Food is the ultimate weapon of life. We eat food in everyday life, and appreciate the taste of cultures and experiences of many things. We can think about things like cultures and health while we eat food. We cannot live without food because we get hungry in our body and in our mind. Food can be a great teacher who can teach different cultures of people.
When we think about the strong nation, it is a nation with a strong culture. Within these cultures, we can explore that they have ultimately different food cultures as well. These food cultures act as the representation of each individual country. When we think about Mexico, we think about taco, Korea with Kimchi, Japan with Sushi, etc. We find ourselves involved in these different cultures everyday in life, in the way we eat. Some people eat with hands and some eat with chopsticks. Some have side dishes and some do not. Through these things, we can observe each other’s culture.
In addition, the food has a very strong power. People can gather up in front of food and share opinions while eating. In this busy life, the only place or time that families share their thoughts is at the dinner table. In addition, food makes us happy through the taste. Some people say while they are eating, they think feel like in “heaven on earth.” Also the food makes us healthier in different ways. When we consume a healthy food, the nutrition in the food produces vitamins inside our body.
In our nation, we have many different cultures mixed up together. There are about 33 million foreign-born populations in U.S. and it is increasing constantly. Many people have questions about their identities or their race even though they are born as an American. What would be the responses of those second-generations? Where can they find their identity? I will say it is very simple to categorize them. First, we should not categorize them by their race, but we should categorize them by their cultures. In my opinion, racial identity is meaningless.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Side dishes
We can experience many different things when we think about the cultures of different people. When we have chance to go to Asian restaurant, we often get freaked about the number of side dishes that come along with the main dish. Normally we get what we order in most of our restaurants (places like Sizzlers and Dennys), but at the Korean, Japanese, or Chinese restaurants, we get more than we order. These side dishes make us to not get bored with the food and allow us to appreciate different tastes.
All of the side dishes make us to have a better taste of the main food. We can appreciate many different tastes at the same time. It is like building a sand castle at the beach. When you build a sand castle, the base level of the castle is very important because the castle can collapse with a weak basement. The side dishes take the role of the base level, which it helps us to build a better taste of the main dish. Also often we get tired of eating just one thing that we ordered and wish to eat those of someone else’s. The side dish makes us to not get bored at eating. Many Asian families, which include my family, have dinners with only side dishes because it never gets tasteless.
On the other hand, there are couple sad things that can happen with the side dishes. I remember while I was working at a Korean restaurant. I was the one who served the side dishes. To say about the work simply, it was a disaster. I had to serve about seven side dishes to every table and refilled them when they were completely empty. It was even very ironic how the customers commended for refills rather than asking. Normally I would “ask” for refills rather than commands, but those people were so eager to have another new dish. In addition, some restaurants serve side dishes that were “leftovers” of other customers. It was not just a rumor that I heard, but it is a hot issue that many countries deal with. I feel that these actions crumble the originality of the cultural values.
All of the side dishes make us to have a better taste of the main food. We can appreciate many different tastes at the same time. It is like building a sand castle at the beach. When you build a sand castle, the base level of the castle is very important because the castle can collapse with a weak basement. The side dishes take the role of the base level, which it helps us to build a better taste of the main dish. Also often we get tired of eating just one thing that we ordered and wish to eat those of someone else’s. The side dish makes us to not get bored at eating. Many Asian families, which include my family, have dinners with only side dishes because it never gets tasteless.
On the other hand, there are couple sad things that can happen with the side dishes. I remember while I was working at a Korean restaurant. I was the one who served the side dishes. To say about the work simply, it was a disaster. I had to serve about seven side dishes to every table and refilled them when they were completely empty. It was even very ironic how the customers commended for refills rather than asking. Normally I would “ask” for refills rather than commands, but those people were so eager to have another new dish. In addition, some restaurants serve side dishes that were “leftovers” of other customers. It was not just a rumor that I heard, but it is a hot issue that many countries deal with. I feel that these actions crumble the originality of the cultural values.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Kogi Taco
Trying something new is always a hard task. Many people do not risk their choices because they are afraid of failures. When we think about food, we can often see those people whom are afraid of failures. We see them in restaurants, mostly at fastfood restaurants. These people are just tightly focused in a single element, that they try a new thing. I could say I am one of those people because I only order bic-Mac combo when I am at McDonalds. Recently I had a chance to try a new thing it was a thing that I was accustomed with.Last month, I had a call from my brother. He asked me whether I would like to have a Kogi taco for dinner. I told him ‘yes,’ and waited him for hours. That time, I had some basic knowledge about the Kogi Taco. I was told about Kogi Taco by my English instructor Mr. Tsuyuki, and was ought to appreciate it. I knew that the Kogi Tacos were sold from a taco truck which moves from a city to city and it had a great taste that fascinated everyone. It took my brother two hours since he left for the taco. He told me that the line for the taco truck was extremely long so he had to wait about one hour until he was able to order some tacos. Also he said that there was a certain limit of buying tacos, which made him to purchase only two combos of Kogi Taco. While he was telling me his adventure story, he handed me four burritos that had Kogi inside. Those burritos looked just the same as the regular burritos that we buy from Taco Bells or Del Taco. The only difference was that instead of the dry beefs there were Kogis inside the burrito. It was simply the only difference I could found in this new substance.
