This week, brand-new series has us at SBS Food HQ dreaming about Vietnamese food -including steaming bowls of . There's something about a satisfying bowl of pho that leaves you feeling nurtured and one US restaurant is making sure there's plenty to go round, with truly giant bowls of pho.
To say this bowl of pho is large is an understatement; colossal is probably more fitting as restaurant makes sure its customers don’t leave hungry.
Dong Thap Noodles opened in the International District of Seattle a little over a year and a half ago and it has serious noodle game. Owner Nick Bui and his family have been in the noodle-making business for four generations in Vietnam and what started out as simple noodle distribution at a local grocery store has developed into a new restaurant, offering six different types of rice noodles as part of their menu. The menu offers a wide range of Vietnamese noodle dishes and grilled meats, but it's their pho selection and the supersized broths that have customers intrigued and coming back pho more.
They even have an annual “Pho Superbowl” challenge.
How big are we talking?
Their superbowl consists of 3 litres of broth, 3 pounds (about 1.3kg) of noodles and about the same for the combination of meat. More like a sink, rather than a bowl of pho.
How?
Many people do order the bowl to share amongst their friends or family, merely choose your flavour - chicken, veggie or beef and gather round ready to ladle.
Love a food challenge?
Dong Thap Noodles also hosts a yearly competition, usually mid-February, whereby they open up a good old fashioned eating contest to the public. If you are keen, you must book in your challenge by contacting Dong Thap, finish your designated beef bowl within 90 minutes, and then you will receive $US500 (about $AUD660) plus their superbowl is on the house.
If you can’t cross the finish line in time, then you pay the $US45 (about $AUD60) and either take a well-earned timeout from your pho ordering or build up the stamina to come in and try again.
See it come together
Noodles, broth, meat, garnish and sauce.
Two pho lovers take on the challenge...
Have we got your attention and your tastebuds? Home cooks versus restaurant chefs, cultural exploration and discovery through food reaches a whole new level with the launch of . This brand-new series airs 6pm weeknights on SBS.
