Cycle 16 – Item 228

Post 5,707

21 (Thu) August 2025

Korean Beef Short Rib with Vegetables Wraps

2.0

by Korean Air

(KE 024)

-Somewhere Over the Pacific Ocean-

solo

Sending the Kid Off to College (The Cal Handover): Day 8 of 8

• • Day 1 (16.221 “Walnut Shrimp” (Candied Pecans with Jumbo Prawns))
  • Day 2 (16.222 DeliciousHot Dog)
  • Day 3 (16.223 Roasted Duck (Half))
  • Day 4 (16.224 Seared Baby Lobster (Nigirizushi))
  • Day 5 (16.225 Wintermelon & Seafood Soup – Go Bears!)
  • Day 6 (16.226 Fettucine … Anchoïade – Let’s Celebrate in Style)
  • Day 7 (16.227 Original Tofu Soup – This Is Where I Leave You)
  • Day 8 (16.228 Korean Beef Short Rib with Vegetables Wraps)

In transit, flying back to Korea after a week in the San Francisco Bay Area.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: successfully transitioned DJ into his new life as a freshman at the University of California – aka Cal (to those who know) aka UC Berkeley (to those who don’t): signed up for a local mobile phone number, opened a checking account, bought pillows for his dorm room.  After that fateful visit to Berkeley last summer, which I’d dared to hope would inspire DJ to apply later that fall, then get accepted and enroll in the spring – meanwhile, donating to the Buddha for Academic Achievement (see 13.094 Just Regular Eomuk), asking a priest for his blessing (see 15.256 Pretty Jeon), erecting a shrine to the Golden Bear Gods (see 16.082 Kongnamul Scallop Guk), and delivering a presentation to steer him in the right direction (see 16.083 Tangsuyuk) – the dream came true.  A graduate of Cal myself – Go Bears! – I was thrilled to buy a “Cal Dad” t-shirt.

4 nights at Hahn’s, 2 nights at Berkeley, 1 final night at Hahn’s – thanks, Hahn!!

BRUNCH

With a business class ticket on Korean Air, I was invited to the Golden Gate Lounge.

At the risk of sounding spoiled – which I am, admittedly, though in my defense business class is still painfully expensive for me, so I want the biggest bang for the buck – it was one of the least impressive business class lounges that I’ve ever experienced.

No big deal, however, as I’m usually not much in the mood for food and drink in the morning, especially when sick.

SHOPPING

In the duty free store, I was sauntering past the watch display and discovered a timepiece that screamed out to me: Bell & Ross BR 03-92, with dark grey dial and olive green nubuck strap.  Always been a fan of the brand, primarily for their distinctive square case (inspired by airplane panels), also for their sharp legibility (designed for pilots) – though I’d never really encountered one that felt right.  But this time, the colorway was perfect, both in general and to match what I happened to be wearing at the time.  Further, it was 30% off, down to around $2,500 – irresistible.  And I felt deserving of a little self-gift for a job well done.

FIRST MEAL SERVICE

The first meal was served around 1500 (San Francisco time), so somewhere between lunch and dinner.

The ssambap on Asiana Airlines was far superior, even on short haul flights, nearly a decade ago (see for example 6.321 Ssambap) – in fact, the ssambap is what keeps Asiana ranked one spot higher than KAL on GMTD’s business class dining rankings.

SECOND MEAL SERVICE

The second meal was served around 1500 (Seoul time, the next day), so somewhere between lunch and dinner.

So sick, and tired, I didn’t take advantage of the business class F&B offerings, just nibbled at the first meal, slept (no mid-flight boozing), nibbled at the second meal.

But thank god it was business class, giving me the desperately needed luxury of stretching out and helping to alleviate the sick, and the tired, a bit.

(See BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGING)

(See IN-FLIGHT DINING)

(See BUSINESS CLASS DINING)

(See GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See BOOZE)