I can't bowl

Apparently I've been holding the ball the wrong way for my entire bowling career, and NO ONE TOLD ME. What's up with that, folks? It's almost as bad as having a big red chili pepper flake stuck between your two front teeth without anyone so much as hinting, "Hey, you might want to check on that..." I think we Americans should take a tip or two from the Korean stereotype... unreserved candidness can be a good thing. ^^

I even got booed by a first-timer. Tough crowd. ^^;; I laugh every time I see this.

Last shoutouts (for a bit)

To 엄마 & 정재...


And this one, I suppose, to me...? ㅎㅎ


Airport goodbyes always suck. Thanks to my fam and friends for seeing me off. I'll never forget my "last" Korean meal... chicken buh-guh with fries and a coke. Yum.





Gotta catch another plane in a few hours... even though I may be stateside, I'll still be bloggin' away! ^^

Leaving on a jet plane

I'm SF bound via Beijing (wish me luck) in a matter of hours and might as well be in a noraebang singing along to John Denver...

I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

I'll miss this place.

But I hear they've got a Paris Baguette on El Camino Real.

Cheesy montage of digitized memories coming soon.

Thursday food diary: Agu jjim and cake

Dear Food Diary:

I promise once I'm back Stateside, I'll be better, e.g. I won't drink soda for breakfast. Yes, today I had a can of Fanta for breakfast. Can. Of. Fanta. Normally I wouldn't do this. I don't even drink Fanta, especially after those horrid Wanta Fanta commercials scarred me for life. Besides, I've always been more of a Sunkist type of gal. Not that I really drank that either. But something screamed orange fizz at me today and I went for it. Damn those street carts and my lack of discipline.

I was kind of hoping to eat some dak kalbi for lunch, but a turn of events led us to Caribou instead, so I had a soy latte and a taste of something called "cheesecake." Let's just say you shouldn't go to Caribou for dessert.



SJ suggested agu jjim (아구찜) for dinner so we checked out a recommended place called 천벙 in Gangnam. It was creamy and spicy and a lot tastier than my first my first Korean agu experience. Still, I think this is one of those dishes that needs to grow on you.



We later headed to a recently opened Take Urban, a pretty lil Korean based cafe chain, and SJ spotted the owner checking things out. It was packed all night - he's got nothing to worry about. Except maybe carrot cake. It's been a while since I've had carrot cake (or seen it in this country!), perhaps I've forgotten what it's supposed to taste like. But I do recall carrots... oh and cream cheese frosting. This must have been the extra light carrotless version. Carrot cake, I will bake you right once I have access to an oven.



Excuse me, I need to go take a few laps around the track right about now. Or run a marathon.

Just a test...

...to see whether or not somebody *really* reads this blog as claimed... ㅎㅎ Kidding. (I know you don't.) Happy twenty something.

For Alice

Super size me

I'll take the XXXXX-L cheese omelette, please.

Mmmh, gigantic gyeranmari (계란말이)... I can't help but feel like I'm in World 4 of Super Mario Bros 3. Props to you if you know what I'm talking about without having to look it up.



Imagine taking this sucker to go.

Kimcheeeeeese!

I realize this could be used against me.

What A Catch, Donnie

Loving this song...


I've got troubled thoughts and the self esteem to match
What a catch, what a catch
And all I can think of is the way I'm the one who charmed
The one who gave up on you
Who gave up on you

ㅠㅠ

Video reunion... from Jeju to HI

To 엄마 from 고모할머니... it's been a while. But look at what the interweb can do. ; )

Sunday food diary

Dear Food Diary:

과식했나보다... > _ <

#1) Lunch at a noisy and packed institution in Myeongdong for gom tang (곰탕), beef soup with rice (no, I still don't eat beef) and way too much ggakdugi (깍두기). This was my first time trying it with ggak guk (깍국), basically the "soup" (liquid) from ggakdugi kimchi - good stuff, Koreans sure do know how to make the most of everything!




#2) Afternoon UFO pastry from the "dessert gallery" at Passion 5...it tasted like a cross between a roti bun and gyeran bbang (egg bread) minus the huge boiled egg.




#3) Passion 5 pudding... yum.




#4) Afternoon iced mocha latte, a rich dessert in itself, from Wein Bakery (because apparently you can't sit at Passion 5 without making a reservation).



#5) Dinner at Czen Asian Noodle Bar, nothing special. At this point, I was already stuffed and really didn't feel like eating (gasp!) but still managed to throw down some kung pao chicken and noodles.






#6) An impromptu roti bun from Rotiboy... because roti buns are good even when you think you can't possibly eat another bite!



#7) Iced dark chocolate (70%) in a cup from Lucycato. (I have to say, the 45% dark blend goes down much smoother.)




Off to Jeju in a few hours to visit some fam where the eating inevitably continues... wish me luck.

Sincerely stuffed and yours,
C

In and around: Itaewon Randoms

KH, being KH (potentially the only person in Korea who can accept and often top my randomness and sarcasm.) "YO! How YOU doin'?"


"Why don't they pronounce it She-Na?"


"Take a picture of that, Cheri!"

I'll take my egg boiled and deep fried, thank you

My first twiggim street encounter was exactly as first described to me - looks great, tastes okay (unless you're really hungry.) Mostly because it sits cold on the street, having been fried hours before consumption. Regardless, it's one of those things you just have to try, and heck, I'd probably go back if I were craving something greasy on the go.

But imagine the potential... tempura made fresh to order... a gourmet street stand that let you pick your fried coatings... i.e. Would you like your veggies panko or macadamia nut crusted, Miss?

Nonetheless, I came across something I've never seen before. A deep fried boiled egg...!

Hilton - Palm Court Buffet

Aunty Mina's back in town! We caught up back at the Hilton over the hotel's usual buffet spread, only this time it was at the Palm Court. Hotels with big pretty lobbies and foreign businessmen in suits remind me of home. ^^

Told in photos because a picture is worth a thousand words I'm lazy.



Plate #1


Plate #2


Plate #3


This does not include all of our special comp dishes and drinks. (It pays to know the staff. ^^) I need to go on a diet.

In and around: Hongdae Artsy Fartsy

So many opportunities for potentially gag-worthy pictures (e.g. me with fobby heart arms above my head, standing next to Shadow Girl.) Must... resist... temptation... ㅎㅎ

Breakfast of champions

I quit eating breakfast on a regular basis sometime during or after high school, and I haven't quite reacquainted myself with the concept of eating an entire bowl of rice, soup, and at least five different kinds of side dishes (especially kimchi!) right after waking up. But I have to admit, there's something nice about a good bowl of jjigae in the morning - if done right - if done by JH Imo, the best 아침밥 maker of all.