Pho is a noodle that is served in a dish of soup.Don't let the spelling fool you, the 'o' in this tricky to pronounce term sounds very similar to the word 'huh'.You might not know how to eat this popular Asian cuisine.There are traditional ways of eating pho, proper ways to eat pho with Western manners, and ways you can respect Vietnamese manners while eating.
Step 1: You should be familiar with the pho eating utensils.
You will be given a spoon and a pair of chopsticks to eat pho.If you are left handed, the chopsticks may be held with the right hand.You should have a small sauce dish and a holder for your chopsticks.It is okay to leave your hands on the table when eating a meal like pho.You can get every last bit by raising the bowl to your mouth.When pulling them apart, wooden chopsticks can splinter.Rub the chopsticks together to remove splinters or burrs in casual situations.This practice can be seen as rude in formal situations.Don't leave your chopsticks in your food or stick them vertically into it.Being rude is what doing so is considered to be.
Step 2: Take a sample and season it.
The first thing you'll want to do is sample the soup.Adding fish sauce to the soup will give it a little more flavor.Black pepper and lime juice are two of the most common flavorings added to pho.An entire lime wedge can be squeezed into the soup.
Step 3: If you want, you can put in herbs and sprout.
In most cases, a few beansprouts will be enough for your pho.If you serve pho with Thai basil, you should add 10 - 12 to the soup.After adding beansprouts, use your spoon to submerge them.Some restaurants serve pho with saw herb.Add 2 - 3 of these into pieces about an inch in length if you want to add this to your pho.You can get a potent smolder from 3 or 4 slices of serrano chili.If you are sensitive to spicy food, you should use fewer slices.
Step 4: Put your dipping sauce in a container.
Add hoisin sauce and sriracha chili to your small sauce dish to make a dipping sauce.If you are sensitive to spicy things, less sriracha may be best.If you want to sample your dipping sauce, you can put the tip of your chopsticks into it and taste it.If it's too spicy or not spicy enough, you may want to add more sauce.
Step 5: You should eat pho.
Take your chopsticks and spoon to mix your pho.When eating noodles, vegetables, and/or meat, you can collect combinations of ingredients together with your chopsticks and dip them into the sauce.When you're done eating, scoop up the soup with your spoon and sip it.It might be hard to eat the last bits of pho with your spoon and chopsticks.If you're in this situation, lay your spoon on its holder, bring the bowl to your mouth with your free hand, and then use your chopsticks to guide the remnants into you mouth.
Step 6: You can use a soup spoon and fork.
The soup spoon is the largest in a Western setting.A special soup spoon may be brought to you at some restaurants.The pho noodles and other ingredients will be speared by your fork.In British and American dining culture, the farthest right spoon is the soup spoon.A seafood/oyster fork can be found to the right of your soup spoon.
Step 7: Allow time for the pho to cool.
Blow on soup-like dishes to cool them off is frowned upon in Western culture.Wait for the dinner conversation to cool down.If you blow on your pho, it can make you seem impatient or cause soup to splatter on yourself.If you want to check the temperature of your pho, you can use your spoon to stir the soup and hold it to your lips.Your pho needs more time to cool if it is uncomfortably hot.
Step 8: The back of the bowl is where the soup should be.
The front of the spoon should face away from you if you want to eat pho with proper Western manners.It will make you less likely to eat pho.You should drink the soup from the side of the spoon rather than putting the whole spoon in your mouth.
Step 9: Add herbs and spices when you sample pho.
Take your spoon and taste the soup after it has cooled.Use your spoon to push the beansprouts under the cooked meat in the bowl.You can add herbs and spices to pho with serving utensils.It is considered impolite to handle herbs, spices, and other seasonings with your bare hands when eating with Western manners.
Step 10: The dipping sauce should be mixed.
When eating pho, take a small dish or saucer and combine equal parts hoisin sauce and sriracha chili.If you don't like spicy food, you can either light it or leave it out.You can sample your sauce by dipping the tip of a utensil into it and tasting it.
Step 11: You should eat pho.
Take a fork in your right hand and swirl it through the pho noodles to get some.You can submerge your spoon in the soup by holding it in your left hand.Place your fork in the bowl of your spoon and twist it to get the noodles together.Scoop or skewer meat and/or vegetables on the end of your fork, then dip the noodles and veggies into the sauce.Hold your fork over the dish until it stops dripping sauce, or place your spoon under it to catch the dripped sauce and eat pho.When you get low on pho, tilt your bowl backwards to get the remnants.You can use your spoon to finish the meal.
Step 12: Wait for the host to eat before consuming.
When dining with traditional Vietnamese friends or family, you should wait for either the head of the household or the eldest member to eat first.Wait to eat until you see one of your dining companions doing the same.Depending on your situation, your Vietnamese dinner may or may not begin with a small offering on a family altar.
Step 13: Don't hesitate to personalize your food.
Pho is expected to be personalized to your tastes, unlike other kinds of cuisine.Special sauces that have been prepared can be poured into small sauce dishes and altered with seasonings until they suit you.
Step 14: Don't use rude gestures.
As you eat pho, you'll gesture to your dinner companions.If you want to be considered rude, don't point at anyone with your middle finger or touch someone on the shoulder.In Vietnamese culture, the placement and usage of your feet is important.Don't put your feet on tables.Women may find excessive use of gestures rude.
Step 15: Climate permitting, less eye contact.
In Vietnamese culture, it's common for someone to bow frequently and avoid eye contact when they feel like they're not good enough.It is actually a sign of respect, even though it might seem disrespectful to you.It can be seen as disrespectful to vocalize disagreement or criticism.If saved for a more private time, your comments might go over better.
Step 16: Honor the gender and age customs of Vietnam.
Though this might be different from your home culture, Vietnamese tend to show deference by seating and serving elders most prominently, then male adults then other members of the family, like young men, women and children.