Bun Bo Hue ...
... so beautifully-fragrant with lemongrass and herbs, this was a rare treat - bun bo hue isn't widely available and Calgary, and we've always wondered how the real thing should be. Now, without a frame of reference, it's hard to know how authentic this version was, since bun bo hue actually means "soup from Hue", a city nearly 1000 km away from HCMC. But we have to believe that HCMC, one of the culinary capitals of Vietnam where a good cross-section of Vietnamese cuisine is available, has to offer up a decent version. Again, the noodles were softer than we like, but it was nice to try this type, more worm-like in shape than the typical pho rice noodles. The beef slices and brisket were a bit tough, but that broth ... so good, and it got even better when we added our own house chili paste and herbs.
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forc... ... read more 
