I walk into Chez Le Ewwww with a rumbling tummy after spending the morning reading about food. I find a quiet table near the back where I can face out into the restaurant at the other diners, to judge what might be good. To say I am a wee bit nervous about the menu is an understatement. I have heard good and bad things about Vietnamese cuisine, but in the end I figure it can't be worse than any other.

My waiter hands me a sheet with the names of the food items listed, with short descriptions as well. Yep - as suspected it is more foul than fair! But, being adventurous and brave, I figure I may as well dig in!

For my first course, I choose the Pho, thinking it to be a safe start.

After a few minutes of nervous delay, the waiter brings back a plain but pretty white dish half-filled with a brown liquid. In the liquid is swimming lumps of meat - beef, intertwined with noodles and a fragrant broth. I inhale the scent, and my stomach rumbles audibly. OK, this is it! I think to myself and scoop up a spoonful.

It is a salty, slightly spicy broth but the rice noodles are my favorite part! I can't believe it - it is simply delicious!!