Madame Vo NYC

I am not a food blogger but I am a foodie. And when it involves Vietnamese food, I’m always down. I’m Vietnamese, by the way if you haven’t already picked that up. And I wanted to highlight a new restaurant in NYC that’s changing the face of Vietnamese cuisine. This is important to me because well, culture.

Growing up, my mom tried to pack me lunch sometimes but because I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I would get made fun of because I was different, and lunchtime was no different when your food smells weird to the other kids. And kids are brutal. Anything different can easily be seen as offensive and you’re instantly shunned. So of course, I stopped letting my mom pack my lunch and started just using the school’s free lunch program instead (cuz duh, we were poor). I grew up wanting to eat American food because I wanted to fit in. Funny because when I left home for college, I instantly missed my mom’s cooking and wanted homecooked meals all over again. You learn in adulthood the things you took for granted were right there all along your entire life. I found a renewed love for Vietnamese food and now it’s my favorite type of food. If given the choice, I’d choose it every time.

What I didn’t like about Vietnamese food culture growing up though, is how underrated it is and how little people know about it. When people think of Vietnamese food, all they think about is pho and banh mis. But in reality, there is so much more than just those two staples. I have so many favorite dishes and there’s so many things you could pick from if you ever found yourself wandering the streets of Saigon. Looking back, I hate that growing up, going to Vietnamese restaurants here in New York, you were limited to certain dishes. I could never find my favorite foods on the menu like banh bot loc, banh bao, banh nam and more. I know, lol, there’s a lot of “banhs.” And they are all different too. It’s not a sandwich. Well, at least not a traditional one.

And on top of that, there’s more to Vietnamese soup than just pho. In my opinion, my people have perfected the art of the soup. There’s so damn many. I wish someone would just open up a solely Vietnamese soup shop and sell them all. Bun bo, bun rieu, banh canh, hu tieu, canh chua, canh ca, hoanh thanh, chao, ca re, I could go on! And there’s different variations of each too. Like how you can have beef pho or chicken pho. Each Vietnamese soup can be catered to your liking. There are endless possibilities of combinations of soup.

But again like pho, there’s more to Vietnamese food than just soup as well. We have so many different rice dishes, noodles, rolls, desserts and more. The problem with America is the same as the Chinese takeout problem. The Vietnamese food exhibited here is simply a tip of the iceberg. And the other problem is it’s usually viewed as “cheap” cuisine because in the past, it’s always been that way. You walk in, you get a quick easy bowl of pho for $6-7. What I never understood is why when Vietnamese food takes a lot of prep and time to make. I remember my mom would spend a whole day making banh tet for New Years. I love banh bot loc but I also hated making them because they were so time consuming to make but so fast to eat that I could never keep up with production enough to keep me satisifed. There are a lot of complicated ingredients and prep required for each dish too. Granted there are a lot of ‘easy’ dishes to make but the art of Vietnamese cuisine is truly undervalued.

This is where Madame Vo and many other new eateries popping up recently in NYC, as well as many other areas of the world come in, as we live in this foodie renaissance. I learned about Madame Vo from the internet a few years ago when it first opened and of course, being a true judgemental AF Asian, I had to go check it for myself. My first time I was definitely impressed. The prices are definitely on the higher of Viet cuisine, but upon tasting its freshness and quality as well as the art of its presentation, you see why. Their pho broth is just like my mom’s. Made fresh and concentrated, not watered down like Chinatown cheap restaurants where you could tell they added water to the remaining pot as their stock ran low instead of making a fresh new pot of broth. They give you more than enough noodles so you don’t leave feeling like there should’ve been more. They also don’t skimp on meat in your bowl either. Their Madame platter is my favorite and best if you go with a big group to help you finish, as it is a lot of food. It’s a nice appetizer platter to get a taste of a little bit of everything they have to offer. I ended up coming back a few more times with more friends even though I don’t usually frequent this neighborhood often. And now even my siblings frequent this spot regularly. They make great bun bo as well as their pho. And their suon kho makes me nostalgic for my mom’s home cooking all the time. They do have a small selection on their menu compared to Chinatown restaurants but it should be noted that they take their time preparing and making sure those dishes are foodie worthy. I do hope they expand into offering some lesser known dishes soon too, like the rarer ones you can’t find in regular restaurants - like of course, my favorite - banh bot loc.

