dsi1 wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> On 1/3/2013 3:37 PM, cshenk wrote:
> >
> > Bryan, I eat korean and thai kimchees not watered down for
> > roundeyes. I totally get it on the taste vs heat. Sadly chili is
> > one of the areas where too many fools do not get it. I can assume
> > you are not one of them from how you present it.
> >
> >
>
> Back in the 70s, my wife and I went to a strip mall restaurant called
> Aloha Hawaiian Barbeque in the SF bay area. My wife is a roundeye (we
> call them 'haoles') but was raised by a Korean step-mom. She ordered
> a bibimbap but could not bring herself to use the catchup-like sauce
> that came with it. She requested some real gochujang and the look of
> absolute confusion on the servers face was priceless. The owner had
> to come out so that she could explain what she wanted. The food was
> not bad considering that it wasn't Hawaiian but Korean and the owners
> were neither Hawaiian or Korean. We went back there several times
> because there was no other place around that served Korean.
>
> At the time I was pretty ignorant of Korean foods since most Korean
> establishments in Hawaii were bars and strip clubs. I thought my
> wife's bibimbap looked pretty good and was horrified when she started
> mixing the whole thing up into a big gooey mess. These days, I'm more
> familiar with the dish and am only slightly repulsed when they mix it
> into a gooey mess.
>
> Korean food has come a long way in Hawaii and the mainland and the
> number of bars and strip clubs have diminished greatly - this is a
> good thing. Heck, we're even driving Korean cars and cooking and
> washing clothes with their products. Who wodda thought?

LOL! Totally. I gather one person got mad that I used 'round-eye' for
me but it's simply a haoles translation (not sure if you knew it but I
lived in hawaii 1986-1989). Both are a term and can be used matter of
fact to describe something or in a derogatory manner.

Bimimbap is neat stuff! I've only had it a few times but liked it.

As you travel though life, a few culinary experiences make a mark on
your soul even if you never find them again or know what they are.

Here's a few of my travels that i hope you will enjoy.

A young teen, about 18 in fact- Central SC, a brushing sort of marinade
with HUGE flavor but very salty so you used it gently. It's a very
deep south sort of mix of the mountain area not seen elsewhere. Heavy
garlic, black pepper, vinegar, salt and oil. Completely shelf stable.

A young 20's- Hawaii, had never had fish other than fish-sticks baked
in the oven. I married my husband of now 26 years at least partly over
my first experience of sashimi and rice with dipping sauce. I was
hesitant at raw fish but willing to try it. He grinned that I wanted
butter on my rice then added black pepper (why had i never thought to
add black pepper to rice?). I think I feel a little guilty that i ate
my share and quite a bit of his.

A later age, about 40- Korea. 2 events.
- Tea smoked chicken with a braiser at the table and you cook your own
and eat each bite with a bit of garlic and other greenery.
- No name place in Pusan, no english, menu painted on the wall over the
cash register. Walked in with a shipmate and we had no clue so pointed
at one then sat at the floor table as some sort of 7 course meal came
out that we shared for about 4 hours of fun.

Anyways, those stand out.


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