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The Korean Staple: Kimchi

In Stories, Travel by Mark MaskerLeave a Comment

Kimchi (also known as gimchi) and Korean food in general are not cuisines that I have experienced often as a Native New Mexican. Most of the kimchi I had tried were American variations and therefore I was not entirely sure what kimchi was supposed to taste like. When I found out I’d be relocating to South Korea at the end of last year one of the things that I was most excited about was the opportunity to sample some authentic Korean food, including the national dish, kimchi. Once I arrived in Korea I found the cuisine to be somewhat intimidating, with all kinds of smells and flavors that my palate was not used to. Kimchi in Korea has a much more aromatic (also could be described as strong) smell than what I’ve had in the U.S. and it is everywhere you go.

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West Coast BBQ Classic at the Queen Mary

In Event Coverage, News by Mark MaskerLeave a Comment

Sixty-two teams crossed tongs against one another at this KCBS-sanctioned barbecue brawl. Attendees filled the joint, buying food tickets so they could sample some of the same great barbecue enjoyed by the judges. Admission was pretty fair in my opinion; fifteen bucks seems to be the going rate to browse vendor booths between bouts of stuffing yourself silly on pork and chicken. This was a one-day event on Saturday, May 10th and I really hope next year is just as good.

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Burn! Tested: The Grillight Spatula

In Gadgets & Tech, Stories by Mark MaskerLeave a Comment

Just to be clear, I like any hand tool that reminds me of a lightsaber. That’s part of the appeal of the Grillight spatula, here. At least, for me. Honestly, if it had a little speaker and made lightsaber noises every time you flipped a burger, I’d grill in a full Darth Vader costume for the rest of my geeky little life. Grillight doesn’t. What it does do, surprisingly well, is illuminate your food while flipping it over hot grates.