On 1/6/2013 8:53 AM, cshenk wrote:
> 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.

Interesting. My brother-in-laws will butter their rice although my wife
never did. It was shocking but that's what they do on the mainland. I
like the idea of a black pepper marinade. Somebody dumped a bunch of
black pepper which I was using to coat ahi in the sink and the water in
a bowl turned brown. I never noticed this before but it gave me the idea
of a black pepper infusion seasoning. I'll try your mountain marinade.
Thanks for the info.

I was reading an article on cars this morning. The writer Dan Neal,
suggested that, all cultural stereotypes aside, the NC state tree should
be a Camaro wrapped around a telephone pole!

>
> 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.
>
>

Life - it's a gas alright.