Pho Real! Phenomenal Pho: A Flu Remedy

Saigon Entrance 

Flu season is amongst us!  During these times we all have our own secret remedies that get us through these tough times.


My personal favorite is hot soup, but not just any hot soup, Pho or Japanese style ramen noodles.  I prefer the ramen noodles, but it is hard to find quality fresh ramen noodles in Indianapolis.  The word "fresh" and "ramen" is hard to imagine in the United States.  We are used to Maruchan packaged ramen, but there is such a thing as "fresh ramen" in the East!  Regardless if I am sick, depressed, hungover, or all of the above I always fall back on my lifesavers.


Since it is difficult to find quality ramen in Indianapolis, Pho has become my new best friend.  A little background on Pho, this rice noodle soup dish is from Vietnam. Fresh basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime, your choice of meat, fish sauce! I love fish sauce, it is like the ketchup to your fries or the soy sauce to your Chinese food. Variations of the dish can be found in  other parts of Southeast Asia. 

My Personal Favorite: Egg Noodle Soup with Pork
Saigon

Pho Rice Noodle Soup with Beef, Basil, Lime, and Bean Sprouts
Saigon

Recently I went to Saigon Cafe, located on 38th and Georgetown Road.  This is their new, bigger, and modern space.  If anyone in Indianapolis remembers, this was located on 30th and Lafayette Road about three months ago.  The restaurant is now in an old Bob Even's restaurant, which looks like an old Bob Evens on the outside, but on the inside is a different story.  Other than the food, my favorite aspect about this restaurant is that they have a bar where you can eat your food.  Places like Asia and New York have bars at the restaurant, this brings back memories. 

Saigon Noodle Bar (Unofficial Name) 

Kitchen View at Saigon

Dining Area at Saigon

The bar reminds me of when I grew up in Japan and Korea. My mother would take me to eat ramen noodles on special occasions or when she was in a good mood.  This was "our" time to spend together.  This was special to me because my mother never wanted to eat out.  She felt that eating out was a waste of money and unhealthy, she still feels this way, but she was willing to throw these beliefs out the window to spend time with me. 


To find  great Pho, two resturants that I frequent the most is Saigon and King Wok.  When I worked at SARAGA International Grocery as a cashier, I would see both owners of these restaurants buying their produce and dry goods here, they work hard.  It is interesting to see the transition of these simple products that the restaurant owners buy from this grocery store to being served on my plate at the restaurant.  I know for some people the thought of this eliminates the "magic", but for me it is a work of art.

Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant

King Wok Vietnamese Restaurant 

When you get sick this flu season , instead of eating chicken noodle soup, try this phenomenal pho and see how it works for you. It works for me every time! 

Saigon

4760 W 38th St
Indianapolis, IN 46254

317.927.7270

King Wok

4150 Lafayette Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46254

317.295.8090

Taste the Difference- Lafayette Square Area

World of Difference (An International Parade) and Taste the Difference (showcase of the local ethnic restaurants in the area) is organized by the Lafayette Square Area Coalition on August 27th, 2011.  The events took place in the Lafayette Square Area. For a few years I wanted to volunteer for this day, but finally made the opportunity this year. I joined the coalition two days before the big event.  The committee members worked hard for months and graciously allowed me to assist. The attitude, pride, and passion that the committee members of the coalition and the volunteers showed is the true definition of community.  I was proud to be apart of it and realized an aspect of my life I was missing.


The day started off at Big Car Gallery Service Center making sure all peices of the puzzle were in place for the World of Difference Parade.  I didn't expect to be walking in the parade, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.  I had the honor along with one other volunteer of holding the flag of holding the flag of Zimbabwe!

Taste the Difference was the exiting part for me.  All things that I love come together in one room, event planning, my favorite restaurants, and ...eating. I couldn't ask for more!


Each volunteer was assigned to a table to mark off on a slip of paper given to each participant on the restaurant tables they have visited. Restaurants that participated were Abyssinia Ethiopian restaurant, K & T Deli (mentioned in a previous post), Machu Pichu Peruvian Restaurant, Puerto San Blas Latin American Sea Food resaurant, Passage to India Vegetarian Restaurant, Applebees, and Red Lobster just to name a few of the variety of restaurants.  All restaurants voluntarily participated.  

