Pho with friends

I had dinner at Eric and Mimi's last night, where the main course, after Mimi's mother's springrolls wrapped in herbs and lettuce, was Pho.

I have only ever eaten this Vietnamese soup here, in their apartment in the Flatiron District, made the first time by the visiting Mrs Hoang, and the next two by Mimi.

I have been a hermit for about 6 weeks, and to sit at that table, between two good friends, slurping this aromatic soup and talking about things I usually only think about, was a tonic. Coriander and scallions in the chicken broth, and hot green chiles chopped with our porcelain spoons and dropped into the noodly soup. Squeezes of lime and lashings of fish sauce.