on an adventure...Stone Bowl House

Today has been a great day.  I was able to shake off that cabin fever feeling by taking a little road trip.  The purpose of the trip-acquire and consume some good Korean food.  I had looked up some places online last night (in hopes hubby would feel up to a 2+ hour drive after a long, hard day's work) but that was a no go.  So by 10:00 am this morning his boss still hadn't called him in to work so off we went!  YAY!!!  ROAD TRIP!!!

Two hours later and after a couple of miss-stops (I had forgotten which restaurant we were going to) Carmen (hubby's GPS) informs us we have arrived at our destination.  Yes, I drove two hours for Korean food.  The other option was eight hours away and hubby is not quite up for that yet.

Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House

My mouth is excited.  My stomach is growling in anticipation.  On the way in hubby noticed the sign on the door and actually stopped to read it.

It says "Beginning April 2010 we will be closed every Wednesday.  Grandma needs a break.  Sorry, for the inconvenience."  For those of you that have not been to a Korean restaurant, the really good ones ALWAYS have a little old woman that stands about 4'2" and is know as "Hal-mo-nee" Grandmother.

As an adventuress I am quite happy to jump in the car and head off to parts unknown without so much as consulting Dr. Google for directions.  Sometimes I even remember to check how much gas I have in the tank before getting on the interstate.  When it comes to Korean food though I tend to stick with what I know.  This pales in comparison to hubby's selections which even I have a hard time figuring out what they are let alone how to pronounce them to order it.  On that he definitely has me beat.

Appetizer choices are either mandu ("maan-doo" = Korean dumpling, similar to gyoza but not to be confused with wontons) or kimbap ("keem-baap" = the Korean version of a sushi roll but with nothing raw and usually has cooked beef in it).  Torn as always I went with the one I haven't been brave enough to make at home.

"Kimbap" = happiness in roll form

My normal order is daeji bulgogi ("deh-gee bool-go-gee" = pork marinated in a spicy sauce then grilled).  This has never failed to please me.  Being in a extremely good mood and wanting to turn over a new leaf in my life I go with something a little different but still a fond part of my childhood.  I boldly order the Godenguh Gui (you're on your own on that one for pronouncing = salted broiled mackerel).  The waitress looks at me and asks, "You know what that is?"  and I nod and respond "Oh yes!"  Hubby does his usual point at the menu "I want that please" (and oddly enough the waitress doesn't question his choice).

For those that have never experienced Korean food let me elaborate for it truly is an experience of all the senses.  It is as much about color and texture as it is flavor.  There really is no comparison to any other oriental cuisine.  My personal feelings are Korean food is bolder than Japanese and deeper than Chinese food.  I don't know any other way to explain it.  You either love it or would rather pass a kidney stone than eat it.

So to start they always bring out any number of banchan ("ban-jan" = side dishes).  Of these at least one will be a kimchee ("keem-chee" = often made of napa cabbage but can also be cucumber or radish, pickled in hot pepper, garlic and other oh so good seasonings).

"Banchan" = happiness in little bowls

Starting at the top left going right

• cucumbers and apples in a mayonnaise sauce (I question this as a "southern" Korean side dish)
• watercress salad
• fish cakes with hot pepper

Middle row left to right

• sangche (shredded radish kimchee)
• marinated potatoes
• mung bean sprouts 

Bottom row left to right

• kimchee (napa cabage)
• marinated cucumber
• oi kimchee (cucumber, this one was sliced)

These can be munched on alone or with a dab of rice or with your meal.  It doesn't seem like much but they are always happy to bring you more of anything you really enjoy.  The waitress stops and asks if I was Korean.  I explained I was half.  She then begins to chatter away at me and I respond in Korean "I only speak a little Korean."  She smiles and pats me on the shoulder.  I then proceed to express my grasp of the language by listing off all the foods I love and we both laugh.  "I'll never starve to death in Korea at least." Which got another good laugh.  Shortly after that another waitress bring out this:

Hubby's un-pronounceable dish = happiness in a boiling hot bowl

I tried to get a picture of it when she first brought it out.  It is a stone bowl that is heated before the contents are added.  It is literally boiling hot upon arrival.  She instructs him to stir it up before eating it to get everything mixed.  I was able to identify most everything in it.  It smelled delicious and I was looking forward to trying it. Then came mine.

