Cycle 3 – Item 184
7 (Sat) July 2012
Chili Jack Reindeer Sandwich
3.0
by me
at the Cabin
-Changchon, Seowon, Hoengseong, Gangwon, Republic of Korea-
with W and DJ, MtG, AHY + KIT, CJH + KKH, CSW, HWS, LHS + YYH, KJA and family
CBD 2nd Anniversary: Day 1 of 2
- Day 1 (3.184 Chili Jack Reindeer Sandwich)
- Day 2 (3.185 Baeksuk)
To celebrate the 2nd anniversary of our camping group, we elected not to camp out but assembled on the grounds of my family’s new cabin. Given the ever-growing popularity of camping in Korea these days, and this being the peak of the summer vacation season, the thought of mingling with the teeming masses at a commercial campsite was unbearable. And backpacking wasn’t an option because the families were involved. The cabin, offering all the comforts of home plus the tranquility of the countryside, all to ourselves, including an adjacent stream flush with a week’s worth of heavy monsoon rainfall, was an ideal destination.
During the past year, the group has grown significantly in number. We started out as 7 core members: CJH, KKH, LHS, YYH, KIT, MtG, and me = Generation 1.0. Plus 4 part-timers: W + DJ, AHY + J (KIT’s family) = Generation 1.5. We now have 6 additional members: CSW, HCY + HSE, JD + YI, NSJ = Generation 2.0. Hopefully by this time next year, IZ will have become an official part-timer = Generation 2.5. Looking back at last year’s 1st anniversary, I’m reminded that MtG had introduced us then to NSJ (Soo Jung) (see 2.199 Monkfish Karaage), his new girlfriend at the time, who became his wife a couple months ago (see 3.128 Grilled Pork Chops in Mario’s Kick-Ass Barbecue Sauce).
For the first time, we also decided to split the bill evenly on all the food and drink. While I was responsible for obtaining the bulk of the provisions, others could bring discretionary items and get reimbursed for the charges. Those of us who tend to spend a lot individually on these gatherings were fully supportive of the cost-sharing initiative, whereas a single dissenting voice grumbled that the proposed starting budget of 50,000 won per person seemed excessive. 50,000 won for lunch, dinner, booze and snacks, and breakfast didn’t seem excessive to anyone else, especially since we wouldn’t be paying camping fees. (With an additional lunch and dinner the following day, we ended up paying about 80,000 won each.)
Thus, I found myself playing quartermaster, comptroller, executive chef, groundskeeper, and landlord for 12 adults and 3 kids. Nice work if you can get it. Fortunately, with this particular group of people, all of whom are willing and able to pitch in without being asked, the job was much easier.
Speaking of the newlyweds, their month-long camping honeymoon across Northern Europe had them eating like the locals, which apparently meant eating the indigenous wildlife, such as reindeer and moose, rendered into sausages. Having brought some home as souvenirs, MtG showed up today with half loafs of each in contribution for the occasion.
I made sandwiches. Both types were reminiscent of beef salami, so I went with a hot hoagie: thinly sliced meat, topped with pepper jack and sautéed onions, stuffed into a mayo-mustard-spread baguette, and grilled on a covered frying pan until the bread was toasty and the cheese was oozy. I also added a dollop of sambal olek chili sauce to counterpunch the meat’s inherent gaminess, which had been intensified through the heating process. It worked. An instant classic. Another signature dish. The featured sandwich was reindeer, which I found to be a bit more to my liking for its slightly lighter and less gamy flavor.
(See also FOOD GLOSSARY)
(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)