Where does English writing first make mention of pho ?
" Possibly the earliest English - language reference to pho was in the book " Recipes of All Nations " , edited by Countess Morphy in 1935 : In the book , pho is described as " an Annamese soup held in high esteem ... made with beef , a veal bone , onions , a bayleaf , salt , and pepper , and a small teaspoon of " nuoc - mam "" .