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Sick? Eat pho

By Catherine Toth Fox • October 6, 2011 • Food, Happy Shots

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When I’m sick, I tend to skip meals, sometimes going an entire day on just a bowl of rice.

But for the past few days, I’ve been battling a cold. Sore throat, coughing, congestion and a headache. And I’ve been craving one thing: pho.

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, usually served with raw beef or chicken and a plate of fresh basil, mint leaves, lime and bean sprouts.

It’s really the warm broth and easy-to-eat noodles that make this my go-to dish when I’m sick. (And one of my favorite bowls comes from Saigon Restaurant Vietnamese in Chinatown.)

What’s your go-to dish when you’re not feeling well?

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Catherine Toth Fox

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24 Comments

  • Reply J October 7, 2011 at 1:00 am

    Jook, miyeok guk, sometimes soondubu jjigae.

  • Reply David Jackson October 7, 2011 at 4:20 am

    Chicken Noodle Soup. And I would suggest the chicken broth Pho if you are sick.

  • Reply M October 7, 2011 at 7:05 am

    Hello Cat,
    I don’t have a fuud I like to eat when I’m sick. I don’t even feel like eating. Maybe just rice with tea.
    Sorry to hear you are not feeling well, get well soon.

  • Reply Ken October 7, 2011 at 7:24 am

    Love the pho. Fresh veggies are full of vitamins. Fresh spices really clear your sinuses. Fresh beef and noodles builds your energy. Chicken noodle soup is boring.

  • Reply visitor October 7, 2011 at 7:37 am

    Simple homemade chicken soup. Chicken w/ onions, carrots, celery AND fresh ginger.

  • Reply Rob G. October 7, 2011 at 8:41 am

    The standard at home is miso soup and rice. I learned how to make it for my better half when she’s under the weather. Don’t tell anybody, but sometimes I put the rice *in* the soup when I’m the one who’s sick!

  • Reply Denise October 7, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Homemade chicken soup with potatoes, carrots, Ginger, onions and celery

  • Reply rayboyjr October 7, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Hey Cat … sorry to hear you’re not feeling well … just gotta ride it out for a while, huh? … at least there’s your iPhone, iPad(?), or laptop to have access to practically whatever from the comfort of your own bed … hope you feel better soon …

    … and damn! … you’re still blogging … thank you!!! …

    … my home remedies … and I think I’ve posted this on another blog … is …

    … lots of orange juice and water … need your vitamin C and hydration …

    … scallop soup … don’t ask me why, just comfort I guess … and hey, it has egg in it and that’s almost like chicken soup, huh … ok, I’m reaching … but you can substitute your soup of choice because I think almost any soup is good for a cold …

    … li hing mui … or any salty seed … yes I really eat this when I’m sick … maybe it’s just in my mind that I think it works … but it draws out water from your throat that bacteria and germs need to thrive … and acts as a sterilizing agent … sure you could gargle with salt water … but li hing mui is tasty!!! …

    … steam inhalation … since I can’t get to a sauna … I just have hot water in a bowl on the kitchen table … and I inhale the steam with a towel draped over my head … for me, this is really soothing …

    … and hours and hours of marathon MythBusters or Man vs Food helps too!!! …

    … haha, people might think I’m weird now … but when I’m home sick with nothing better to do … I might as well try something …

  • Reply wes October 7, 2011 at 9:25 am

    miso soup. always works

  • Reply San October 7, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Nyquil, elixir of the gods

  • Reply M October 7, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Lots of sleep always makes me better sooner.

  • Reply Bumper October 7, 2011 at 10:39 am

    I think you might be working too hard. It seems like you’re sick a lot. I like homemade chicken noodle soup (easy if you use rotisserie scraps) and lots and lots of sleep. Feel better soon!

    • Reply Catherine Toth October 13, 2011 at 5:24 pm

      Tell my boss that! 🙂

  • Reply WildeOscar October 7, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    I only drink tea when I am sick. For food, grapefruit and oranges. Gargle with some straight lemon juice for the sore throat. If that doesn’t work, drink red wine and sleep.

  • Reply J October 7, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    Fresh ginger-lemon-honey tea is also a winner.

  • Reply matt October 7, 2011 at 6:01 pm

    ochazuke.with furikake or chicken rice soup. sometimes, ramen or saimin. anything salty (bc you can’t taste anything when you’re congested, right?) and brothy works for me

    • Reply matt October 7, 2011 at 6:02 pm

      oh, and a shot of whisky

  • Reply Cody Zamboni October 7, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    gargle vodka or Bacardi 151

    the cold virus can’t survive when hit with that much alcohol

    • Reply Catherine Toth October 13, 2011 at 5:24 pm

      Sounds like you’ve been talking to my grandma!

  • Reply Annoddah Dave October 8, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    CAT: Miso soup or ohkai. I knew I was getting better when I craved popcorn.

    • Reply Catherine Toth October 13, 2011 at 5:24 pm

      LOL. I don’t think I ever crave popcorn!

  • Reply Mary Long October 10, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Pho from Bistro Green Papaya in Kalihi or homemade whiskey/chicken/ginger soup are my go-to cures.

    • Reply Catherine Toth October 13, 2011 at 5:25 pm

      My grandma used to prescribe whiskey and honey. For everything. 🙂

  • Reply Patrick October 13, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    Ice cream. I am a firm believer in the healing powers of a bowl if mint chocolate chip ice cream.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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