Hoanh Long will our love last?

I, Sizzlenuts, was under the impression that this blog was a way for Chittlins to capture his co-bloggers hearts. I know I will always play second fiddle to ToucanSam, but still, for these past couple of months I thought this was about us. The way Chittlins would email me to say "we managed to get reservations," when really, he managed to get reservations, made me think of us as a couple. After one outing, we went to Home Depot so we could shop for "our shower-head." It was all so intoxicating. Sure, creating a blog as an excuse to schedule regular dates is finding a cheap loophole in the legalese of dating procedure,[1] but still, that Chittlins did it for me was so charming.

However, as in all my other romances, I have learned it wasn’t about me at all. For you see, as you all surely know, it turns out that this blog is also published in the U 0f C GSB paper. I am quite happy to be read, but I’d be lying if I said my tears weren’t a mix of joy and sadness. I just have to hold my head up and move on.

For this outing, we went to Hoanh Long (6144 N Lincoln Ave), a Vietnamese restaurant claimed to top all my local Argyle favorites. [2] The reliable Chlodnik was of course in attendance. However, we were also joined with the home-wrecking foursome of Teuton, Jewxican, 55% Blame, and MILS.[3] Though, it is hard for me to stay mad at them because they are all so pleasant and nice.

We got a variety of outstanding food. It’s gotten to the point where when I go to a Vietnamese place, I no longer taste a flavor I have never tasted before, but more, find gradations of quality of familiar flavors.[4] And these dishes were some very fine gradations.[5] MILS ordered the pho. I had a little sample of the broth. It is at the very least tied with 888 for my favorite pho broth in town (very nice nutmeg flavor). We ordered some Banh Xeo (a fried crepe filled with shrimp, pork beansprouts). One wraps this up in lettuce and covers it with fish sauce. This was an excellent Banh Xeo. We also got the lemon beef salad. It’s exactly what you would want out of a lemon beef salad.

For the main course, the table shared this tropical flavored fish hot pot, lemongrass chicken, squid sautéed with house special sauce, and a beef dish with I think a different house special sauce. Every dish was exemplary. All balanced the heat with other flavors,
such as the pineapple sweetness of the hot pot, quite well.

I recommend this place highly. I would say that it is my favorite Vietnamese in town simply because we ordered a lot, and all of it was great. It does not seem to be a place where you have to say “oh, get this, but not this.” It’s a rare pleasure to have such free reign.

When it was time to part, Chittlins left with his fellow U of C GSB’ers to enjoy a pleasant night of playing taboo, and breaking my heart.

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[1] This is similar to that guy on Seinfeld who would purposely lose "loser buys the winner dinner" bets with women. Remember that one?

[2] See the “Whacky Adventures of Sizzlenuts post”

[3] This is an abbreviation for “Miss I love Sharing”

[4] Of course, I’m sure if I went to Vietnam, or found the right place in the states, I could find a completely novel sensory experience

[5] That was a pun, get it?