PHO

What is Pho (pronounced somewhere between "foe" and "fur")?

Pho is Vietnamese rice noodle soup and THE reason why I wanted to visit Vietnam. It starts with the broth, beefy, fragrant and, dare I say, voluptuous. Submerged in this savory stock are a host of players:
The Noodles- Rice vermicelli. White. Like all good noodles, their simplicity is a vehicle for the more complex components that surround.
The Beef- Thinly sliced, rare beef. The longer it sits in the simmering soup, the more done it becomes. Proper beef management is key to eating pho. Don't eat all your beef too early.
The Tendon- My favorite part. Chewy, almost like a swedish fish, but more slippery. Extra tendon can be had for a nominal fee.
The Meatballs- I love meatballs. It's meat, that's been shaped into a ball! Fantastic. Don't need no flowery language to say that.
(You can get Vegetarian Pho, but why bother.)

If the above play the leads, these ingredients form a strong supporting cast:
Fresh Bean Sprouts, Fresh Basil and Mint, Limes, Chilis

Heaven. Absolute Heaven. No pearly gates. Just a huge bowl and some chopsitcks. All for about $1 USD. I could eat Pho til they run out of tendon.

I may not speak Vietnamese, but those folks sure do talk my language...