DINE: TASTE THIS
The “Perfect” Recipe
Manayunk’s newest restaurant finds food inspiration from around the world to their own customers. By Megan Douress Photos by JPG Photography (jpgphotography.com)
C
anh Ho’s love of food started at a young age. Originally from Vietnam, the owner of Main Street Pho moved to America at the age of 12. His adoptive dad didn’t cook much, so he took it upon himself to learn the ins and outs of the kitchen, but this was long before the days of Pinterest and YouTube. “I loved watching The Food Network — every chef, even Martha Stewart,” Canh said. “There was a show called ‘Yan Can Cook’ with Chinese-American chef Martin Yan, and I also watched Anthony Bourdain. I love how he traveled around the world and experienced every culture.” Canh earned a degree in international business finance from Philadelphia University and worked in the field for 15 years before transitioning to pursue his passion. Canh, with the help of his wife, Bernice; sister-inlaw, Nhan; and nephew, Jonny; opened Main Street Pho at 4307 Main Street on April 10. The success of his business started with a training session in Orange County, California where he took classes for a week. “I learned how to make pho there,” Canh explained. “I went to every restaurant and would bring home broth to taste it and see what I liked best — what ingredients they used. That’s why we have pho today.” 34
manayunk.com | Fall 2018