Latest Review -- Pho'?

The latest review on Pho So 1, is out at the VC Reporter. My experiences of Vietnamese food go back to two primary times in my life. Firstly, my parents sponsored Vietnamese Boat People who came to Louisiana. They arrived needing everything from dental and medical care to language skills, clothing and housing. These family we supported became part of our own family in many ways and in return, gave us a view into their culture. I remember visiting their households and the exotic smells of nuoc mam cham and a hot oily wok hitting me as I'd walk through the door. Occassionally, a member or two of the family would visit us and bring special, exotic treats for us to try. The thousand-year-old duck eggs weren't a huge hit with my family but the little sweet rice and bean cakes they would bring tickled me. Once they threw a huge banquet and we sampled everything -- including fried pigs ears which we all loved!
Later my memories of Vietnamese food took place on the gulf coast in Ocean Springs, MS. A large Vietnamese fisherman population started forming on the coast, and with it came all sorts of small restaurants in Biloxi. My cousin Stuart Stevens and his wife Suzy took my brother and I to one and we sampled about ten dishes and paid maybe thirty dollars? That mixed with the adult game of Pictionary made for one fine evening....