17.226 Premium Seafood Trio in Dried Scallop Sauce

Cycle 17 – Item 226

Post 6,070

19 (Wed) Aug 2026

Premium Seafood Trio in Dried Scallop Sauce

4.0

on Flight CI

-Somewhere Over the Pacific Ocean-

solo

Feathering the (Kid’s New) Nest: Day 1 of 9

• • Day 1 (17.226 Premium Seafood Trio in Dried Scallop Sauce)
  • Day 2 (17.227 Boston Lobster with Ginger & Scallions)
  • Day 3 (17.228 Vodka Sicilian Pizza)
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6
  • Day 7
  • Day 8
  • Day 9

In transit, on my way to Berkeley, flying into San Francisco via Taipei.  Having sent DJ off to college last fall (see generally 16.228 Korean Beef Short Rib with Vegetables Wraps) – after his freshman year, he’s moved out of the dorms and rented an apartment – I’m going back this fall to help him furnish it.  Though my parents didn’t do this for me, and I don’t recall any of my friends’ parents doing it for them – Gen Xers are famously independent in such matters – DJ seemed hopelessly lost on what needed to be done and utterly incapable of getting it done.  Still, I’m always happy for an excuse to visit Berkeley.

PRE-FLIGHT SNACK

– Korean Air Prestige Lounge East –

Happy to confirm my first impression of the dining options in Korean Air’s business class lounge (see most recently 16.277 Nasi Goreng Kampoeng).  They’ve even added a few new items, like chungmu gimbap.

LUNCH

– China Airlines CI 163 –

Taking China Airlines, which offered a really good deal for business class on Expedia.  A longer trip by around 5 hours on the way to, 7 hours on the way back (longer layover in TPE), but I’ve always been curious to try China Airlines, as well as the lounge in Taipei.

I’m flying out by myself today, and DJ will take a direct flight (on Korean Air) tomorrow.

Incidentally, W was supposed to join to us, but her ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application was denied.  [Note from the future: later, we realized that she’d applied with her old/expired passport.]

DINNER

– China Airlines CI 4 –

I’ve flown business class on 17 carriers, now including China Airlines, and this might have been the nicest seat in my experience, at least in terms of the finishings, though not necessarily space or comfort.

The dinner service was largely miss, yet hugely hit.  I was underwhelmed by the appetizers.  Then, the appearance of the main course didn’t look promising, but I was impressed upon first bite: lightly coated in a delicate sauce that enhanced the natural flavors of the seafood – the trio comprised cod + scallop + shrimp – as well as the mushrooms and napa cabbage, the tastes and textures were perfectly balanced.  One of the best dishes that I’ve eaten in business class.

“IN BETWEEN” SNACK

The late night snacks offered to business class passengers are always fun to explore, even if they’re not always that great.

BREAKFAST

For breakfast, I went with the “Oriental Style” option: congee with a range of sides.

At this point, the time in Seoul was 11:00, while the time in San Francisco was 19:00.

MIDNIGHT SNACK

BJ’s is an American restaurant.  Serves typical pub fare, as well as craft beers.  Part of a chain with over 215 locations.

SL is HL’s older sister.  Because HL was my best friend throughout high school, SL was sorta like my older sister.  The last time that I’d seen her was in 2007 (July 2), when I was passing through LA on my way to Boston.   A couple weeks later (July 15), while I was still in Boston, DJ was born 3 weeks premature, forcing me to scramble back to Korea (see generally 16.221 “Walnut Shrimp” (Candied Pecans with Jumbo Prawns)).  At the time, SJ was pregnant with her 2nd son Christian, who is starting Cal this fall – Go Bears!

After settling Christian into his dorm this afternoon – same as I’d done for DJ almost exactly 1 year ago (see generally 16.227 Original Tofu Soup – This Is Where I Leave You – she stuck around in the Bay Area to hang out with me before driving back to LA tomorrow.  Picking me up at the airport around 9pm, we went to BJ’s near SFO, the only place open in the area.  When it closed at midnight, we went back to my hotel and talked until 2am.  A total of 5 hrs, maybe more than all of the conversations that we’d had in the 40 years prior.  Anyway, it was gret to touch base.

(See BOOZE)