당신 좋아한다 그것을 가진 튀김을 하고자 했는가? (Would you like Fries with that?)

In the past ten months I done a lot of traveling, I’ve been to Akron, Ohio; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Oslo, Norway; Dubia, United Emirates; Posan, Korea; Ulsan, Korea and in a few days, Yantai, China.

In my travels I’ve gotten a good education. The first thing I already new but only on faith but now I know through experience that Texas is home.

The second thing that I learned was something I thought I knew then I found out I was wrong. If I were to ask you, “What is the most common food in the world?” you might have believed as I did that the correct answer is “Rice”.

In volume, rice probably is the most common food available in the world, but I have learned that most consistently available food around the world with very little variation is a Big Mac from McDonalds. I’ve seen the Golden Arches everywhere I’ve been and many times a Burger King nearby and occasionally a Pizza Hut.

Anyone that knows me knows that I have seldom darkened the door of a McDonalds. I don’t really like their burgers and if I’m going to eat a fast food hamburger it’s going to be a cheeseburger with jalapenos from Whataburger, that great burger chain based in Corpus Christi, Texas since 1952.

At home I’ve not been to a McDonalds in years but when I travel overseas I usually eat at McDonalds at least once. The reason I do is because when you are in a foreign land there is something about those golden arches and a Big Mac in a box that reminds me of home. Step into a McDonalds off a street in Ulsan, Korea and you will see the same signage and goofy cartoon characters that you would see in Anycity, U.S.A.

It is kind of sad that the U.S. exports to the world some of the unhealthiest food in the world, but then we have also developed and exported the latest technology in heart bypass surgery.

We’ve had a lot of experience in both areas.

Chopsticks

Our Korean host took us to fine Chinese Restaurant on the top floor of the Hyundai Department store in Ulsan, Korea. The table was finely set with white linens, small white teacup, a large spoon and a pair of chopsticks.

Our server came out and served steaming hot tea that was about the color of a brown chicken egg, just a little bit of brown color to it. It was almost too hot to drink but I drank it. Then out came a small bowl of what I would call “relish” but not finely chopped.

I’ve always been taught to use the right tool for job, don’t use a pipe wrench for a hammer (unless you just can’t resist), don’t use a screw driver for a pry bar, and don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. That said, I picked up my chopsticks attempted to eat my “relish” and although the young man sitting next to me was thoroughly entertained with my lack of chopstick skill, I thought I did well.

The next course was a bowl of “stuff” which contents was not fully known to me, except for some small shrimp. As I pick through the different bits and pieces with my chopsticks there were some black pieces that I could not pick up. I notice that my colleague, who had lived many years in the Far East, was not eating the black pieces, so I quit trying. We discussed each course in an educational sort of way and the conversations turned to the black pieces. I don’t remember the Korean name for the black pieces but I think loosely translated it means, “One who eats off the bottom of the fish bowl”. I don’t think that it was catfish.

The dishes, I think there were eight courses, became more difficult for me to manage with what I regarded as an improper tool, chopsticks, but I was pretty determined to complete the meal in a traditional manner. Sometime during the long meal I think my gracious Korean host must have signaled the server because she brought me a fork and a “Coke Light”.

It was a wonderful meal with new friends. Even with the language barrier we got to know each other much better.

Cheese Burger at 37,000 feet

The Scene:
Continental Flight 40 Houston to Newark, New Jersey.

The Altitude: 37,000 feet

The Time:
2 hours into the flight.

The Question:
What would you like for lunch, a chicken salad, or a Cheese Burger?

I could not believe my ears. I started having flash backs of the time I ordered "Mexican Food" at a Traverse City, Michigan Italian restaurant. (That is another story in itself.)

Continental Airlines is now serving cheese burgers? Did they have a little grill hidden behind a latched silver door in the galley? It sounded like a crime was about to be committed against one of my food staples. To me Cheese Burgers represent a balanced meal originating from the food groups: bread, vegetables, dairy, beef and onions. Continental Airlines was about to cause irreparable harmed.

I've risk my arteries and taste buds to test some excellent burgers. I was there for you to test the "Watts Burger in Odessa, Browns Drive Inn in Kerrville and many others. I felt it was my "duty" to make the sacrifice on your behalf.

I tried it. I would not recommend it. However I did not get food poisoning. (but I think I'm growing a sixth toe.)

TexasBob
(On the Road)

RR Starr Restaurant - Concan, Texas

I found another diamond in the rough. The RR Starr Restaurant in Concan, Texas. Click here to read my review.

TexasBob