Phuong Vi Deli

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder totally fits this next Pho restaurant I visited on Monday.
Simple and hidden is this tiny Vietnamese deli Phuong Vi Deli . I had been their before for their sandwiches which are the best priced sandwiches around. $2.50 for a 7inch sandwich with all homemade fresh ingredients you can't beat that price anywhere else in the Sound.

I was just going to get a sandwich and run, I had some other errands that I needed to do. But the Pho started calling, beckoning me until I just caved. As I was ordering the owner, Lynn, came in and asked me if I liked Pho. A wide sheepish grin filled my face and all I could do is sheepishly nod my head like a love struck fool. I think a nervous giggle sneaked out with the smile.  I told her that I am a food blogger and that I have been trying different Pho restaurants around the Puget Sound.

"Sit, Sit" she motioned to the tables, with a beaming smile she laughed as she said, " My Pho is the best Pho around, nobody makes Pho like Lynn!"

With bold curiosity I just threw out the question, "Well what makes Lynn's Pho the best?"

Lynn's eyes flashed with passion and intensity, "I don't use MSG!", emphatically waving her hands, "You understand, Lynn don't use MSG only natural, real ingredients!"

When you met a true chef you can tell, their is a passion in their voice and eyes for their food. Its a part of their soul, an extension of their heart for people to taste and savor. Hungry for the inside scoop into what makes a great Pho recipe I asked what was the secret to her success.

Beaming with delight and with the flair of a true Pho chef, she stated with a pride, " I am the only Pho restaurant to use real bones in my stock, everyone else uses powdered Pho mix, full of chemicals. But my Stock is made with 100% natural ingredients no chemicals."

"Enough talk, you must taste my Pho and decide yourself if it is the best around!"

As I was waiting for my steaming bowl of Pho, I realized that I might have stumbled upon a hidden jewel in the Puget Sound. A woman who is passionate about great food, tucked away from the spotlights with a gift just waiting to be discovered.

Her nephew brought the large bowl of Combination Pho (beef flank, rib eye, soft tendon, tripe and meatball) steaming its aromatic essence through out the shop. It hits me like a fragrant train, I have never smelled anything like this before in my life.

Lynn watches me with anticipation as I waft the aromas towards my sniffer and inhale deeply.
She smiles and saids" You really do know about Pho, you smell before you eat, just like the Vietnamese."

The flavors and spices permeated the broth fully rich and brimming with intoxicating  ethic taste. The meat was well season and complemented the fresh rice noodles. This by far is the best bowl of Pho that I have ever had. I highly recommend this restaurant for a bowl of heavenly goodness.





side note- this is really good thing because I am super allergic to MSG (monosodium glutamate)