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Weekend in Zurich: Street Art, Homemade Thai, and a bowl of Pho

The Squat on Rautistrasse
Zurich is one of those towns where in a weekend, after spending years visiting and living in the  city it can still yield unexpected new finds. For example I had known that there must be squats (in the style of bohemian homelessness) in this city, but I had not seen any. This one it turns out is only a few blocks from my friends new flat in Zurich and not far from my old employers offices. Granted this part of Zurich, closer to the Alstetten than my usual haunts near Kries 5 is not exactly where I would have spent time, but it is also not so far flung.


Tom Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum
Our friends ChiChi and Wundi had us over for homemade thai food on Saturday Night. After a long saturday of doing absolutely nothing, Heimo and I made our way to Albisreiderplatz to join our friends for dinner. ChiChi treated us to Tom Yum, Chicken Wings, Thai Noodles, and Papaya Salad.
All amazing
Thai food like much of asian cuisine is one of those styles of cooking where simplicity of the home cooked meals can far outshine the dishes collected in restaurants. The secret ingredient is care.

The Tom Yum was  swimming with Mussels and Shrimp. The Noodles were perfectly simple and understated. And the Sambal was amazing. Just a homemade mix of peppers, garlic, onion, and fish sauce it complimented everything and was perfect (though it burned the following day).
Pho at Pho 50
We did eat out Monday before I had to pack it in and head to the airport bright and early the following morning (7:20 flight meant taking the 5:15 bus from Alstetten to the Airport). We stopped at Pho 50 for a bowl of noodle soup. Sunday had been a brutal day of scenic hiking and cooking was the last thing we could do.

The Pho at Pho 50 (no this is not the 50th restaurant in a chain but likely that 50 is a number that the owner found auspicious, and thus included in the name) was very good. The stock was a little cloudier than what I would consider perfect, but it was buttery and perfectly umami and spiced. Cinnamon and Star Anise overtones and perfectly peppered it was a perfect compliment to a long weekend. 

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