Sixth Time's the Charm

When I was younger and still living in China, I had little idea of what American's were like, not to mention what they ate. Back in the '80s we didn't have KFC or McDonald's to grease our lips with. I had heard of butter and cheese (something I still can't fully appreciate...shocking, I know); and I knew about milk. Come to think of it, dairy wasn't huge where I came from. We were all about soy...

So when I got off the plane in the heart of America -- California -- I did not think twice when my dad took my mom and me to eat Pho for our first meal in the U.S. Maybe he was thinking of transitioning our palates from Far East to Western by way of Vietnam? Maybe. Nonetheless, Pho, pronounced "fuh," is one of my favorite foods; it is essentially beef noodle soup: beef broth, various beef cuts, and rice noodles. Until i moved to DC, I had never been to a Pho place that didn't give you mounds of Thai basil, jalapeños, lime, and mung bean sprouts to toss in the hot soup.

Warning: if they don't give you the basil, get up and leave. Don't even pay. They are fake Vietnamese. Faux Pho, I call it.

There is one place I can barely tolerate down the street from work that I go to when seriously craving Pho. It is fine, but our server gave us mint instead of basil...wtf? I have heard of this place called Pho 75 in Arlington that was supposedly the best and cheapest in the DC Metro area. But after 5 failed attempts due to poor planning, laziness, and work I was starting to go nuts. (You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry. Lisa:Hungry::Hulk:Mad) The place also closes at 8pm, which is a bummer. But yesterday, at 7pm, Danny and I were determined, epically determined, to devour this evasive Pho for dinner. Anthony met us, too.

It was delicious and all that I wanted. Cheap. Big portions. And didn't leave a weird aftertaste. One downer: CASH ONLY...and don't count on the BP down the street.

Here's a link to Anthony's review of Pho 75.

-Bo

Seared Scallops with Habanero Mango-Avocado Sauce

There are few things my boyfriend, Danny, gets mad about. It's actually not even mad. It's more like...annoyed. He doesn't like it when I procrastinate about putting the groceries away. He doesn't like it when I convince him it's his day to take the dog out in the morning (when it was really mine). Small things aside, he is usually right. But he crossed the line during a trip to Costco last Spring...

Costco is but a second home to me, or a home I will like to own one day. Spacious. Brightly lit. Lots of books. Endless supply of rotisserie chicken. Everything you buy at Costco is like discounted gold. Everything including their meat and seafood selection. Now, I love steak and I love tender sea creatures like shrimp. I know, I have expensive taste (pun intended!). I like to liven up chicken soups with shrimp on occasion as a treat to myself. I like the sweetness of a scallop. I like to eat the green stuff in crabs. I LOVE IT ALL. However, when Danny, who hates seafood, confronted me after I bagged 5 shrimp and 2 scallops, I was pissed. He had no right to and I told him that. We never talked about it again.

Since we live together, and I usually cook, combined with the fact that we are poor, I rarely get seafood. So I jumped at the chance when my mother bought Costco scallops during the holidays. Anyway, If anyone wants to go to Costco and want to split 2 gallons of butter, you know who to call.

Seared Scallops with Habanero Mango-Avocado Sauce

12 sea scallops
salt and pepper

Habanero Mango-Avocado Sauce
2 ripe mangoes
1/2 to 1 avocado
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/8 cup sugar
2 teaspoons minced habanero
salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

Blends all the ingredients, except olive oil. Sugar and vinegar ratios is likely to differ depending on the sweetness and tartness of the mangoes. Once the ingredients are smooth, start blender on a low speed and drizzle in the olive oil.

Rinse of sand and pat dry scallops before seasoning on both sides. Heat a heavy nonstick pan with oil on high. Just as pan starts to smoke, place scallops. Keep in mind the order in which the scallops were placed because they do not taste good over cooked. Cook for 5 minutes on each side.

Rudolph the Risotto Reindeer Wishes Everyone Had a Wonderful Holiday!

Alas, the holidays are over...