The story of pho
Like banh mi, pho has a French influence. Vietnam was a French colony from the 1880s to the 1950s. In that time, the French brought with them a lot of their high-art cuisine and recipes, including a variety of soups. This blended with the farmers of Vietnam who brought with them various vegetables, herbs, and access to meats and noodles. The end-product evidently becomes pho.
Vietnamese chefs and cooks took from the experience of the French approach, and made something entirely their own. So many varieties of pho exist today, including some so far away from French. There are vegan and vegetarian options, and even some that lean on authentic Canadian cuisine. Following the close of the Vietnam War, as an influx of Vietnamese families came to Canada, they brought with them recipes of pho and with that, this is how pho came to Canada.
Why banh mi could be better than pho
Pho is a bowl of soup. You can’t take it with you. You sit there and you eat it. That’s how you’ve got to eat it. With banh mi, you can take it with you. It’s mobile. You can have a little now and have a little later. Banh mi is easy to snack on as well. In an era of busy Canadians on the move to and from work, home, and everywhere in between, some days there’s no time to have a proper meal of Vietnamese pho.
Banh mi is so delicious. Colorful ingredients stuffed into a French-style baguette also make it so that it’s easy to carry. For all the reasons mentioned, banh mi along with pho is one of Vietnam’s most famous exports to countries all over.
Why is pho more popular in Canada
Although you can find some restaurants in Vietnam specializing in banh mi, in Canada, the sandwich hasn’t really ever caught on. Maybe it’s because of how close a banh mi is to a sub sandwich or perhaps it just never caught on because of how long it’s taken for Vietnamese restaurants to come into popularity. Either way, by a long shot, Vietnamese pho is more popular than banh mi in Canada.
Why pho is so popular is for a lot of reasons. For many families, recipes have been passed down across generations sharing insights into how to make a specific variety broth. There’s a lot of culture, history, and pride in pho. It’s also very cheap for Vietnamese restaurants to make. Although it takes time and effort, when you get it right, you can make a lot of it and gradually serve it out hot, fresh, and ready to those who come in.
Which is older between banh mi or pho?
Banh mi is believed to have originated sometime in the 1940s while pho has a history dating decades earlier. Pho is older than banh mi by a little bit although they aren’t far off. For Vietnamese families, pho has been heavily favored over banh mi just because of the customizations one can make, the art of cultivating the right broth, using local ingredients, and the various ways in which pho has become family cooking.
Naturally, when someone Vietnamese comes to Canada, they might be a little homesick. Alternatively, maybe they want to get in touch with their Vietnamese side more. Pho has been passed down through the generations and even a bowl that tastes nothing like your families reminds one of home. With banh mi, it’s so close to a sub that sometimes a Canadianized banh mi can be hard to differentiate from its Vietnamese original recipe. Some may see pho as a soup but it’s so much more than that and in every taste, that’s reflected.
Authentically prepared Vietnamese cuisine
Banh mi and Vietnamese pho are must-have Vietnamese cooking, plain and simple. If we recommend just one though, it’s definitely pho. There’s so much to taste in Vietnamese pho. Anyone can find a variety they like. We guarantee it. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, there’s some pho out there waiting to be tried and we’re sure you’re going to love it.
Banh mi – don’t get us wrong – is a massive asset to Vietnamese cuisine. Like pho, its reputation precedes it and if you can order one fresh, you will be thrilled at how filling it tastes. Even so, coming home after a long day at work or in a blizzard, a bowl of pho is the healthiest and most filling of comfort foods. You will absolutely adore having some!
Are you looking for pho in Toronto? No worries! Stop in at TorontoPHO today. Choose from many varieties and customize it according to taste. Authentically prepared Vietnamese cuisine prepared by experienced Vietnamese chefs. When you need it most, fill your tummy with something delicious! Pho is on the menu!
