A Taste of Home

One can consider Paris the ideal destination. It has it all—beauty in its gothic architecture, grace in the harmonious waters of the Seine, glamour at night when the City of Light luminesces, and intellectualism beneath its layers of history. But the city remains simply a destination—I was getting homesick. Having exhausted the tourist attractions, the sidewalk cafés, the lovely shops, I missed the meals I had at home before I arrived in the city. So, I went in search of Vietnamese cuisine, and lucky for me, I found a little bit of home in Paris in the form of Pho Banh Cuon 14, or simply Pho 14. While I cannot say that I am connoisseur of French food, pho, or Vietnamese noodle soup, is a dish that I know intimately, having grown up trying all its variations. Served as a bowl of white rice noodles in clear beef broth, pho can come with a variety of meats of your choosing such as different cuts of beef, meatballs, and chicken. The garnishes include cilantro, slices of onion, lemon wedges, and bean sprouts. For lovers of spicey foods, the Sriracha hot sauce is a must. For milder palates, hoison sauce serves as a good addition for extra flavoring. My personal favorite is the kind of pho with every type of meat along with a small dish hoison sauce for dipping. I was on a mission to find that perfect bowl of pho, my ultimate comfort food. A small walk from the Tolbiac metro stop, Pho 14 wasn’t particularly difficult to find, especially as the hungry stomach sharpens the senses towards perfumed smells of food. In this case, one whiff and I knew it was what I needed to feed my homesickness. It was around seven in the evening on a Tuesday, a bit early for the French to eat dinner, and yet the place was busy. Indeed, my Parisian cousin tells me the place is usually packed with a people waiting in line for a bowl of pho (in which case, it would be even easier to find). My cousin and I were led into a nicely decorated area; the décor was a bit better than I was used to for pho restaurants. Vietnamese music played softly in the background. I was a bit skeptical, as my rule of thumb for gauging pho was an inverse relationship between authenticity and décor. But, I was wrong, because the food proved to be lovely. For a representative idea of their pho, I ordered the petit bowl of the Soupe Pho Spéciale Complet for 6 euros, which quite suited my budget as a poor, American college student (it’s around 7 euros for a grand bowl). The hot bowl was brought out quickly and was consumed quickly also. The sliced rare beef was done just right; it was still red when the bowl was brought out but a minute or so in the hot broth cooked away its redness. The meatballs were more compact than I would like, but it made it easier to eat. The soup was slightly more salé than noodle soups I’ve had in the past, but luckily, I like my food salty. That bowl of pho relieved my homesickness (somewhat like Ego in the movie Ratatouille when he tasted Rémy’s dish). Regrettably, I had no room for dessert. I did eye, however, a delicious looking cup of sweet rice bean porridge (che dau trang) which I will have to save for the next time. At Pho 14, a complete meal of a bowl of pho, a drink, and dessert would come to around 15 euros, a fair price for a large meal. If you’re looking for a culinary adventure, or in my case, a culinary comfort, Pho 14 is decidedly a great choice for a taste of Vietnam. Pho Banh Cuon 14 129 Bis, Avenue Choisy; 13ème arrondissement Tel : 01 45 83 61 15 Metro: Tolbiac Open every day from 9h00 – 23h00 Pho Banh Cuon 14 on 129 Avenue de Choisy near Tolbiac