By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Contributor
When I began this new adventure, I asked early readers to recommend some places that they love, which led to some great suggestions submitted. One that was mentioned more than a few times was Pham’s Vietnamese Asian Cuisine, 3544 Youree Drive, Shreveport.
Like the wonderful Ramen restaurant (Naruto’s) covered recently, I have not had Vietnamese cuisine until this occasion when some friends were able to accompany me for my first time. Luckily, they have been to this establishment before and were able to give me suggestions.
As a group of three, we each ordered something from a different section of the menu, enabling me to try more than just what I ordered.
I started with an appetizer of Crawfish Rangoon, which at first, I assumed was a dish with a Louisiana twist, then I remembered Vietnam is a big source of crawfish. These were quite tasty and were definitely not done in a Louisiana style. I appreciated that Pham’s didn’t change their recipe just to fit in but instead held true to the cuisine they are trying to present.
I let the others make their choices first since they knew what they liked, and I’d get something different. They picked one of the rice dishes, Lemongrass Chicken with Egg and a Pho dish, Combination Pho. That let me go with what I was looking at all along — the Grilled Shrimp Sandwich.
My sandwich was outstanding. The baguette was toasted to perfection with a nice crunch on the outside while keeping the inside soft and able to let the large shrimp nestle in and keep it from becoming messy. Mine was not shared!
The Lemongrass Chicken scared me a little, since I am not as adventurous as many others, but it had great flavor, and the egg added so much to the meal. I may have taken a little more than I was supposed to, but when you offer a taste, sometimes that will happen.
The Combination Pho packed a lot of flavor, in the same way the Ramen broth did a week ago. The flavor profile wasn’t the same, but it was excellent. The combination referred to brisket, meatballs, and rare beef, all of which held their own flavor when tried separately but made the whole dish complete when eaten together. The noodles add volume to the meal and ensure you will leave full and satisfied.
One of my friends ordered a Mango yogurt drink. I was eyeing to try it, as she said she always orders it. Sadly, when I was ready for a taste, it was all gone, so next time I’ll have to get one myself. She, however, gave it a 10 out of 10 saying, she is never disappointed and recommends it to everyone coming in.
Feel free to send me tips about other places that you enjoy dining at, so we can share the experience with readers, and I can keep finding new places to try.
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net
