SOUP BIGOTRY

Yeah, okay, sometimes Vietnamese beef noodle soup doesn't cut it. In a city where everyone worships that, and ramen, it can eventually become boring. Sorry, Uncle Roger and all of you hipsters, it's a fact. So then, a simple red-stew beef in broth, Northern wheat noodles, and a fresh vegetable like yau choi added for taste and texture.

The broth is best made a day in advance, and that meat can be discarded. Use lumps or hunks on the bone. After the first boil skim off scum and impurities, add a few slices of ginger, one or two cloves garlic, one or two star anise, a stick of cinnamon, bay leaves, a teaspoon of fennel seeds, a tablespoon of peppercorns, and a large piece of dried tangerine peel, plus a dash of soy sauce and a generous jigger of sherry or rice wine. A lump of crystal rock sugar can also be added. Plus half a dozen whole green cardamom pods. Simmer for half a day, skim occasionally. I also throw in two or three shallots and a carrot.
And some people add a slice or two of licorice root.

Strain through cheesecloth and reserve overnight in the refrigerator.

Then, fresh meat, well marbled, big chunks. What you will do is boil the meat very briefly to lift the scum and foam, then rinse the meat. Sear ginger slices and scallion (white parts) in the bottom of the stock pot, add the beef and colour it. Pour in the reserved broth and a small jigger of soy. Simmer gently for two or so hours, turn off the heat and let it stand for an hour. Remove the ginger and scallion.

Cook the noodles appropriately, rinse and drain.
Blanch the veggies in boiling water, ditto.
When ready, reheat the soup.

Put the soup and meat in the bowl, add noodles and veggies.
Top with chopped chives or scallions.

Since the Vietnamese American community en masse backed that criminal Trump and the Republicans in the last election I'm kind of avoiding their businesses. Screw them.
Excepting, of course, Chinese Vietnamese shops and restaurants.
If they can speak Cantonese they're probably okay.
And it's easy enough to find out.
我識講廣東話。


Republicans are an existential threat.
So are Christians.



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