So I've been a bad blogger. Bad, bad! But life get's in the way as always. Plus, other than family outings and work trips I haven't really traveled. So this next post is a different take on my "exploring" adventures. I'm talking about food. I mean why I haven't I thought of this before?! Y'all know how much I love stuffing my face. So now I'm gonna start trying to post my "reviews" if you will, of any new places I've explored in the realm of food. So here goes:
ELIZABETH'S
Noodles and Bahn Mi Boulangerie
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| http://elizabethstreetcafe.com/ |
This
just opened up on the corner of South 1st and Elizabeth Street just north of
Freddy's. So I've been wanting to check it out since I'd seen it during the
Nosh Food Trailer Tour me and girls did about a couple of weeks ago. I had a
bit of a hangover today and I was craving some Pho. Good Pho. I figured I'd
give it a try.
They have
pastries, Vietnamese coffee and tea bar, noodles (Pho and Bun), and Banh Mi.
Banh Mi are of course the Vietnamese sandwiches made with classic French bread.
Well, I went for the Pho with the braised short ribs and some BBQ pork spring
rolls. Needed something comforting and soupy.
It wasn’t too busy and although it was a pretty day I wanted
to sit inside. Wooden floors, coffee bar along the back wall with a semi-open
view of the kitchen, about 10 small tables on the inside, and then another
marble bar table along the windows with high stools. I sat here so I can have a
view out toward 1st street and the small porch area. I started out with the spring rolls
served in twos. Perfectly wrapped and served with three different sauces.
Classic peanut, a green mint/garlic sauce, and chili oil. The presentation is
very French classic. Cute small bowls and with a cute ceramic spoon. The pork
was good but didn’t taste particularly BBQy. I’m used to a more charred taste
with a little more seasoning.
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| #30C Braised Short Ribs Pho |
After I inhaled these the pho showed up with the fixings.
Very clean broth, super thin rice noodles, and nice chunks of the beef. The
bowl was a bit smaller than what you normally get at a Vietnamese place. Now in
a “normal” Vietnamese place this portion would run you about 5-7 bones. This
was 14. And the spring rolls would be 1.50 each. These were 3.00 bucks each.
I’m thinking your paying for the freshness of the ingredients. I could tell the
broth was “new” or made that day at least. That’s what I mean by clean. I’m not
saying that the other places aren’t clean, but it seems their broths are a bit
heartier. Either because they use it longer and keep stewing additional beef in
the same broth daily or they reuse the broth from the day before. Not that it’s
bad, because for some reason broth seems tastier the following day. This broth seemed healthier. None of
the rich fat that usually shimmers at the top of the broth, but still tasty. Of course, that rich fat is pretty awesome. But for a healthier pho, Elizabeth's hits the mark. The
fixings were pretty much the same as always…bean sprouts, thai basil, cilantro,
jalapeños, and lime. They also had little slices of radishes.
So overall it was good. The atmosphere is not what I’m used
to when I go out and eat pho, though. This was “fancy.” No bad just "fancy." Almost felt a little
self-conscious slurping the noodles. Most pho places are mom and pop joints.
This place is actually owned by the Lambert group. Uber trendy. Plus, the
seats/stools were not so great. I mean they were small stools, cute stools, but
too small for my huge ass. They are obviously meant for skinny
hipster/hipsterette butts. And they were high, which meant my short legs were
hanging helping to cut a bit of my circulation. Even with this criticism, I’d totally go back. It feels really girlie and fun and
fresh. Want to try the Bahn Mi next time. And next time gotta get the girls to
come with. Exploring more horizons….