The true test though, is when we took our parents here. Asian parents are the hardest to please, as they like to disapprove of absolutely everything. My parents said nothing to criticize the food when we took them, but nothing directly praising it either, as they are very proud people. But the silent approval came weeks later when my parents asked me for the address because they wanted to take their own friends there, hahaha!

And this winter, Madame Vo has expanded with a new restaurant nearby! Madame Vo BBQ has opened up in the neighborhood and my family stopped by before the New Year to try it out before the public finds out about it and it becomes the next hot new spot. We tried the Bo 7 Mon and the tomahawk steak and man, they definitely didn’t miss the mark. Everything was absolutely delicious and cooked fresh right in front of us with mouthwatering presentations. Our waiter was amazing. He was sweet and absolutely friendly and knew his stuff.

The owner of Madame Vo and Madame Vo BBQ even stopped by to welcome us. The restaurants looks beautiful, modern and chic. I can’t wait to go back and try the catfish later this year when I have a moment as dining hours are limited to 5:30-11pm daily currently.

There are already a few other great Vietnamese restaurants that have popped up recently as well as more on the way. Hanoi House is also another great restaurant I recently tried last fall that houses Northern Vietnamese style cuisine. Everything there was absolutely amazing too and I believe their chef partners with Madame Vo from time to time for tasting events. I have yet to be able to attend these events due to my own schedule’s availability but one of these days, I have to definitely make it out there.

I do have to note that these new Vietnamese restaurants are on the pricier side compared to traditional Chinatown restaurants but in my opinion, worth the extra penny. My friends and I still go to Chinatown for a quick bite every now and then, but when given the choice, we do go out of our way for better quality Viet food and don’t mind paying for it. And just because the name doesn’t have a number in it, doesn’t mean it’s not good. These new restaurants are stepping up and changing the game. Those holes in the wall are no longer cutting it.

What I love about Madame Vo is how they are making Vietnamese food more known and increasing its popularity to the world, but maintaining its authentic flavors and richness. Nothing is watered down to please the masses. It maintains its authenticity to show to the world how delicious it is can be, without needing to be a french fry and chicken nugget version to fit in. They take their time prepping and cooking, not compromising flavor for speed and quick bites. There is nothing “quick” about these spots. You come to take your time, taste every flavor and savor it. And leave wanting more. I can’t wait to see what Vietnamese dining out will look like in the next few years as it evolves further.

Madame Vo is located at
212 E 10th Street New York, NY 10003

Madame Vo BBQ is located at:

104 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10003

Highlights

What you see online, on social media of someone is rarely ever the whole story. It's an edited and muted version. We all are the protagonist in our own story. And no matter how “good” we think we are, you bet your bottom dollar you’ll still be the villain in someone else’s story.

But remember, what you see online is just a highlights reel of someone’s life. We paint ourselves the way we want to be painted. There’s nothing wrong with it. We’re just all touched with a little bias. And we’re still entitled to our own privacy. You can keep whatever you want hidden. No one’s going to stop you from lying anyway. But that’s the thing. What you see is not the whole truth.

So remember not to criticize yourself too harshly. Be easy on yourself. Don’t envy other people’s lives. You don’t know what they have going on. You don’t see it all. They could be posting beautiful photos of them laughing and having a good time, but they may also be struggling financially trying to make ends meet. They could be dealing with tension between family members or loved ones. Or the loss of a loved one.  You never know the case. Don’t ever want someone else’s life because you don’t know the entirety of what comes with it. They are on a journey you know nothing about and just because something looks “perfect” on the outside, doesn’t mean that it is. Sometimes that smile is hiding a darkness you know nothing about. Struggles you know nothing about. Obstacles they overcome that you know nothing about. You may wish for their life but like in Aladdin when Jafar wished to be a genie, you have to deal with everything that comes with it when you wish for something. And in wanting someone’s “perfect life,” you have to go through everything they endured to get there.