  I was assigned to the Ethiopian restaurant, Abyssinia. The head chef was very accommodating to the questions that people had and although the restaurant  has been there for eight years, a lot of the visitors have "heard of the place", but have never gone.  The chef was very animated cheerful man that invited visitors to feel comfortable to ask questions.  Abyssinia's table was a popular destination , but the food ran out quickly and the visitors were disappointed.   


Food that Abyssinia decided to serve was Injera, which is a buckwheat bread that looks like a pancake.  This is served with meals.   Goat, Beef, Lamb, and Collard Green dishes were served.  Traditionally Ethiopian food is served on a platter with Injera covering the base of the platter.  Different dishes are served on top the Injera.  The dishes are eaten with your hand by tearing off the injera and scooping up the dishes.  This family style dining is good to eat with a group of people.  

Injera

From Front to Back: Goat, Beef, Lamb, and Collard Greens

Abyssinia

5352 West 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46254
            (317) 299-0608 

http://www.abyssiniarestaurant.com/cuisine.html

If you are interested in volunteering for the the Lafayette Square Coalition:

http://www.lafayettesquareareacoalition.org/

Ma Ma's House- Korean BBQ Indianapolis

Korean food especially Korean BBQ brings back warm memories and has become my comfort food, even my family's comfort food.  On birthdays or any celebration there is no question we are going to eat KOREAN BBQ!

From the age of 7-9, my family lived in Korea on Yongsan Army Garrison Base.  My mom would take my sister and I to the markets off base to go shopping which were crowded with people and vendors cooking food on the street.  My dad would take our whole family out to eat bbq when he was in a good mood.  When I eat any kind of Korean food today, these are the memories that come back to me.

My favorite place to go is Ma Ma's House on the east side of Indianapolis, near the old Fort Benjamin Harrison. This whole area is interesting because many of the building have not been renovate, from the looks of it since the 70's. Some of the people look like this too (not in a demeaning manor).  Whenever I come to this area I feel like I go back in time.

I have been to Ma Ma's House a few times with different people, but I went recently with one of my dear friends. We have very similar food tastes.  For some reason food always tastes better with people who love it as much as you do.  On this day there were Korean families, first dates, couples who have been together for a while and me and my friend. My companion is Muslim so she wanted to check with our server to make sure certain dishes were served with beef and not pork. Haha, our server went through each dish on the page to let her know it was beef "beef...beef...beef....yes, this is beef....beef...beef" .  Then my friend wanted to know if the Dolsot Bibimbop or the Bulgi was a better choice.  Our server said "Do you wanta my personal opinion?" in his Korean accent.  He was very accommodating and personable.


On this day, we did not get the BBQ, this is always better on an occasion with a lot of people.  My Friend ended up with the Dolsot Bibimbap, which is the server's personal favorite and I ordered cod and clam soup. My friend and I are never at a loss for words, but when the food is good the table is dead silent, well not dead silent there is munching and slurping taking place.  The last time this happened was over a year ago at Joe's Crab Shack (we love crabs too).



My friend and I love down home Asian cooking and Ma Ma's House is one of those places.

Dolsot Bibimbob

 Rice, Vegetables, Beef, Egg and Korean Hot Paste (Gochujang), Served in an earthenware /stone bowl.   This bowl keeps the meal hot and the rice crispy!

Cod and Clam Stew

Cod, Giant Clam, Tofu, Green Onion, and Diakon

(This really hit the spot for me!)

Banchan

Korean Side Dishes Served with Meal

The taste is very fresh at Ma Ma's 

            (317) 897-0808      

8867 Pendleton Pike

Indianapolis, IN 46226

K & T Deli- The Vietnamese Sandwich Experience

 A friend and I a few years back went to China Town In New York.  He is a vegetarian and found a Vietnamese Sandwich Shop that served imitation meat......it was superb! Haven't really found anything like this in Indiana till yesterday at K & T Deli located on Lafayette Road and 38th Street. 

K & T  Vietnamese Vegetarian Sandwich 

A sandwich made of fresh japalenos, pickled daicon (asian white radish), pickled carrots, crispy fragrant cilantro, vegetarian pork with crunchy fresh cracked pepper, smooth fresh garlic butter that is made in house!  Really....what more can you ask for? Oh yes, you can ask for one more thing...great prices. All the Vietnamese sandwiches are between $3.00-$3.50.

