Among many circles, the Vietnamese noodle soup Pho (pronounced Fuh), is advertised as the the best hangover cure known to mankind. What do we say? Pho shizzle.
Pho is a magical soup made from beef, broth, and rice noodles. Seriously, it’s magic. I’ll explain later. It is served in a bowl with fine cuts of well-cooked or raw steak. For the more adventurous, tripe (stomach), tendons, liver, chicken hearts or other risky businesses can be added. The broth is made from a simmering mixture of which only a level 50 Vietnamese wizard can know the secret.
Pho is typically served with lime, sprouts, basil, and jalapenos. Sauces like sweet hoisin or spicy siracha can be added directly to the broth. This is where the fun comes in. The best thing about Pho is its “choose your own adventure” look. During the course of your soup journey, you can change the flavor of the broth, making it a dynamic experience.
So how was Pho nominated as a candidate for the the best hangover cure? For one thing, it’s a damn big bowl of soup to keep you super hydrated. The spices make you sweat out all the toxins and exfoliate the layer of evil that has permeated your skin. To add, soup is comfort food. You drink soup when you are sick, and I think you would agree that you feel bad when you have a hangover. Lastly, the main ingredient is magic.
No one really knows why Pho is so effective in fighting the effects of a hangover. However, we know that hangovers are the result of black magic. Long ago, a renegade wizard cast a curse on a great king. The king was supposed to invite him to his birthday party, but he forgot. As revenge, the magician put a curse on those who drank at the party. The curse remained through the centuries. Since we know that hangovers are black magic, we can only assume that Pho is made of white magic. Fight fire with fire!
I would like to personally thank the Vietnamese culture. Vietnamese are no strangers to drinking. For centuries, they have turned this fine bowl of goodness into a masterpiece to help the hangover. So thanks. Thank you for your important role in finding the best hangover cure.