Pho named world’s 20th best food experience

HANOI: The Vietnamese noodle soup, pho has been named the world’s 20th best food experience by world travel guide book the Lonely Planet, Vietnam News Agency ( VNA) reported.

Pho on the Hau River along 500 other dishes was selected for the book’s Ultimate Eatlist: The World’s Top 500 Food Experiences published on Wednesday.

Topping the list was pintxo (sliced bread with topping) in San Sebastian (Spain), followed by curry laksa (coconut based curry noodle soup) in Kuala Lumpur ( Malaysia) and sushi (Japanese dish of specially prepared vinegared rice) in Tokyo.

The entries were nominated by Lonely Planet writers, bloggers and staffers and whittled down to a final 500 by a panel including chef and TV presenter Adam Liaw and food blogger Leyla Kazim.

Recommendations from world renowned chefs Jose Andres, Elena Arzak and Eric Ripert; television food star Andrew Zimmern; BBC MasterChef judge and chef Monica Galetti; and 15 more of the world’s top chefs and food writers were also included, CNN reported.

A bowl of pho contains flat, soft rice noodles dipped in a fragrant beef or chicken broth flavoured with different condiments. It is served with beef or chicken, shallots and chili and lemon to taste.

The soup originated from Hanoi before it was brought to the south where people added their own influences to the dish.

Ultimate Eatlist is the follow-up to Lonely Planet’s bestselling Ultimate Travelist and is a must own bucket list for foodies and those who love to travel.