"Uptown Pho'nk": Your Pho Destination
Alex Hanesakda of SapSap grew up recognizing the comfort found in food. His family spent time at a refugee camp in Thailand, where his father would sell homemade pho and other Lao noodle dishes tin order to provide for his family. As he matured, the food of his culture shaped him into the chef he is today.
Hanesakda shares his culture through his monthly “Uptown Pho’nk” pop-up dinner series, taking place at The Branch in Racine, WI. Pho originates from Vietnamese culture, but it is consumed all over southeast Asia. Traditionally, Vietnamese pho puts a heavy focus on the broth, developing intricate flavors by infusing fresh and flavorful ingredients. Laotian pho tends to lean on the toppings, making pho heartier and more filling with a wide range of flavors and textures. Hanesakda prefers a mixture of both styles, serving flavorful broth made with bones from local farmers alongside loads of hearty toppings, for the perfect marriage of cultures. His goal isn’t to “reinvent the wheel,” but to take the best parts of different interpretations and create a stellar dish.
The utmost care is put into every aspect of Hanesakda’s pho. He cooks his broth for no less than 24 hours, and says, “That’s where the magic is.” He flavors the broth with beef bones, knuckles, femurs and even oxtails. Then he adds aromatics like roasted ginger and onion, cardamom, star anise and cinnamon. As if this concoction couldn’t get any more complex, he adds a punch of umami by adding dried shrimp, squid and other “secret ingredients.”
A warm and filling meal, no matter the culture or background, brings people together. Hanesakda embraces this by serving his food family style with communal seating, so strangers share with strangers and participate in an interactive meal. Alongside steaming bowls of pho, Hanesakda serves loads of Laotian sides, like lemongrass beef jerky, egg rolls and skirt steak with dipping sauces.
Hanesakda and his team put loads of time and effort into these pop-up events, and tickets sell out quickly. There are often cancellations and a waiting list, so follow SapSap on their facebook page for all updates about “Uptown Pho’nk” dinners!
“Uptown Pho’nk” Pop-Up Dinner Series
February 2nd & 23rd, 2019
The Branch in Racine, WI