I was very disappointed of this new try. This new substance was not in the form that I dreamed of. Rather than better taste, the Kogi taco was just the same as the regular taco. It had just a little more salt and some Kogi sauce.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Replies
On Kenny's blog : http://kennipark.blogspot.com/
On Niccolo's blog : http://widda40.blogspot.com/
On Vincent's blog : http://theadventuresinenglishclass.blogspot.com/
On Niccolo's blog : http://widda40.blogspot.com/
On Vincent's blog : http://theadventuresinenglishclass.blogspot.com/
Dried Seaweed Roll
In Korea, people make Dried Seaweed Rolls as part of the cultural event. I remember eating those Dried Seaweed Rolls back in Korea. I’ve always asked my mom to make those rolls on days I go to a picnic from Elementary school. During my 6 years of Elementary school picnics, I’ve never had a single time that my mom made some other food besides the seaweed rolls. And this was almost common to other kids at school. Every kid brought their rolls that their moms made and compared to see which one is the best. Since the Dried Seaweed Roll lost its taste and decayed in very short time, all the moms in families had to make the rolls in very early morning before the kids go to school for picnic. Sometimes I’ve saw some other moms bringing their kid’s lunch box filled with the Dried Seaweed Rolls right before we leave.
The best thing I remember about the Seaweed roll was it is very simple to eat. Unlike any other Korean food which has all different side dishes, soup and rice, the seaweed roll was very simple to eat for a lunch. All I had to do was just open my lunch box and eat them piece by piece. The roll basically looks exactly same as the California roll; however the outer surface is covered with the dried seaweed. The seaweed are very healthy food, and the other things that goes in the roll, such as carrot, pickled radish, fried egg, spinach, and ham are also healthy nutrition as well. Another thing about the dried seaweed roll is that it brings all the people together as one. During our picnic, we sat in a circle and shared the roll with those who did not bring theirs. In those days, my friends and I learned about sharing and communicating with others. I definitely think the dried seaweed roll is something valuable than any other expensive food.
The best thing I remember about the Seaweed roll was it is very simple to eat. Unlike any other Korean food which has all different side dishes, soup and rice, the seaweed roll was very simple to eat for a lunch. All I had to do was just open my lunch box and eat them piece by piece. The roll basically looks exactly same as the California roll; however the outer surface is covered with the dried seaweed. The seaweed are very healthy food, and the other things that goes in the roll, such as carrot, pickled radish, fried egg, spinach, and ham are also healthy nutrition as well. Another thing about the dried seaweed roll is that it brings all the people together as one. During our picnic, we sat in a circle and shared the roll with those who did not bring theirs. In those days, my friends and I learned about sharing and communicating with others. I definitely think the dried seaweed roll is something valuable than any other expensive food.
Kimchi
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish. It is very common that Koreans serve kimchi in every meal. Kimchi has a history of 6000 years. It was first developed from China and 1300 years ago, it was passed down to Korea. The early Kimchi was made with cabbage and beef stocks only, but later Koreans developed a spicy Kimchi. But nowadays, there are many different types of kimchi such as ‘dongchimi,’ and ‘chonggak kimchi.’ The type of Kimchi varies on the regions in Korea. Different states have different types of popular Kimchi. The reason Koreans eat Kimchi is because it is healthy and tasteful. It also brings the family together because the process of making Kimchi requires a lot of work that a single person cannot accomplish.
It was well introduced to foreigners during the Seoul Olympics in Korea during 1988. It is told that many of the foreigners enjoyed eating Kimchi and later sought for Kimchi in their homeland. Kimchi is very nutritious that one serving of it contains 80% of the daily recommended amount of carotene and Vitamin C. Also, it is proven that Kimchi lowers the cholesterol rate and protects our body against cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity. In addition, it provides Vitamin A, B, and C, and as well as various other nutrition.
Despite the fact that nowadays most Koreans buy Kimchi from the markets, my family makes Kimchi at home in regular basis. It is very cheap, but it is definitely hard to make. During the times we make it, I eat it for couple times and fix the taste by either adding sugar or salt until it gets the real taste. Kimchi also strengthens the relationship between other families because after making Kimchi, many times we share it with other family. It is nearly a tradition that Koreans share Kimchi. When I was in Korea, I remember my mom and aunts meet up at grandmother’s house and make kimchi together. After the work is done, they shared them equally. And during that time, I sat right next to them and pleasing for Kimchi to appreciate the taste of it. Even today, when I eat Kimchi on my dinner table, I can feel and smell my Korean memories.