I used to envy other people’s lives because well, who doesn’t? I wished I was as pretty as the next girl, I wished I filled out my clothes as nicely, I wished I had a different lifestyle, income, etc. But as I grow older, I realized there was nothing wrong with the life I was given. The circumstances I walked through. The trials I faced and the experiences I’ve had. It shaped me into who I am today and I have no regrets, despite the struggles. Adversity taught me to work hard and fight through. I learned that I am capable of more than I give myself credit for. And I learned that if I wanted something bad enough, and set out goals to achieve it, and worked hard towards it, I could essentially achieve anything I set my mind out to.

And you can’t want someone else’s “perfection” if you’re not willing to put in the time and work for it. Granted some people are born with, or by a stroke of luck, given better circumstances. But that shouldn’t stop you if you want something hard enough. Want that body? Put in the work. Want that degree and title? Put in the work. Want to land that job? Put in the work. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take when you sit around whining and complaining instead of getting up and doing something about it. Work towards it. And if you fail? Guess what? It’s not the end. You work harder and keep trying until you get it. Re-strategize. Try something new. Ask for help. Figure out all your resources. Use them. Swallow your pride. Put in the work.

Like Shaun T said, stop saying “I’m going to TRY out this workout.” Start saying “I’m going to FINISH this.” And don’t quit just because something felt hard at the first hurdle. You keep going and you get good. Make a to-do list. List all the steps you need to take to work towards your goal. Celebrate the little wins. Be proud of your milestones and take note of every obstacle you defeat. Those are your own personal highlights. Share it with someone. There’s something amazing and special about having a support system that helps uplift you and is excited for you when you have those little wins to share with them.

And don’t sweat the little things. Remember to ask yourself, “Is this worth it? Will this matter years from now? What can I take away from this? Is there a better way to react?” No more getting mad over silly things. Pointless things. Of course, it’s natural to react to things, but the thing to work on is not to let it get to you. Don’t let it delay your progress or ruin your mood or your day. Move yourself forward, not backward.

When I started my Instagram years ago, social media wasn’t as big a role in our lives as it today. The “likes” didn’t keep people up at night and people had not yet started leveraging social media as a tool to market or brand themselves. I actually resisted opening an account for the longest time, despite one of my friends insisting I make one. I didn’t want to download another app on my phone and have it eating away at my memory space. When I finally made an account, I didn’t post a lot but I didn’t post with the intention of wanting to garner “likes.” I never understood why people based their worth and value over that. If people like your photo, ok they like it, but after that what? It does nothing for you other than instant gratification in the moment. I shared my photos just because I liked sharing photos. Even today, I’m still the same. I appreciate the likes but the algorithm doesn’t get me down when a photo doesn’t get enough likes as I want it to. It doesn’t discourage me from posting. Why? Because I don’t allow those number of likes to represent how “good” my photo is. I don’t let that number define me. I let ME define me. Besides. A garbage selfie could garner 1000 likes while a well thought out photoshoot with effort, timing, hair, makeup and pose on point might not get as many likes. I’ve learned that people like garbage. The work you put into something might not always be noticed. But that’s why you never place your value on the validation of others. If you think your body of work is good enough, guess what? It is. Own up to it and work it.

I didn’t start this blog to gain internet presence. I was already blogging for years to begin with, but on a private site, closed down to a reader’s list so that only my friends and family who had access to it could read it if they wished. I finally made a public one because I do enjoy sharing my adventures, photos and experiences with the world. But if you like it, cool. If you don’t, that’s cool too. Just carry on your wayward, son. I’ll still keep going even if no one reads it or enjoys it. If someone wants to follow, cool. I’d rather it be because they genuinely like something anyway. Not because it was bought or f4f or s4s. But I’ve always been this way even during MySpace days. Like something because you actually like it. But don’t let those numbers define you.

So down to the nitty gritty, earlier this week I received a DM similar to other DMs in the past I frequently get.

“…how did you get where you are. Your life is amazing. You’re always doing all these cool and wonderful things and  you’re beautiful and you get to travel and your husband spoils you. I mean how did you get such an amazing life? I’m struggling to pay my bills every month and I’m only 21. I feel like I’m too  young to be so miserable and stuck in life so what’s the secret?”

7A2A8043.jpg

So. What IS my secret?

There is no secret. I don’t have everything. I don’t have it all. But everything I do have, I worked hard for.

