New guy on the block
Light, bright spring rolls w/ dipping sauce
A big bowl of pho--this is chicken, but there are many options
My chowfriend Kim and I went on a lunch adventure today. The mission was to visit Saigon Market on John R. Road just south of 13 Mile so she could pick up some supplies and to check out a newish Pho restaurant a block north of there - http://quehuongdetroit.com. Both are in Madison Heights, MI.
We entered a very small establishment with several tables filled with hungry eaters. Wesplit a side of fresh spring rolls. (See photo). The rice wrapper was delicate and translucent, letting us see the bright colors of the shrimp and sparkling fresh mint and herbs inside. Served with a spicy hoisin/peanut sauce, it was bright and vivid tasting and light enough not to interfere with the big bowls of pho coming. I ordered rare beef for, she ordered chicken (see photo).
Everything was delicious. The Pho was served with the requisite fresh Thai basil, lime and bean spouts.Kim enhanced her Pho with two tiny spoonfuls of a wicked hot pepper concoction available as a side at each table. While we ate, chef came out and gave us each a take out menu and explained that he has a web site. I think he was somewhat tickled that someone was taking photographic notice of his food.
We want to come back to try the several different Bahn Mi Thit sandwiches as well as the Chim Cut Roti ("special marinated quails in deep fried"). We're also a planning a "pho-off", comparing three phos of the three really good restaurants on John R between 13 and 12 mile --this, Thang Long and Thy Thrang. Will update you when this pho-down happens.
At Saigon Market, I picked up a package of gelatine lychee "shots"--a tiny little square of lychee-flavored "jello" with a small lychee squre in the middle. Very fun and comes in mango and other flavors. For those of you who may not know about Saigon Market, they grow their own greens in, if I understood the owner correctly on a previous visit, a greenhouse just south of Michigan's border in Ohio. Tubs and tubs full of wonderfully fresh looking basil, pea shoots, garlic chives, and various other things I have no idea what they are. They also bring in their own duck and chicken (feet still attached).
Nice lunch!
