HI!

I will comment on the articles, which were very interesting, but I wanted to share a food review of the unique restaurant Korean Dad in Veazie, Maine (literally, a minute from the Bangor border)  The owner, Changsu Lee works full time as the Chair of the Math department at Eastern Maine Community College where I once worked. His wife also works full time. They opened the restaurant, but did not have the time to run it full time. So, he posts the menu weekly on Facebook, and you order in advance for a Saturday pick up. 

He also sells BTS ready made coffee with pictures of the guys on the bottles. And some really nice Korean ornaments. 

I got the Spicy Tuna Kimbop, Veggie JapChae, and Beef Bulgolgi. 

The Kimbop is so special because the rice adds an extra flavor. It had some sesame oil in it. It looks like sushi. But Kimbop is not sushi. Sushi rice is made with vinegar, and Kimbop with a touch of sesame oil.  There were carrots, spinach, and I think pickled turnip in the dish as well. I think there might have been garlic as well. Oh, you also bring your own containers to help the environment!

The Japchae was marvelous. I have eaten it before, but this was just veggie. It was not oily, but flavorful and it amazes me how the noodles are prefectly their own texture, but the carrots still stayed crisp. There was also spinach, onion, and mushroom in it. 

The Beef Bulgogi was very good. It was served over rice. Usually, I have had it with rice on the side and lettuce. I really enjoyed this feast. 

I should mention that Changsu came to Maine as a Young Adult for college. He moved to the far north of Maine in Presque Isle for college. He has never left Maine. He now lives in Bangor, and he also teaches Korean once a week at the college. He ran an exchange student hosting students from Korea at Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) He is creating community here in Bangor. And Bangor is a quiet and not the most vibrant town, so we are very grateful for him. He created a cultural exhange at  EMCC. The Korean and American students made friends for life. A few American students visited Seoul because of their friendships, and a few Korean students have stayed and are planning to become Americans. 

When I worked at EMCC it was during the 3/11 disasters of Japan. They Korean students along with support from the American students organized a fundraiser for Japan. I found this very touching. It seems through friendships, food, and education the world is a smaller place. 

Back to the restaurant Korean Dad. They also have fish bread. Which is red bean pasted inside of a bread shaped like a fish. I plan to get that next time. And I want to try Ram-Don noodles

And Saturday is coming soon! 🙂

I learned so much from this article. I also realized that while sometimes food exchange can enhance a culture's food oftentimes. Even in times of occupation, a culture can take the occupiers food and make it their own in a new unique way. This heals the past and the present relationship between the two countries. Ironically, while Japan introduced Soy Sauce to Korea; Japan since the 90s buys imported Kimchi from Korea. Can cultures heal through food? Perhaps they can? Or perhaps food is a soft power that can help start the important conversations that lead to the pathway to peace. 

And that is my idealistic view. On the more cynical side. Even if a person shares a cultural exhange trough food; racism and ethnocentrism still exist. When I lived in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, you can literally taste almost any countries and cultures food. I remember seeing an Eritrean restaurant in the Sunset district of SF next to an Ethipian restaurant. At first, I was like WOW! This is the great part about America two countries formerly at war own restaurants next door to each other now. But, perhaps, the owners do not get along. Maybe the fact that they are so close in proximity is progress. 

Also, maybe what makes Korean food so special are the careful balances of flavor from all the different cultures.

Okay, I am a dreamer today. Have a great weekend. And I loved these articles. 

Also, I am happy that the US helped Korea with flour based foods. But I really think the introduction of Spam anywhere should be verboten 🙂

I learned a lot from the video this week! I cannot wait to share ideas tomorrow night. I went back to Korean dad on Saturday attached is a picture of the yummy fish bread which tasted like a waffle with delicious red bean inside. It is slightly sweet nit savory 

I found this article helpful in understanding the difference between how many older Koreans view the US and it's intervention/help in the Korean War and how the younger generation tends to view us.  It also reminds us of how, sadly, food is often used as a political tool and way to control people, and it happens globally. 

I tried a pretty sweet grapefruit flavor in Boston 

I bought a bottle at H Mart a Korean grocery, and I really enjoyed it. 

I found it interesting that at least  one of the doctors in the study discussed cosmetic surgery more about science and the "perfect face" rather than achieving "western beauty". The rhinoplasty bit was interesting to me as well in how it's really no longer as popular as jaw surgery, even going so far as recommending UNdoing a rhinoplasty. 

as for jaw surgery, I agree it sounds truly horrific. It makes me wonder too, these are surgeries that really only allow for the elite to access so what happens to those trying to achieve this standard of beauty without the funds or access? 

I was watching a Korean drama and the girlfriend gave her boyfriend a present: it was a locket necklace with a picture of herself inside the locket.  I was taken aback because in the US, lockets necklaces are usually worn by women. I'm not sure if that's a trend in Korea now. But after watching the drama and listening to the lecture, I'm realizing that tradtional norms are being shifted as people watch Kdramas/movies and listen to Kpop. Because actors, actresses and musicians are so popular, whatever they use - like Gianna Jun using that lipstick color - are coveted by their fans/audiences.  Now, it's no longer just the make up that the fans want, they want to look like their idols and they can, to an extent, with the surgeries.  Also, by seeing their idols who also probably had aesthetic surgeries as well, the fans/audiences can see what worked and what didn't work and get ideas about how to change their face with make up or with surgery.  I think aesthetic surgery, because so many people are getting things done, no longer have a negative connotation about it; rather, it's becoming like make up or colored contact lens where people can go and get surgery and then remove or fix what they are not satisfied with by going to another doctor.  Aesthetic surgery has become common place, like buying make up.  As a result, it has become a huge business because people don't think it's a big deal to get something changed on their face forever. I also found it interesting that jaw surgery started as procedures for reconstructive surgery.  I remember reading something about BB cream being used for cream after laser surger and doctors realized that it provided coverage.  It's like Korean make up researchers and aesthetic surgeons take procedures or things that already existed for something else and repurpose them for beauty products or beauty procedures.