Paris Eats - Bo Bun Nem Style!

My Very Parisian Friend is a genius I say! Yesterday she suggested that we meet up for a Bo Bun over at Saveurs d'Asie in the 5th arrondissement - you see, it's her hood, la pauvre. We had been here together once before, but I hadn't taken photos or taken note for the ol' blog. When I got there, she was already one beer in  while at the same time, sporting her super-chic St James sweater. I love her, I tell you.

Behold mesdames, messieurs - the amazingness of The Bo Bun Nems!

Yummy sauce, beef, vermicelles (rice noodles), mint, lemongrass, cucumber, salad, carrots, nems - and the clincher - peanuts on top! 

Saveurs d'Asie is a funky little place, hidden down in a little niche on Place Maubert. You literally have to go down about 6 steps to get there.  If you're lost, ask anyone who looks chic enough to live in the 5th arrondissement where to find the place with the best Pho soup or the best Bo Bun. I had to do this once and it totally worked! Everyone knows this place - it's that good people.

Besides the whole, hidden aspect of the restaurant, you should also know that there are two sides to it: one side (the left) is a "cantine" - low key, no ambiance, very tiny; the other side (the right, duh) is an actual restaurant.  I've been to both and I'm not sure why, but for some reason, the cantine rocks it so much more than the restaurant. Go cantine all the way!  Take note, however - the cantine is not open for dinner! Also note, if you need to use les toilettes, they are only located in the restaurant, so you may have to take a little trip next door. 

My Very Parisian Friend and I both got the Bo Bun Nems for 11 Euros each - totally worth every euro.  Then, for dessert, we got my favorite, which I have also tried to recreate at home. I can't for the life of me, remember the name of the dessert, but basically it is tapioca, bananas and coconut milk, sprinkled with peanuts and served hot.  To Die For OMG. I only took a few bites because afterwards, I had big plans to eat waffles with my favorite kiddos in Paris! But wow, did I want an entire bowl for myself. 

Tapioca yumminess at the top of the photo, my café crème at the bottom...

Feel like treating yourself to a Bo Bun?  Here you go!

Saveurs d'Asie

29 Place Maubert

75005 Paris

Metro: Maubert Mutualité (line 10)

Paris Eats - Pho Sure!

I didn't know the greatness of the Pho until I came to Paris.  The same friend who introduced us to Higuma also took us to Pho 14, a Vietnamese restaurant between the Place d'Italie and Tolbiac metro stops.

The first time we went we got there early to beat the crowds and our friend ordered for us, being the clueless gens du sud that we were. As a result we got to taste the dish that everyone raves about - the Pho soupe - a combination of savory broth made with cinnamon and cardamom, bean sprouts, rice noodles, raw beef that cooks in the soup, and mini-bowls of additional tidbits to add such as culantro, chili peppers and lemon or lime. Oh la la, trop bon!

On Saturday night it was rainy and chilly - the perfect time for a hot soup - so Copain joined me down in the 13th arrondissement for a trip to Pho 14 on our own.  The line was already forming at 7:30pm but we were seated within 10 minutes under the covered terrace.  Copain ordered the beef pho and I couldn't resist the Bo bun dish with nems (seriously so, so good).

We watched as the line continued to grow until it was well-over 25 people long. Our steaming hot food came and we devoured every. last. morsel.  Like Higuma, our rue Sainte-Anne go-to restaurant, Pho 14 is no frills, no ambiance, just really good, cheap food.

Two main dishes came to 15.90 Euros - we skipped dessert and planned to get something later that night, but were so full that we ended up just eating fruit at home.

Pho 14 advice - get there before 8pm, come hungry!

Copain's Pho - he lets me steal the culantro :-)

Pho 14
129 avenue de Choisy
75013 Paris
Tel: 01 45 83 61 15
Metro: Tolbiac or Place d'Italie

(ps - Don't be fooled by the Pho 13 up the street!)

Check out The Steamy Kitchen recipe that I found for more info!