First off, my life looks amazing because again, social media is a highlight reel. Although I don’t doubt that my life is amazing, but like all things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You say amazing, one of my best friends says I’m boring. But that’s the thing. Two people can have the same exact thing and be miserable and complain about how shitty it is, while the other is excited and grateful to have it. It’s the story of the prince and the pauper. But that’s life. You should live it how you personally want to live it because guess what? This is your life and your happiness. If my life looks amazing to you, thank you. But you should live your own best life too and how YOU want it. Remember not to play the keeping up with the Jones’s game. Someone else’s happiness and goals may not necessarily be your own and when you catch up to the Jones’s,  you might end up still feeling empty and unsatisfied because again, those things were not genuinely your own end game goals. Chasing the wrong dreams will leave you feeling inadequate and feeling like you wasted your time.

Secondly, “these cool wonderful things” I do aren’t anything special honestly. I’m just another IG hoe, living for the gram. I take photos in cute places because I’m vain. Honestly, anywhere can look cool and wonderful if you have the right eye for a good photo. I’m on a mission this year to show that the most ordinary of places can be beautiful backdrops for a photoshoot. The places I go to, a lot of them are locally by me - farms, parks, musuems, libraries, gardens, city pop-ups, etc. A lot of them are free too because I’m a cheapass. And I only recently started traveling a few  years ago after I got married at 26. Before that I didn’t really go anywhere. In college while all my peers were out getting lit on spring break all the time, I stayed home and just worked every single school break. Summers too. My entire college career was me working all the damn time, whether it be at work study, at the pizzeria, or in the pharmacy. Oh yes, I started my humble beginnings making $7.50 an hour at a pizzeria for summers on end. I struggled to pay my own bills too at 21. But that’s 21. You’re not supposed to “make it” at 21. I mean, kudos to those that can but you're not expected to. Don’t ever compare the pace of your journey to someone else’s. Even celebrities didn’t make it big til much later on in their careers. They struggled through homelessness, drug addictions, bankruptcy, broken homes, etc until late into their 30s or 40s sometimes. Every one’s journey is different and just because you don’t fit the cookie cutter mold timeline of diploma, career, marriage, kids, house doesn’t mean you didn’t “make it.” It might not even be the path for you. Or maybe you just need more time. Remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. And in marathons, you need to strategize for yourself how to complete it. Focus on completion, rather than finishing with a good time trying to beat the guy next to you, and you’ll be fine. Enjoy the journey and don't overwork yourself trying to complete it or you'll injure or burn yourself out before you can even reach the end. Take it slow. Take your time and perfect your art.

Set goals. Write down what you want to do in life. Take steps to work towards them. Even if they might take time, years even. Work towards them step by step. Get out of your comfort zone. Put in the work. You can’t be envious of someone else’s life, again, if you didn’t put in the work. Nothing is going to be handed to you, everything is earned. Cinderella didn’t wait for Prince Charming to come to her, she got her ass to the ball. Even if it was with the help of her friends. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! When I struggled last year with my weight loss problems, I reached out for help. And my friends and family and followers came through and gave me support even if it was just simply rooting me on. A little encouragement goes a long way. But it doesn’t apply to just fitness. It goes with anything.

I’ll let you in on a secret. I almost dropped out of pharmacy school. I was salutatorian of my graduating class in high school but in college, I completely lost my drive and motivation and got lazy and didn’t give it my all. I played Pokemon, Guild Wars and other trash video games on my laptop in class most of the time and in my fourth year of pharmacy school I was failing and almost went to the dean’s office and dropped out. I felt like such a failure but looking back, I know it was my own fault for not putting in the work. In a last attempt to not fail the semester, I got my shit together, recorded all the lectures, listened to them several times every day after class, re-doing my notes. This was back in AOL instant messenger days too. I started using my resources and messaging my friends more and asking them for help and help, they did. Knowing that I was struggling, some friends reached out to me to provide old exams they had to help me study, and other friends would help tutor me and go over their own notes with me. And in the end, I ended up passing the semester with a decent enough grade to move on to the next course and remain in the program.

