Anonymous wrote:Anyhow, OP, based on your self-description, you should certainly like pho, because pho is excellent soup that has noodles in it and you can control the spiciness level.

However, in my experience, people who say they strongly dislike spicy foods usually don't just dislike capsaicinoids, they actually dislike most intensely-flavored food. If that is the case, you will not like pho, because it is a deeply flavorful broth, at least when made well.

I realize you probably didn't mean everyone who strongly dislikes spicy foods, but I'm going to disagree with this statement anyway. For me, at least. I am a pretty adventurous eater, and love all kinds of intensely flavored foods: raw oysters, any kinds of sushi, stinky cheeses, salty roasted kale, seaweed, just to name a few. I'm good with anything really salty, bitter, sweet, or any combination thereof.

But I strongly dislike spicy stuff. I can handle a mild curry, but that's about it.

I started that way because spicy foods gave me stomach pains as a kid/teen. However, I've been avoiding them for so long that I just really don't have a taste for it. Even if the stomach pains went away tomorrow, I still wouldn't like spicy foods, because they just don't taste good to me now. It sets my tongue on fire, and not in a good way. Maybe some people enjoy that sensation, but I don't - I think the spiciness masks and ruins the actual flavor of the food. So I continue to avoid spicy foods, even while I sample everything else I can find.

And I love pho, FWIW. I just leave out the jalapenos. Why would I want to taste jalapenos when I can instead taste the lovely, complex flavor of the broth.

Yes! Get plain noodles with beef or chicken broth. This is want I started with for my kids when they were 3-4 yos. They still love it, and have started to add things - cilantro, onions, meat.

OP, the broth is not like your standard chicken or beef broth. It's far more flavorful - it contains a variety of spices like clove, star anise, coriander seed, fennel, cinnamon, black cardamom, and ginger. If you're not a fan of anise or licorice flavor, it might surprise you. But by all means try it - a properly made bowl of pho is a thing of beauty!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adult picky eaters are a pain in the ass.

Oh, so precious tummies!

Bite me. Not OP, but if I get into the wrong foods for a meal, I spend the rest of the day and probably a big part of the next day with explosive diarrhea, destroying whatever bathroom I use. It smells so bad that OTHER people in my office may have to go home for the day because the smell rolling down the hall made them sick.

I love bread and crackers and garlic and onions and watermelon and blackberries and most spicy foods but I can't eat them. It's depressing enough without listening to smug assholes like you.

If you don't believe me, I'll come spend the weekend at your house and you can feed me whatever you like. You have to clean the toilets when I'm done, though.

That is not the same as being a picky eater. Picky eaters are picky because they do not like anything. You are picky out of necessity. And wow, thanks for the unpleasant imagery. I think you might need anger management training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adult picky eaters are a pain in the ass.

Oh, so precious tummies!

Bite me. Not OP, but if I get into the wrong foods for a meal, I spend the rest of the day and probably a big part of the next day with explosive diarrhea, destroying whatever bathroom I use. It smells so bad that OTHER people in my office may have to go home for the day because the smell rolling down the hall made them sick.

I love bread and crackers and garlic and onions and watermelon and blackberries and most spicy foods but I can't eat them. It's depressing enough without listening to smug assholes like you.

If you don't believe me, I'll come spend the weekend at your house and you can feed me whatever you like. You have to clean the toilets when I'm done, though.

Charming.

A lot of people like the veggie broth at Pho 14, which has the advantage of several locations.

Anonymous wrote:Adult picky eaters are a pain in the ass.

Oh, so precious tummies!

Bite me. Not OP, but if I get into the wrong foods for a meal, I spend the rest of the day and probably a big part of the next day with explosive diarrhea, destroying whatever bathroom I use. It smells so bad that OTHER people in my office may have to go home for the day because the smell rolling down the hall made them sick.

I love bread and crackers and garlic and onions and watermelon and blackberries and most spicy foods but I can't eat them. It's depressing enough without listening to smug assholes like you.

If you don't believe me, I'll come spend the weekend at your house and you can feed me whatever you like. You have to clean the toilets when I'm done, though.

Anonymous wrote:Where is a good vegetarian pho in the city? I've tried the one at Spring & Sprout in Glover Park and didn't love it (although their other veggie options are good). I think the base of their veggie pho, burdock root, was a little odd. Would be happy for other ideas, and the OP might enjoy them, as well.

Pho 75 in Arlington is worth the trip
Viet Royale in Eden Center

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Very Picky Eater.

I like broth-based soups that are not spicy (wonton soup, chicken noodle, ramen). I like noodles in soup. I like chicken or shrimp or suppose beef would be fine (though I've never had that in soup). I do NOT like anything spicy.

Based on all this, would I like pho?

You would love pho. It's not spicy. You can add spicy to it at the table, but you don't have to. Pho is my go to chicken soup when I am sick.

Where is a good vegetarian pho in the city? I've tried the one at Spring & Sprout in Glover Park and didn't love it (although their other veggie options are good). I think the base of their veggie pho, burdock root, was a little odd. Would be happy for other ideas, and the OP might enjoy them, as well.

Even toddlers like Pho. For you first time, try it without the "greens" (herbs and onions) and without meat. You are left with rice noodles and salty beef broth.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Very Picky Eater.

I like broth-based soups that are not spicy (wonton soup, chicken noodle, ramen). I like noodles in soup. I like chicken or shrimp or suppose beef would be fine (though I've never had that in soup). I do NOT like anything spicy.

Based on all this, would I like pho?

Pho is cheap, so you should just go ahead and try it. You may want to start with chicken pho.

thing about pho is that a lot comes on the side when you order it. You have a lot of control over what goes in. It's worth a try, OP.

Anyhow, OP, based on your self-description, you should certainly like pho, because pho is excellent soup that has noodles in it and you can control the spiciness level.

However, in my experience, people who say they strongly dislike spicy foods usually don't just dislike capsaicinoids, they actually dislike most intensely-flavored food. If that is the case, you will not like pho, because it is a deeply flavorful broth, at least when made well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adult picky eaters are a pain in the ass.

Oh, so precious tummies!

There was a fascinating article in Smithsonian Magazine last fall about picky eating. A lot of it is physiological. Some people taste bitterness more strongly, etc. they are even identifying specific genes.

I think supertasters are a bit different than picky eaters, though. (But yes I enjoyed that article a lot).