Other interesting aspects about this fast casual restaurant is that they serve breakfast sandwiches and tacos, oatmeal, western sandwiches, Vietnamese drinks and western drinks. The western items are a bit pricier, but I would strongly suggest that anyone try the Vietnamese sandwiches.  The upside to offering two different cuisines is that if you go with a group of friends, there are many options to satisfy the whole party.  A party tray might be considered if you have to contribute to a pot luck or a party.  Just a thought...

K & T Deli is very clean and cozy.  It is about the size and set up as a Subway. The staff is very friendly and thoughtful. I ordered the vegetarian sandwich and the person making my sandwich wanted to make sure that it was ok for me to eat butter that is made at the restaurant because it is prepared with eggs.  I eat anything, so I just laughed, but his gesture was touching.  K & T Deli was festive with Vietnamese families coming in and out of the shop casually, discussing which I think was the day's business, not exactly sure, but possibly.


This experience was very refreshing, it reminded me that Indianapolis is truly growing it's pallet.

K & T Deli

3738 Lafayette Rd, Suite B

Indianapolis, IN 46222

317.602.2416

Hours: Mon-Sat 8:00am-9:30pm, Sun 10:00am-8:00pm

Diamond in the Rough- Lafayette Square Mall Area

The Lafayette Square area of Indianapolis has had a negative reputation through out the years as being the "bad and dangerous" part of town.  Major corporate retail stores  have decided to pack up their bags due to the economy.  This has left  many local businesses stranded for growth, some even shutting their doors. 

  My favorite restaurants in Indianapolis are located in this area. Lucky for Indianapolis and especially myself, they have managed to still exist.  Also, I will elaborate in future posts on the World of Difference Parade and Taste the Difference International Festival organized by the Lafayette Square Area Coalition.  This will be taking place this Saturday at 10am-2pm at the Lafayette Square Mall near 38th and Lafayette .  Some of my favorite restaurants will be participating. 

Why do I have such a strong connection to the Lafayette Square Area? I fell in love with this area when I first arrived to Indianapolis about seven years ago.  When I first moved to Indianapolis I was just starting university, going through boy problems, leaving home for the first time, and didn't have any friends. Yes..I know.....my problems could have been worse.  At seventeen years of age, this was a lot to take on for me.  To say the least I was a bit depressed. 

At the time I lived in the International House on IUPUI's campus.  Everyone in the apartment building was from all over the world and were trying to find our way.  My roommate at the time is from the Indianapolis area and took us food shopping.  She took us to the Lafayette Square Area.  When I first set foot in this area this reminded me of all the places I have been in the past and how I grew up.  Not so much in atmosphere, but with the people.  Finding this "diamond in the rough" really made me feel at home and come to love Indianapolis. 

What is your story on coming to Indianapolis? 


Here is what the New York Times had to say:
 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/dining/23united.html?pagewanted=all

Hoosier Umami at the Indiana State Fair

 In 1851 to promote Indiana agriculture, the Indiana State Fair was born.  Over the years  food vendors at the state fair have embellished on their creativity on state food fairs; Chocolate covered bacon, Krispy Cream Hambugers,  deep fried butter, and Chicken Eggos, just to name a few.  Try asking your friends and family about these food items and see what reaction you receive.

  In reality the ideas of these food items are not far out of this world.  The chocolate company, Vosages http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/category/all_bacon_chocolate, has a bacon chocolate bar that is sold in major superstores around the country.  There are people even making chocolate bacon cupcakes. The culprit responsible for the popularity of chocolate bacon or Krispy Cream Burgers, is the taste sensation, umami or pleasant savory taste.  Umami is considered the fifth taste sensation that is combined with sweet, salty, bitter, or sour to enhance flavor.  Over the years umami has been debatable to weather it is a basic taste, but has made a spot for itself on the taste sensation list.

Enough about bacon and burgers.  If you are vegetarian there might be something for you. The State fair is the last place for a vegetarian, but this year there has been more variety of vegetarian options.  A taco stand with bean burritos....the burritos were enormous and a gyro stand with veggie gyros.   Meatless meals bring images to people's minds of not being filling, but the burritos and gyros leaving the stands with their new owners had nothing but smiles and full bellies.  Although these options may not top chocolate bacon there are still years for state fair food vendors to use their innovative minds.  Don't forget there is still deep fried Snickers and Klondike bars waiting for you if you would like to be adventurous!