The Angry Korean

So, Valentine's Day isn't so much something we celebrate here at home; I'm pretty ambivalent about most holidays, and can skip most as well as not. This semester, since I'm teaching an evening class that coincided with Valentine's Day, my husband and I decided that it was a good an excuse the avoid the whole thing altogether and go out for for dinner tonight (really this was an excuse to visit The Angry Korean, which my husband really wanted to try).

We started with the fried tofu, which was served with scallion
sauce and sesame oil.

We both had the rice bowls - I had the chicken katsu (panko-crusted fried chicken with house katsu sauce and avocado-cilantro aioli), while my husband had the beef bulgogi; both rice bowls included a fried egg, two pieces of mandoo (a meat-filled Korean dumpling), Japchae noodles (stir-fried glass noodles), rice, and a salad; a kimchee sample and a house-made beef and daikon soup on the side.

my chicken katsu rice bowl

It was pretty awesome. Ed cleaned out his bowl and what remained of mine. (There was a lot of food.)

Tonkotsu

My parents, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew are visiting for Christmas, and today, being my sister-in-law's birthday, we went out for lunch at Tonkotsu, a ramen bar and that also serves shabu shabu (hot pot).

We started with a number of appetizers, including fried pork.
We also tried some excellent pork gyoza and
harumaki (veggie egg rolls), which I didn't get pictures of. 

We also had some fried chicken (but it was called something
more appetizing than that).

Each hot pot came with a lovely bowl of fresh vegetables, tofu, and udon noodles (at the bottom of the bowl); one then chose one's type of meat (one could choose a few different cuts of beef, pork, vegetables, even salmon) and type of broth.

A good way to get my veggies today.

I chose the beef belly.

Good grub was delicious.

Ria's Bluebird

Today is the last day of the conference that I came to town for, so after attending a last session this morning, my husband and I headed over to Cabbagetown for brunch at Ria's Bluebird before visiting  Oakland Cemetery. (We have weird ideas of "fun," I suppose.)

I ordered a "fat stack" of buttermilk pancakes (three pancakes).

Also: a homemade sausage patty and skillet potatoes.

Cuts Steakhouse

Still being in Atlanta, Georgia, until Sunday, my husband and I decided to have a very good dinner at Cuts Steakhouse this evening. (All this fine dining is difficult!)

I tried the goat cheese risotto fritters.

Of course my husband ordered the special bacon appetizer.

My husband ordered one of the specials, a steak with crab.
He was a very happy camper.

I had the lamb burger, which came with a side of fries.

I also ordered the pimento mac & cheese. (Because I love
mac & cheese. Apparently I'm still 12.)

Alma Cocina

I attended a meeting at a regional affiliate organization related to the international writing center conference this evening, after which a massive group of us (well, maybe about 20 of us) headed out to dinner at Alma Cocina.

Several of us shared this appetizer, which was my favorite
part of the meal: fried Chihuahua cheese with salsa Verde.

This was part of the salsa and guacamole tasting: chips and
fried plantains.

Quite a few of us also ordered the Masa fried Mississippi
catfish, which came with yellow Indian woman beans and
charred corn.

Fandangles

I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, for a conference, with my husband is tow. We arrived in town this afternoon, so after cooling off in our hotel room, we headed downstairs to one of the hotel restaurants, Fandangles, for dinner. I admit that our primary motivation for staying put was the weather: mugginess and heavy rain after a long day of travel made us lazy. I'm also not usually a fan of hotel restaurants - they're not bad, the food gets the job done (to so speak), but I prefer trying new places outside the hotel. That said, tonight's dinner was very good.

My husband and I shared a wedge salad.

We also shared some smoked chicken spring rolls...

...and the hummus sampler. (My husband, good
man that he is, ate most of these appetizers.)

I had the grown-up's grilled cheese sandwich, which came with
2-3 types of cheese, bacon, and basil; a cup of excellent
tomato soup, and fries. This was outstanding.

Oktoberfest 2018

Another year, and time for another Oktoberfest at Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah. This year, my parents came to visit and my husband and I were able to bring them with us. We had lots of good food, heard lots of good (loud) music, and even caught a live Alpenhorn performance!

I ate a lot, including Rouladen, which is effectively thinly
sliced beef stuffed with bacon, onions, mustard, and pickle.

I also had Spätzle (egg noodles) with gravy.

...and the obligatory Weißwurst on a pretzel roll.

We took a tram to the top of Hidden Peak Summit (elevation:
11,000 feet) to catch the Alpenhorn performance. The
restaurant atop the Summit has only been open since 2015,
and I hadn't been to the summit since before it opened, so
I tried some Käsespätzele (cheese noodles) with bacon and
onions.

And...there may have been a giant soft pretzel with beer cheese.