 3 consolation prizes: Each prize is worth 3,000,000 VND. 1 prize for the most favorite article (article with the highest number of likes on Tuoi Tre Online ): Worth 10,000,000 VND. 1 prize for the person with the most entries: Worth 5,000,000 VND. The Organizing Committee will receive entries before October 7, 2024, and is expected to announce the prize on December 12, 2024. Pho Day 12-12 is a program initiated by Tuoi Tre newspaper and has been continuously organized since 2017. Since 2018, December 12 has been officially established as "Vietnamese Pho Day". Currently, "Pho Day" has become an important annual culinary culture promotion activity, contributing to elevating and strongly spreading Pho in particular, and Vietnamese cuisine in general, throughout the world. During "Pho Day", many activities are organized such as: Pho Memories contest; Suggestions for developing Pho Day; Pho Exhibition and Journey back to the old Pho; Voting for the most favorite Pho restaurants or the Pho in me photo and writing contest... Especially the contest Finding the best Pho cook with the title of Golden Star Anise attracts many young chefs to participate and win prizes. Many organizations, units, and famous Pho restaurants across the country have responded and promoted Pho Day 12-12 for the past 7 years.Happy to cook delicious pho in Korea
Mr. Ha Dinh Kien - assistant chef of Thu Duc Golf Course Restaurant (HCMC) at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 event in Seoul, Korea
"Very happy and proud" is the feeling of Mr. Ha Dinh Kien - assistant chef of Thu Duc Golf Course Restaurant (HCMC) - after returning from the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 event in Seoul, South Korea.
"I am happy that I have been able to spread Vietnamese culture and cuisine to Korea and international friends. I am also very touched when I see people in Seoul lining up in an orderly manner to enjoy bowls of Vietnamese pho.
To bring delicious bowls of pho to Korean people and international tourists, the kitchen team has overcome many difficulties, from raw materials, processing conditions to transportation to the event venue...
Cooking pho all night long is tiring, but seeing the reception from locals and tourists, all the tiredness disappears. It is a great happiness to have the opportunity to bring the most quintessential flavors of pho to international friends, so that through pho they will understand more about Vietnamese cuisine and culture," he shared.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-thi-pho-viet-trong-mat-toi-pho-la-tinh-ban-20241122110744462.htm
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