Godenguh Gui = happiness with eyes

They say that smells are one of the strongest triggers of memories.  Seeing this plate instantly brought back a moment from my childhood when I, my younger brother and sister sat eagerly around the table waiting for mother to pick pieces off and put them in our bowls of rice.  I can remember how she made sure each piece was free of any speck of bone before giving it to us.  If we tried to get some for ourselves she would slap our hand away and take the piece back and again, carefully check it for bones before dishing it out.  That to me was affirmation enough to feel that she did love us as best she could.  So that being said Korean food is more than just getting my tummy full.  It's a tie back to my ethnic roots and the happiest memories of my mother.

Phew!  This has taken a while.  It's 12:34 am!  I'm still riding on the waves of joy from our trip.  I am ever so thankful to my in-laws for raising hubby to have such an expansive culinary palette.  Having a partner in crime makes it that much more special.  So to quote a rather wise old bear, "It's always more friendly with two."

P.S.  Tigger, I miss you sis.  I know it's not Mona's but it's as closes as I can get without drugging Baloo after we get in the car.

P.S.S.  The food was AMAZING!!!

on the advantages of being an adult...part 1

Some time ago Mom and I had gone out to dinner, I don't recall where, and I sat staring blankly at the menu.  After watching several trays of food go by I still couldn't decide what I wanted.  Then I saw a dessert tray go by.  I got excited.  I quickly flipped to the section of the menu that listed the desserts.  I know the drool had to be obvious.  I picked what I wanted then flipped back to the regular menu to find something small to have before my dessert.  I still couldn't find anything that appealed to me.  After flipping back and forth and having the server come back twice Mom asked me what I was trying to decide from.  I told her all I really wanted was the dessert and nothing else looked real good.  She then said three words that I will never forget, "So order dessert."

O.o  "I CAN DO THAT!?!?!"  And in the most matter-of-fact, non-mocking tone she replies, "Of coarse!  It's one of the advantages of being an adult."

Those three little words have stayed with me and served me well over the years.  I feel it's an homage to the many years of not listening the the advice of those more experienced and wiser than myself.  It's a declaration to the world that I am an adult and I will not bow down to the constraints of social norms.  It's an exercise of free will.  As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure it's in the constitution, in the very small print, on the back side, just off to the edge.

So, after a more grueling than normal week hubby takes me out to dinner to Carrabba's.  We do our usual look over the menu and do our version of Abbott and Costello "Do you want an appetizer?"  "Well, do YOU want an appetizer?"  "How hungry are you?"  etc.  So as always, I'm debating over which dessert to enjoy.  I tend to worry the tiramsu is from a large sheet that is thawing in the refrigerator next to the peeled garlic and sliced onions so I decide to go with the limoncello bread pudding.  Just below the description it says "Be sure to order early since this takes 20 minutes to make!"  Ooo promising.  Enter waiter, stage left.

ME: I'd like the limoncello bread pudding.

WAITER: Ah, good choice ma'am.  And for-

ME: I'd like that for my dinner please.

WAITER: (slightly nervous laugh)  Um...ok then!  Excellent choice!  I'll be sure to put that in to come out with the entrée.  (slightly less nervous laugh but a rather obvious "she's either crazy or pregnant" smile)

Hubby had the lobster ravioli.  He did enjoy that.  Between the 2 orders of bread, side salad and calamari appetizer it was just enough to leave room for him to try a few bites of my "dinner".  Sadly mine was a little disappointing. I had hoped for a little more lemony flavor.  It will NOT be making my list of "things I would gladly cause bodily harm to another in order to have/do" list.  I won't even begin to compare it to the decadent, slap yo' mama, make a puppy pull a freight train backwards, zabaglione at Mom and my's favorite Italian restaurant (pictures to come soon).

