More Head-up-the-butt Ads
You’d think they’d learn, but they’re getting even more out of touch and even more comical–almost offensively so. Take this very sleek tourism ad highlighting … Read more
Chefs grapple with 'authentic' Asian vs. California cuisine
Is “authentic” just a synonym for “traditional,” and how does that color restaurant patrons’ impressions of an Asian-American restaurant’s menu offerings? This was one of … Read more
Review: Trader Joes's Bibimbap
The lastest of several prepared Korean dishes introduced recently by Trader Joe’s, a Monrovia, Calif.-based chain of grocery stores, is a frozen version of 비빔밥 … Read more
How to promote kimchi in America without inviting Americans
The South Korean consulate in San Francisco found a creative way of celebrating U.S. Independence Day this year by inviting the wives of other foreign … Read more
How to Avoid Jail Time Over a Restaurant Review
ATaiwanese blogger with a family name of Liu was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years of probation and was ordered to pay … Read more
Classic Post: Guidelines for Korean Burger Joints
In the past few years we’ve witnessed a bit of a burger renaissance in Korea. The flat discs sold by McDonald’s and Lotteria were getting thick makeovers by new restaurants. Now it looks like a new fancy burger chain opens each week. Some are awesome (Burger B). But many of them still don’t get it and are just jumping on a trend without thinking about its roots and meaning. You could say they’re over-Koreanizing a foreign food, but actually, the Koreans I know prefer the more American style burgers of Burger B and Chili King than the ones these other restaurants are pumping out.
WTF: Korean Costco Banchan
Old habits die hard. Sarah Lee at Seoul in the City brought this up the other day. Koreans love the food court at Costco. It’s … Read more
The Korea Herald stirs up debate over banchan
KwangJuYo Chief Executive Officer Cho Tae-kwon, a former restaurateur Korean media regularly consult on hansik (Korean cuisine), served up controversy in an interview with … Read more
Cho Tae-kwon's "Noblesse Oblige"
Our resident Korean food globalization blowhard is at it again. Just when I think he can’t say anything more hilariously outrageous, another newspaper fawns over … Read more
Head Still Embedded in Rectum
I’m conflicted a bit. I’ve gotten some attention from the Korean government. I even heard that the Blue House was reprinting some of … Read more