Kings of the Road

I would like to thank Michaela for introducing me to the deliciousness of Korean food. Last Tuesday, Larry and I went with her to Songbird Korean Restaurant in Tyson’s Corner, VA to have a farewell dinner before she leaves D.C. to live in Vermont for six months. (Good luck, Kala!) The restaurant didn’t look like much, but the food was soooo good, and I can’t believe I’ve only now discovered Korean food! (Although my friend Kim did give me the names of two Korean restaurants to try in Annandale at least a year ago when we worked together…but Larry and I never made it there because Annandale just seemed so far. Silly me.) Before Tuesday, the only “authentic” Korean food I have ever had was when I tutored a Korean student, and her grandmother would make me fried egg sandwiches with strawberry jelly inside. I don’t know if they eat egg-jelly sandwiches in Korea, or if she thought she was doing me a favor by making me an “American” snack.

At Songbird, we ordered two types of BBQ and bibimbap, a rice dish with egg, meat, and veggies. I’m so glad Michaela is familiar with Korean food, or I would have had no idea where to begin. Once we ordered, a whirlwind of activity began at our table–they placed about 15 different little dishes filled with kimchi, salads, and other cold plates. And then the server fired up the BBQ grill in the center of the table, and we got our own little cooking show, watching him slice, dice and grill the meat, onions and mushrooms. But thank god, he didn’t do any cheesy tricks a la Benihana’s Japanese Steakhouse, like tossing knives and throwing shrimp at people. This is the real deal. And strangely, I didn’t see strawberry jelly and egg sandwiches on the menu.

I loved everything, especially the soy/garlic paste that they gave us for dipping. Where can I get some of that? Because I want to dip everything in it.

Why do I love Asian food so much? I think it has to do with the fact that my mom always wished I was really Chinese.