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When in Korea. . .
Published: 10/23/2007 3:17 PM
Last Modified: 10/23/2007 3:17 PM


When the Army stationed me in South Korea, I heard the same speech that I suspect all military men (with apologies to the fighting women of today's Army) have received upon their first steps on non-European foreign soil. It went something like this:

Don't go to the city, town or village. If you do go, don't talk to the women, don't visit loan sharks, don't deal in black-market goods, don't get drunk, don't do drugs, stay out of fights and above all, don't eat the food.

Right.

Do I really have to tell you how long it took the average soldier to break most of those commandments? Except for the last one, that is. Many feared the odd-looking food, the possible sources of its ingredients, the cooking conditions, etc.

I admit I strayed. I found such dishes as bulgogi, chopchae, yakimondu and bibimbap fascinating and delicious. I took as many meals in the village as I could on the occasional weekend pass.

In the process, I met new friends, including a man who was a skilled cook and black-market entrepreneur. His 5-year-old daughter loved the cans of Mandarin oranges I brought them from the Army PX.

I lived through it all with no apparent damage, and it served to help open my mind to other cultures, other people, other foods that seem strange and fearful until you get to know them better.

In Tulsa, Sushi Train has a small section of Korean dishes, and Korean Garden has a full menu of traditional fare. Don't be afraid to give them a try.



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Table Talk

Tulsa World restaurant critic Scott Cherry is in his second tour of duty with the Tulsa World. He was a sports writer during his first stop, covering college football and basketball. Since returning to the World in 1992, he has been the food writer and now restaurant critic and wine columnist.

Cherry Picks, the Tulsa World restaurant guide, is where you can best see all of his reviews, formatted for your phone, tablet or desktop computer. Check it out at tulsaworld.com/cherrypicks.

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