Pho is my favorite item at the Thai/Lao restaurant I patronize in Montgomery, AL-Green Papaya! I have made it at home once, it is delicious, used a beef roast and bones. As to the diction issue-I was in the hospital recently and had a nurse from Laos caring for me. Having spent 4 years in Thailand, visited Laos as few times, food was a common topic. Best phonetic pronunciation I can add to PHO from an ethnic speaker is Fuh- like we say Duh! as in Dumbass :-) you should have known better! Bookmarked the blog!!