Resolutions

This year, our New Year's Resolution was simple:  get out of our food eating rut in Saigon by making ourselves seek out and try new restaurants.  Now, there is nothing wrong with eating pho, banh mi, grilled chicken with broken rice, or tofu and veggies every day.  It's just that we live in a city built around food and somehow over the last few months we have stopped trying new places and new cuisine in favor of eating at our trusted eateries.  This weekend we put our resolution into action and hit up 3 new locales -- 2 of them were not even planned but were drive/walk by sightings.  We were proud of ourselves for pushing our comfort zone (read -- menus only in Vietnamese and ordering in our limited Vietnamese) and were more than happy with the dishes we were served.  In fact, we might even make some of our new finds into old favorites very soon!

This gem was found at our local market as we were shopping for veggies for the week.  We have never had anything like it.  We got it "to go" (all the components in plastic bags).  It was a spicy tomato broth with noodles, fresh herbs, tofu, tomatoes, and wontons -- a huge bowl for 50 cents.

Heidi's lunch choice -- dry noodles with roasted pork and fresh herbs which you float in fish sauce.

Adam's lunch choice of pork and shrimp wonton soup.

Beefsteak is a big deal in Vietnam and this was our first, accidental, encounter.  We did not know what they served but really enjoyed the meal.  Adam's order came with beef, egg, pate, and beef meatball.

Heidi's order came with steak, egg, and a potato, pea, carrot stew like mixture.  Both are served with french fries, lettuce, tomato, and bread to round out the plate. Besides, who does not like eating cow off of a sizzling cast iron cow?!?