Bien Hoa Pho

After my third try of pho, I've been a fan of it. It's been one of those meals that I don't get sick of even if I have it every week. It seems like there is nothing better to have on cold, windy winter days like recently.
Pho is also one of those foods that tastes quite different depending on where you go. I always go to Bien Hoa for a trustworthy bowl.
My ranking of a few places around where I live would be:
1. Bien Hoa (Edison,NJ): yummy broth, cilantro is not overpowering, lovely price!
2. Pho 32 (Palisades Park, NJ): korean version of pho - bien hoa without cilantro; broth is not greasy like many places
3. Pho Ahn Dao (Edison, NJ): not bad but the soup is a bit too sweet
4. Houng Que (North Brunswick, NJ): overpriced compared to amount; broth has a bit of a stinky beef smell
5. Pho Hana (Palisades Park, NJ): broth has a clean taste but is not strong enough
6. Pho Viet Ahn (Edison, NJ): their pho has a fishy stench and is overpriced - not recommended at all

obsessions of 2nd week of nov 09

1. l'occitane almond shower oil

while many l'occitane products are nice,

with the fall showers and NE wind brewing,

creamy almond oil foaming into light amber lather hits the spot in energizing my day.

8.4oz of yumminess for $22 at l'occitane usa

2. filippo's famous pizza -plain slice

huge enough slice to share with a friend. thin crust crispy on the outside yet chewy on the inside. now top that with oregano seasoned mainara sauce and enough cheese to experience gooiness in each bite but not too much to take away from the sauce.

save your money from their pasta and go for the pie.

1 slice of heavan for $1.75 in new jersey (new brunswick)

3. young & smylie licorice - peach mango

while i love my licorice in many flavors and brands, y&s peach mango holds a dear spot.

you get hints of real peach and mango without being too sweet (approved by B, who prefers nothing too sweet). love that it's chewy, not rubbery.

the pack lasts me only a day but normal people who enjoy a bit of it everyday should be fine with a week.

the annoying thing is that it is hard to find so grab some when you do.

80z on sale for $5/2 at shoprite (piscataway, nj)

4. pomegranates

'jewels in a pouch,' symbol of fertility and...even rightousness??

this tangy sweet bundle has history back from the ancient times to prove that it's good.

oh yeah..and it's loaded with antioxidants; just so you somehow haven't heard about it: see for yourself

available at most supermarkets oct-jan

5. j.crew jewelry

i know~ most of them are gold-covered brass, glass crystals, and not even real pearls BUT they are just so darn pretty i can't help it.

just pure instinctive obsession, o dear me.

pastiche necklace for $135 at j.crew