little italy – ME SO HUNGRY

Pho Bang’s Vietnamese Ham Are Not for Resale!!!

I went out to get some dinner at Pho Bang. I got the #1 Pho (Tai Nam Gau Gan Sach – combination rice noodle beef soup with fresh eye of round, brisket, tendon and omosa) $6.50 regular size. To me regular size is big. I saw the big size at the table next to me. Geez.

Really good Pho. Hit the spot. I threw in bean sprouts, mint leaves and lime wedges, hoisen and cock sauce. Great meal.

Then Todd came and met up with me there when I was finishing up. He was curious about the sign that said “Vietnamese Hams Are Not For Resale!!!” They must be freakin’ good if people are buying them to resell them. Todd bought a $5 small one. It was rolled up in a banana leaf. We tried it out on Sunday football. It was spongy like fish balls. Tasted like mushed up pork, but not really flavorful. We will not be trying to resell them.

Pho Bang – 157 Mott St (btwn Broome & Grand St) New York, NY 10013

San Gennaro Festival NYC 2010

Every year this festival creeps up on me and reminds me how long I’ve been in New York. It was the first thing I saw when I stepped foot onto the island. And here it is again, when I went to send off our buddy Kevin to San Francisco last night.

I saw the corner spot where I shared a stuffed eggplant with my first NYC crush. I revisited it and it was just as inedible, bland and unmanageableÂ as I remembered. I’ve learned a lot of things about girls since that very first stuffed eggplant.

I took a photo of some stupid game. Then three guys came up to me and told me I didn’t ask for their permission and tried to make me play the game. It went on for a few minutes and I know I should’ve just walked away at the start, but I kind of wanted to see how it would play out. In the end, I pet the short guy and told him to have a good night. I had to go get a beer.

San Gennaro Festival – September 16-26, 2010 Soho/Little Italy NYC