Pho is something we always love when overseas because it reminds us of KK's ngewchap (beef mix noodles) and KK's ngewchap is really something (if only they serve KK ngewchap with beansprouts, Thai basil and lime...). On our trip back from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, we ate pho in a predominately Vietnamese town called Springvale .
The restaurant in Springvale served Vietnamese and Cambodian noodles and was so authentic none of the waitresses/owner spoke any English, and the menu was also in their language. I just went this, this and that with my fingers, and the first bowl of noodles that came had my kids shrieking because Yi was sure she read somewhere that those egg yolks were straight from inside the chicken ie, not yet laid. They also speculated on how the chicken blood was collected. I had to eat the large bowl of noodles (but not the yolks) with some help from Hub, very composed but actually I had lost my appetite but tried not to show it. We were all very disappointed with the soup because it tasted sugar-sweet when it should've been umami savory-sweet. Or is that how real pho should taste? After this meal, we all totally lost our longing for pho.
Chicken mixed pho, A$7.50/RM23
Beefballs pho, same price
Chicken beef pho
In Brisbane, my ex-colleague Stephen and family took us for pho too. Although the soup was better, I still found it sugar-sweet rather than umami-sweet.
3-color drink. Too bad they used boxed coconut milk.
Stephen & family & us.
The restaurant in Springvale served Vietnamese and Cambodian noodles and was so authentic none of the waitresses/owner spoke any English, and the menu was also in their language. I just went this, this and that with my fingers, and the first bowl of noodles that came had my kids shrieking because Yi was sure she read somewhere that those egg yolks were straight from inside the chicken ie, not yet laid. They also speculated on how the chicken blood was collected. I had to eat the large bowl of noodles (but not the yolks) with some help from Hub, very composed but actually I had lost my appetite but tried not to show it. We were all very disappointed with the soup because it tasted sugar-sweet when it should've been umami savory-sweet. Or is that how real pho should taste? After this meal, we all totally lost our longing for pho.
Chicken mixed pho, A$7.50/RM23
Beefballs pho, same price
Chicken beef pho
In Brisbane, my ex-colleague Stephen and family took us for pho too. Although the soup was better, I still found it sugar-sweet rather than umami-sweet.
3-color drink. Too bad they used boxed coconut milk.
Stephen & family & us.
On this trip, I met up with many Sabahans who are doing fine, their kids all well-educated and well-mannered. I am so happy for them.
yerr... I think I missed OZ ! eventhough I had bad experience of tasting the 'sweet' ngewchap !
ReplyDeleteI was so shocked ! when I first had my sweet ngewchap, with so many UNCOOKED beansprouts,mint leaves & lime... I felt so...e yucks... ended up i only had the meatballs & somenoodles..
But afterall, somehow we sabahan loves to go eat pho oredi! hahaha , cuz that's the only food that tasted "home"
p/s : Aunt, I had nitemare last nite ;p I dunnot why , I dream of your backyard & with many sabah vege growing there !my ..
I love the Pho in Melbourne but sadly, I guess you went into a wrong one as Springvale got plenty of good Viet restaurant. Those eggs are collected from Old Hen. I dare not try it myself too but i got a friend who loves it a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing!! In Australia also have time to blog!! Awesome multitasking skills!
ReplyDeleteGreg was not very impressed with aust pho even though i raved so much about it before we left for melbourne. he kept on saying only so so.
ReplyDeleteI had cooked it a few times at home and the results is not bad. def enough to quench cravings for aust viet pho. will put that up soon and may b you can cook it and tell me how to improve.
denise: u didn't like it too? good, we aren't the only ones then. on a previous trip to Melb, I ate pho at Mekong (where Clinton reportedly ate 2 bowls) on Swanston St & i don't remember it being sweet. dreaming of me huh :D hey, can migrate to Brisbane. i attended a church lunch & this Sabahan brought a plate of fried sayur manis!
ReplyDeleteppea: yes, there were many in Springvale but we chose the wrong one. didn't u find the soup somewhat sugar-sweet? it's strange i never tasted sweet pho before, whether in OZ or Canada.how was it in Vietnam??
bento: aiya, i'm back in good ole KK lah!
nee: welcome home! did u eat at tt place i recommended, u know the ma lai go??
yea, my hub said he prefers kk ngewchap altho i've noticed kk ngewchap's standard has gone down a lot, the beef & all cut very thin and small.yes, do cook & tell us the results. my girl cooked pho in Brisbane & i'd say it tasted better than the restaurants...
haha ! YES u can definitely " lived " in brissy =p
ReplyDeleteI stayed with a Sabahan family last time ( at Calamvale), and this aunt, she is growing Sabah vege at her yard!!!!! * Lolz *
and, they made pan mien u know!
( they bought the machine from KK) hahahahahha ... sooo lovely
I have never try the Viet version but since those in Springvale are cooked by Vietnamese...maybe it's supposed to taste like that?
ReplyDeletedenise: yes, Bris is nice but a bit lautoo.
ReplyDeletepreciousp: time to visit Vietnam, its the in place for many Sabahans.
At least the pictures are nice! I'm very surprised authentic Vietnamese people are serving less than spectacular pho. Very surprised!
ReplyDelete