Vietnamese meets French [Eat]

This weekend we headed to Austin for a wedding. We arrived early so we decided to grab a bite to eat at Elizabeth Street Café. This restaurant is a neighborhood Vietnamese café and French bakery, and it is well known for their bánh mì served on house baked baguettes, fresh spring rolls, steaming bowls of pho and their great croissants, among many other things.

As with any great restaurant, it was packed. We ordered some drinks at the bar while we waited to be seated. I ordered a Red Dragon [Beet infused Sake, Orange Sherry, Falernum, Muddled Jalapeños, Ginger Brew, Lime and Garden Thai Basil]. You think it sound good? Well, you should try it! It’s delicious! We sat on the front porch and enjoyed the music and drinks along with the great atmosphere.

We started off with some Spring Rolls [Jumbo Lump Crab & Glass Noodles, Tarragon, Jicama, and Fresno Chiles]. This is a great appetizer, it’s fresh and flavorful. Paired with our meal, I had Sake [Takara Nigori Sake] and my boyfriend Draft Beer [Kronenbourg].

For the main course my boyfriend ordered the Bánh Mì [Fried Egg, Crispy Pork Belly, Avocado & Mint] it was the perfect combination of ingredients and the soft bread gave that wholesome flavor. I ordered from the Specialties section, the Bún Bò Huê [Spicy Beef, Pork, & Lemongrass Soup, Housemade Rice Noodles, Chili Oil, Cilantro, and White Onion] I had never tried something like this. It was exquisite, the lemongrass soup gave it a tangy taste and everything combined caused an explosion of flavors on my palate.  I totally recommend these two dishes.

Unfortunately I was incapable of eating anything else, so I missed dessert. But Elizabeth's has a variety of French pastries like: Croissants, Éclairs, Pot de crèmes and Macarons, just to mention a few.

Elizabeth Street Café is located at 1501 S. First Street Austin, Texas 78704. For more information visit elizabethstreetcafe.com

Pho! The Real Deal

Winter has arrived and so has my craving for steaming hot bowls of soup. If your sentiment is as mine, here’s a simple appeasement, pho, specifically from Pho Hong Phat. Pho is Vietnamese for noodle soup. Although far from average tasting, it consists of a delicious broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat. The combination of these ingredients results in an exquisitely tasty bowl of not so traditional “noodle soup”. My words cannot express the unique flavor, so why not let your taste buds do the enlightening.

I usually order the chicken pho and add all of the following, that are always provided, but optional to use: bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, jalapeños, extra lime, pho sauce and Sriracha. If you like beef order the brisket or flank pho and for you vegetarians and veggie-lovers, vegetable or tofu pho. While you wait, order the chicken spring rolls as an appetizer, they are superb! 

PHO HONG PHAT is located at 6180 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78238 and if you want to order to go call 210 523-288. Also, it is important to mention that you can BYOB. 

Chicken Pho 

Vegetables 

Grilled Chicken Spring Rolls

 

Lucky Buddha