The life I have now wasn’t an easy path from point A to point B. It didn’t happen without struggle or hard work. I put in the time, I stuck it through and I worked at it. There are several elements that went into it and even today, just because you see a “happy” highlight reel on Instagram, doesn’t mean I’m not struggling to pay all my bills from month to month either. I still have to worry about my mortgage, student loans, utilities, health and everything else. I just don’t let it ruin my day. I cry when I do my bills once a month, I adjust my spending, and I move on. Don’t let it drown you as you’ll waste time just being upset about it instead of using that energy elsewhere to uplift you and work on building a better tomorrow.

My family life was also not always as happy as it is today. If you read my past blogs, I hint at past troubles. Without going into much detail due to privacy issues for my family, my siblings and I grew up with a lot of domestic violence with our father. There were a lot of CPS cases opened and left unfounded, a few broken bones, broken dishes, and a lot of broken hearts. My best friend ended up getting involved in one occasion in having to call the police on my own father. I ran away from home after I had just turned 16 that fall. But looking back now and having grown up, I don’t hurt anymore. I believe what he did was wrong but I forgive him and I’m no longer angry with him. He ended up dancing with me at my wedding and I’ve never seen him happier. There’s a photo from my wedding with us on the dance floor that I absolutely cherish and love. I had it framed after the wedding for him.

As for my husband, he spoils me because he loves me and I spoil him back. But there’s a lot that goes on behind closed doors that you don’t see. We’ve been together since 2000 so we’ve been through a LOT of fights and tears already. Again, I don’t go into much details due to privacy issues but it doesn’t come without hard work from both sides. It takes TWO people to make a relationship work. If it’s one sided, it’ll never work, as one person will always be left feeling taken for granted. And we work at it every day. We do little things for each other to remind the other how much we love them. Whether it be taking the time to prepare someone’s lunch for work, leaving flowers in someone’s room, picking up their favorite candy/snack at the grocery store just because or taking their car to the autoshop to get tires fixed. We also don’t do everything together, giving each other individual time, space and respect for each other’s hobbies. But when we do get to spend time together, we try to maximize the time we spend loving each other and enjoying each other’s company. We try not to get into fights because this time is so limited to begin with, so we’d rather not waste it. But that should be the mentality of all relationships regardless of if you get to see your loved ones daily or a few days a week or a few days a month or whatever. Put aside the pettiness and focus on your love for each other. If you can’t do that, then maybe there is something else at play that needs to be discussed.

Another person asked me how I kept high morale during rough patches. This isn’t easy to do but you have to go into it with the mentality that everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, you haven’t reached the end yet. Growth is uncomfortable. But you must be willing to be uncomfortable today in order to live a life of comfort tomorrow. You can only grow when you leave your comfort zone so go into it with the mentality “How can I grow from this? What can I take away from this? What can I learn?” Make changes if need be, to better  your life. You need to fall in love with your life. Find ways to breathe life back into it. I re-wired parts of me to think differently so that I view life in a different light. For example. A lot of people of hate Mondays. I say why? Why hate Mondays? Because it’s a start of a work week? What’s so bad about that? Do you hate money? No, so don’t look at it that way. I look at Mondays differently so I don’t dread them anymore. I redefined them as the start of a fresh new week, with new goals to crush and opportunities to reach for. So when I get to Wednesday I’m excited because I’m like what did I accomplish in 3 days? Even if it’s just half a pound gone off the scale, it’s still a win. Don’t live for the Fridays, for the summers, for the happiness to come to you. Change your outlook and habits so that you’re not wasting any more of your time. Despite still struggling to get out of bed every morning, I look forward to each and every workout because I love going through it and putting in the work and getting results. I no longer waste my mornings sleeping til I have to get up for work. I spend it wisely working on myself. Investing in myself. By making time for myself.

And remember, you’re right where you’re supposed to be. You’ll appreciate the light after being in the dark for so long. “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms.” Don’t worry about the rest. Let them judge you. Let them misunderstand. Let them gossip. Keep doing you. You will shine through in the end while they were too busy squawking. Other people’s opinions about you are not  your problem. What matters is what you think of you and your authenticity to yourself. Most people in this world are only as happy as they’ve made up their minds to be. The key is to love the little things in life.

One day you’re going to look back and see you were blooming all along.

“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life.”

7A2A7993.jpg