Egg Roll # 1, Dine in...Monday Sept. 21st, 2009

This morning my friend Karm and I decided to cruise to our favorite restaurant in Beech Grove. No, I can't even say it was a decision. Its like a drive or a need, like a salmon swimming back upstream to find its mate. It can't be explained, and its something that we do whenever we can, and even sometimes when we can't. If this place were open 24 hrs? Oh, boy...we'd be in big trouble. Let me tell you about this place.

Its called Egg Roll # 1, and its located on Emerson in front of Wal-mart. Even from the outside it looks like every other strip mall Asian restaurant, wedged between a cell phone store and a day-old bakery. But that's okay, we are not here critique the decor.

We come here for the food--and the food alone. We can get atmosphere anywhere. We know that we can sit in dimly lit booths batting our eyes at our husbands over a small tea light any old time. We can and have been on many romantic dates around this great city. We are not here looking for romance, or even a handshake, we are here for one reason and one reason alone.

We are here to get our grub on and to satisfy our addiction to pho....(pronounced like fuh). Its messy. Its sloppy. And it takes me a good 30 minutes to eat...with chopsticks. Is it worth it? oh yes...

Pho is a simple yet complex dish that is a staple in Vietnamese diets. Its often served for breakfast and I can see why. What better way to start your day than with the delicate broth, steaming egg or rice noodles and wonderful punch of mint, lime, and pepper? The variety in texture alone will be enough to make your taste buds salute the sun. As Karma is fond of saying the broth alone is worth the drive.

Karma always orders the Beef Pho with egg noodles, and I always get the Mi-Kho which has both shrimp and pork. These delectible meats are mixed in with a fragrant fish based broth, egg noodles, green onions, white onions, and fish flakes in a bowl bigger than your head and served with a small plate of mint leaves, vietnamese peppers, bean sprouts and lime wedges for garnish. Once everything arrives at your table, the fun of adding each garnish to get the right taste and texture begins. Everything from the distinct smell of the mint, to the tart lime juice work together to create a taste and texture sensation like no other.

The bean sprouts are raw and cook in the steaming broth while you slurp your noodles. Its great fun, and you get extra points for using chopsticks without making a mess. Being a lefty, I'm notoriously messy, but its Beech Grove so who cares?

Mi-kho is served with the broth on the side and you add it right before eating, keeping everything hot and steaming, as depicted in the bottom photo.

I know its hard to imagine such a bounty of riches ...so here, I have posted pics. I also put our appetizers which are vietnamese spring rolls served with lettuce leaves and cucumber slices, and fish sauce, and fried crab rangoon with sweet and sour red sauce. Good news: iced tea refills are free!

service: 4 out of 5 smiles

cost: very affordable

taste: outstanding

personal note: hoisen sauce on table is a great addition if you want to dip your noodles in it. Make sure to get some chop sticks to go just for fun.

Noodles and Company (order to go)

For months now I've been hearing praises about this little cafe-style restaurant in Greenwood. All of the murmers were insisting that I try the noodles and all of them suggested one particular dish--- the Wisconsin Mac and Cheese.

So of course, I decided to order something else.

Call me a rebel but when anyone says asks me to fork over (no pun intended) $7.95, it had better be in exchange for something that I am incapable of making in my own kitchen for less than a dollar and a trip to Aldi's.

Sorry Cheeseheads, maybe next time.

But I am getting side-tracked here, on to my adventure in a bowl. I arrived shortly before 8:00 pm and found a healthy scattering of patrons on dates and so-called dates slurping out of big mouthed bowles and looking fairly content. I suck at estimations but my guess would be about twenty inside, and ten people outside on the deck enjoying the late summer breezes. I take this as a positive sign. My rule for restaurants is that if over 1/2 of the people there are in high chairs or using a walker then I'm out the door....its usually a very bad sign. But apparently this joint was for the diaperless set, so in I go.

I belly up to the bar and peruse the menu. I asked the 12 year old behind the counter if there were any pictures of the entrees, but no...however, I was cheerfully told that if I ordered something and did not enjoy it, I could get something else at no charge. Major Kudos on this little company policy....Now why don't they do this at the Spaghetti factory?

The menu is divided into three regions, Asian, Mediterranean, and American. After much conference with the manager and cashier, I decided to order the Japanese pan noodles with shrimp and was given a paper cup to get some water while I waited for my order to be freshly made. Nice touch. I also signed up for the birthday club, which I think translates into free noodles on my birthday. Double Yay.

Now the unfortunately news at this point, is that I forgot to take a picture....next time. I promise!!

Fast forward to the moment of truth:

How did the Japanese Pan Noodles pan out?

Let me tell you, if I could propose to a pasta dish this would be it. I would drive to the mall and go to Jarod's jewelry store and buy a princess cut diamond ring with platinum settings and throw in the matching earrings, then fall on my knees and beg to be partnered for life...sadly this can't be done in this reality, so I will settle for a pitty date.

I don't know if it is possible to be jealous of a bean sprout, but if it were, I would be guilty because I can not think of a more fitting ending than to be laid on top of a pile of perfect al denta udon noodles that have been thoroughly infused with black bean and sweet soy sauce. Add to this the marriage of cilantro and given a little "you may now kiss the bride" kiss of black seseme seeds. To be completely fair there were some carrots and brocoli involved, but they really were useless. It is the noodles that stole my heart and it is the noodles that will have me stealing glances in their direction everytime I go north on highway 31.

Congrats to Noodles and Company, you are in my heart and speed dial from now on.

my rating:

service: 4 out of 5 smiles
taste: 4 out of 5 smiles
cost: moderate
note worthy tip: you can reorder if you don't like your entree at no cost

personal tip: portion size is on the smaller size, so plan on getting the salad also, or going to dairy queen after....

new format: Restaurant Blog entry number one!!

Previously, I have posted pics of reasons in my life that I have found smile-worthy. This was an attempt on my part to bring joy and happiness to my life and to concentrate in some small way on the good in my life and not the negative.

Well, it occurs to me on this fine Thursday morning that the quickest way to bring a smile to my face, and to many other faces that I know and love, is with a plate of warm, wonderful, fragrant, tempting, mouth-watering yumminess that we call food. Food is the common denominator for so many of us foodies. We love it, we crave it. We appreciate it for all that it does and will do for us. It triggers memories, it soothes broken spirits, it uplifts a tired soul at the end of a 12 hour shift, it beckons to us in the middle of a 3 hour movie, or even a good night's sleep. It is present at all our milestones; birthdays, weddings, funerals, first dates, and an ordinary friday night supper.
Families have traditions called "Taco Night", "Pizza Night", "Salad Luncheons" and "Chili Cookoffs"...there aren't too many traditions centered around doing the laundry or washing the car....but throw some pig in a skillet and see who comes running with their fork in hand. Yes, it will be me....and anyone who enjoys a little bacon fat in their veins..okay, I admit it; A lot of bacon fat in their veins.

So here's to a new experiment. There might be pictures, there might not be...but I am gonna post my thoughts and adventures with food. I live in a fabulous food city with any number of choices for venue when it comes to lunch/supper, and the 4th meal...stay tuned!!