So, the moral of the story?  Know what it is you really, truly want, then go for it.

on left overs...

so a little bit of this and a little bit of that and viola!  homemade ham mac 'n cheese casserole.  had the penne leftover from a couple of nights ago (thank goodness because there was no other pasta like substance in the house) and the ham from the night before.  the recipe went kinda like this:

Melt a pat and a half of butter in a saucepan on medium heat then add about a tablespoon and a half of flour.  Whisk well and cook for about a minute (which i then started cutting up the ham and lost track of time...).  Wash out the pot and put what's left of the stick of butter, about a pat and a half in the sauce pan, melt it then add about one and half tablespoons of flour.  Whisk well and this time keep an eye on it for a minute so it doesn't burn.  Add about a cup and a half of milk.  Whisk some more.  Chunk up some left over ham, make sure to keep all the tough parts out.  Hurry back to the sauce pan, and add a splash more milk because the beshamel is a little to thick.  Add about 6 handfuls of whatever shredded cheese was in the fridge (mmm Mexi-mix).  Stir some more.  Add another splash of milk because it's looking a little too thick.  Add in the ham and stir it up good.  Pour what little of the milk is left and add a couple of palm fulls of the cheddar cheese you just found under a bag of salad greens.  Now you should have been tasting it every now and then along the way.  If it still needs a little salt after the ham sprinkle a little Tony's on it (the green can with the funny looking cartoon guy on it).  Mix it all up.  Add the left over penne and hope you can still stir it without dumping everything out of the saucepan.  Get out one of the square casserole dishes.  I think this one was the 9x9.  Spray it down with cooking spray.  Pour out all the goodies in to the casserole dish then sprinkle two or four handfuls of cheddar cheese on the top.  Then sprinkle three to four handfuls of Panko bread crumbs (make sure to check that they aren't stale first since i have no idea when i would have bought Panko bread crumbs).  Very lightly sprinkle a little more Tony's on top.  Then carry it over to the sink and spray the top lightly with the cooking spray (this will help it brown and get good and crispy).  Pop it in the oven that you had preheated (or forgot to turn off from earlier) to 350 degrees F.  Let it be for about 10 minutes then check on it.  If the top isn't browning yet close the door and go back to the computer.  Wait for hubby (or someone else) to ask you "Didn't the timer go off already?" and go running back in to the kitchen and check it again.  If the top is nice and golden brown and you can see the cheese bubbling around the edges take it out and let it set a few minutes before serving.  Scoop it out in to or on to your receptacle of choice and enjoy.

on beans...

we seem to have inadvertently gotten on to a bean kick lately.  on the menu tonight, pinto beans and rice.  i have to admit, had it not been for my dear husband i would have never been introduced to this simple southern staple.  i will have to tell you the story of the first time he made this for me.  alas, tonight i am a bit tired so we'll get back to it.  today's dinner though was a tad salty for my taste.  i think next time i will go with my instincts and only use half of the chunk of streak-o-lean instead of the whole thing.  had it not been for the rice i wouldn't have been able to eat it at all.  still playing with my camera (and my food according to hubby).  now he just shakes his head and goes about fixing his meal while i hurry to get outside to get my pictures.  i think i need to find a more interesting background.  being where i am it makes it hard to wander around with your dinner and a camera in hand and not get funny looks.

on chili...

so today has been one of those days.  i'm bounce between manic and wore slap out.  so finished the roman shade for the guest room.  hubby made his chili, mmmmm mmm good.  been playing with the macro feature on the camera and think i'm getting the hang of it.  also playing wit the "rule of thirds".  i'm getting a better idea on what i want to do with this blog so things may change some.  i need to get my graphics programs installed on this computer so i can get back in to that.  i'm kind of suffering from inspiration overload.  i've got several hundred great ideas in my head.  the problem though is trying to get them out and actually doing one of them.  i think i'm going to play with my camera some more.  i enjoyed photography when i was in high school.  actually went through the whole learning to develop film and everything.  so lets see where this takes us.  right now i've got a full belly and am listening to south park that hubby is watching.  i really don't want to go to work /sigh.  gotta pay the mortgage, and the rent, and the car payment, and the utility bills and my yarn habit, and fabric habit, and pet habit, and eating habit, and...