Carson Lunches at New Saigon

"Let's go somewhere new for lunch.  It's good to try new places, right?"  says Carson.  He is in the backseat peering out of the window as we drive north on Federal. We pull in to New Saigon and pop out of the car.  "This is a NEW restaurant, isn't it?"  Well, new to Carson, which I suppose IS new. 

As we are sitting down, Carson immediately grabs the red chili sauce and smells it, closing his eyes, "Yum, you want to smell it, Mommy?"  Chopsticks catch his attention next and he demonstrates how they work, "You see, I need THREE chopsticks to pick up my noodles!"  He has ordered the pork and egg roll noodle bowl, #5N. "Really?" says the server, in surprise. We nod, having had this conversation before. No chicken nuggets for this little foodie. The server brings the fish sauce for our noodle bowls and Carson immediately puts his nose in the bowl for a good smell.  "This smells sficy (spicy)!"  Grandpa teaches him how to dunk his fork in to get a little taste of the sauce.  "Yum!  Some people like sficy sauce for their noodles!"   He proceeds to dunk his fork in about ten more times until Grandpa has had enough of seeing the sauce drip all over the table. 

The server brings our bowls, beef, shrimp, egg rolls,. and pork for Mom and me, just beef for Grandpa, and pork and egg rolls for Carson.  "Wow!  This is all for me.  What are you going to eat first, Mommy?"  The shrimp, of course.  He tucks in, having abandoned the chopsticks for a fork.  Better to twirl the noodles with. 

He twirls the noodles expertly and returns to the bowl for an egg roll.  "These are very crispy!  Is there meat in them?  Did you know people have meat in them?"  No comment.  Noodles seem to be a hit.

He grudgingly gives up a few of his egg rolls to Mimi and Grandpa before he's ready for a to-go box.  "Are we taking this home to have later?"  I ask if he will eat the leftovers at home.  "Oh yes, sometimes they are better leftover!"