It was well introduced to foreigners during the Seoul Olympics in Korea during 1988. It is told that many of the foreigners enjoyed eating Kimchi and later sought for Kimchi in their homeland. Kimchi is very nutritious that one serving of it contains 80% of the daily recommended amount of carotene and Vitamin C. Also, it is proven that Kimchi lowers the cholesterol rate and protects our body against cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity. In addition, it provides Vitamin A, B, and C, and as well as various other nutrition.
Despite the fact that nowadays most Koreans buy Kimchi from the markets, my family makes Kimchi at home in regular basis. It is very cheap, but it is definitely hard to make. During the times we make it, I eat it for couple times and fix the taste by either adding sugar or salt until it gets the real taste. Kimchi also strengthens the relationship between other families because after making Kimchi, many times we share it with other family. It is nearly a tradition that Koreans share Kimchi. When I was in Korea, I remember my mom and aunts meet up at grandmother’s house and make kimchi together. After the work is done, they shared them equally. And during that time, I sat right next to them and pleasing for Kimchi to appreciate the taste of it. Even today, when I eat Kimchi on my dinner table, I can feel and smell my Korean memories.
Teriyaki
Many people enjoy having Teriyaki in daily basis. It fascinates people with its’ own tasteful and sweet sauce. I consider Teriyaki as the best food that everyone enjoys eating. Back to history, Teriyaki is first made by Japanese. In Japanese, the word Teri-yaki means luster (Teri), and grill or broil (yaki) because in the process of making Teriyaki, the ingredients are either broiled or grilled after brushing the chicken or beef with the special sauce. These sauces can be made easily with soysauce, mirin, and sugar. But often people get confused Teriyaki sauce with Bulgogi sauce (Korean BBQ) because they nearly taste the same since they both have soysauce for the recipe. With its’ great flavor, Teriyaki spread throughout the world quickly. We can find Teriyaki in some Mexican or Western foods. And we have many restaurants such as Yoshinoya, Maki-yaki, etc. in America that serve Teriyaki bowls (most of the time, they serve the bowl with Teriyaki rather than the Teriyaki alone).
One thing that Teriyaki fascinates people is the way how Teriyaki bowl guarantees an outstanding performance to the customers. The place I visited last week with my friend was called, “Maki-Yaki.” They served nearly every kind of the Teriyaki bowls that I couldn’t have imagined. One of these Teriyaki bowl (8.95 dollars), contained teriyaki (you can either choose chicken or beef), rice bowl, California rolls, shrimp tempuras, salad bowl, and Miso soup. Imagine having 6 different foods at once and appreciating the taste of them. It is better than the heaven. For fact, those foods made me and also my friend, who had never tried Teriyaki before, to enjoy and to get in love with Teriyaki. I think it is power of Teriyaki that anyone who tries a bite of Teriyaki bowl, get to be a fan of it.
In addition, many of the Teriyaki restaurants offer great price on their food. Like I said previously, they offered me 8.95 dollars for Teriyaki bowl, including whole bunch of other dishes. Also many of those restaurants give free delivery if you order from close distances and purchase more than 25 dollars. All these things favor customers to easily get addicted by Teriyaki. But it is not just their marketing skills; it is the taste of Teriyaki that makes me to order another bowl.
One thing that Teriyaki fascinates people is the way how Teriyaki bowl guarantees an outstanding performance to the customers. The place I visited last week with my friend was called, “Maki-Yaki.” They served nearly every kind of the Teriyaki bowls that I couldn’t have imagined. One of these Teriyaki bowl (8.95 dollars), contained teriyaki (you can either choose chicken or beef), rice bowl, California rolls, shrimp tempuras, salad bowl, and Miso soup. Imagine having 6 different foods at once and appreciating the taste of them. It is better than the heaven. For fact, those foods made me and also my friend, who had never tried Teriyaki before, to enjoy and to get in love with Teriyaki. I think it is power of Teriyaki that anyone who tries a bite of Teriyaki bowl, get to be a fan of it.
In addition, many of the Teriyaki restaurants offer great price on their food. Like I said previously, they offered me 8.95 dollars for Teriyaki bowl, including whole bunch of other dishes. Also many of those restaurants give free delivery if you order from close distances and purchase more than 25 dollars. All these things favor customers to easily get addicted by Teriyaki. But it is not just their marketing skills; it is the taste of Teriyaki that makes me to order another bowl.
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