Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chambertin]

Warning: This can read as a blatant self pat on back

I went out for a visa interview today and while I was there wasting my time again, I decided to make it coincide with some self-gratification. There was a restaurant in town I had wanted to try for years but, had missed due to the length of the line, overlapping plans etc.

As I wait I strike up some small talk with the others in line, locals and tourists alike. I think we had a pretty good 1.5 hour wait for the vetted meal. As we approach the proprietor, who amidst the fame and status still sits at the counter day in and day out greeting customers and personally taking orders, I happen to notice a magazine on the wall.

It�s a Japanese magazine that probably went out of print years ago, but due to the name fits the restaurant perfectly.

I make a joke about it and the local pair recommended I mention it to the proprietor. As I wait my turn I listen to them banter with the proprietor about recent events in the neighborhood, family and holiday. As they do this, I run over a couple options for how to approach the translation.

Before I go further I have to say:
A.) I love to use my language skills (low as they may be) for something other than the narfing Anime geek song translation or the WoW buddy who needs to rename a character
B.) I�m a complete sucker for free food
C.) This is a store that protects the food experience over selling out franchises

When my turn comes I ask if he has had anyone reveal what the magazine actually was. He mentions that he does know as it�s true nature was obvious if opened, but no one had mentioned the fact yet, or translated any of the wording. (EDIT): The mag was in a glass frame with only the cover showing, so you cant just go over and discover the secret on your own.
So I shared with him the basic translation.
We then turned to a quick discussion about food, and what brought me there.
After that he decided to comp me part of the order as service for the translation. I refused 3 times as per custom (W), but it was a fun day for me and he seemed genuinely appreciative.

Recently a notorious TV food host had been there who has a penchant for world travel and the home country of said magazine. Thus many who could of or should have known what it was from all corners of the earth visit there. So you can imagine the pride and shock I felt that being the first person to translate and pass on this info with the reputation this restaurant has.

Whether it be masterfully rewarding customers, or a genuine first reveal I had a fantastic day and made a life long memory.
Additionally the food was worth many more hours of waiting. It is hard to do justice to the pure taste of this food in words.
Moreover, I�m just so happy that people like this exist in the world and they are able do keep doing what makes them happy, as they are also doing what makes the rest of the world happy at the same time.

[warren pease]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I've had a bit of hard luck lately and was beginning to feel like an idiot and a loser. However, thanks to you and this post I now realize that, as things go, I'm not really doing that bad.

[phoneboothface]

Ahhhhhh you're saying he's a loser! Wow I get it.

op sorry man I don't know wtf your story is about.

[Chambertin]

Well, I am a loser and have been since 1984, although it did take a while to notice.

The point of the post was to share the story and find out what people thought of it, good or bad. I had a fine day and wanted to share some positive aspects of it.
That being said I left it kinda vague as I dont want to cause any trouble for anyone involved. If you are into the food scene (especially the TV part) I think I left enough clues to figure out where all this happened.

Once again: Had a good day � sharing the aspects � looking for reaction. Sorry about a couple vague details, but that�s on purpose.

That should also reveal motive number two: Who else knows about this place, and what do they think of it respective of the fame it gets.

For the rest who just want to poke fun at me, as I said, since 1984. By all means continue, its nothing new.

[endo]

[Kikomom]

- You went for your visa interview, they told you to come back after lunch--typical. (How'd that go btw? Write a post about that.)

- You went for lunch at a famous restaurant that you've always wanted to try but won't tell us where because you want us to guess. I'm guessing it's in Chicago near the Korean Embassy? You're from Michigan, right? My second guess is you're from Philly and you were in NYC. (I can't remember which)

- The restaurateur holds court at the counter and has a framed magazine on the wall. Japanese Hustler? Iron Chef?

Until you tell us what language the magazine is in and what the ethnicity of the food you are raving about--Philly cheesesteaks? Chicago pizza? --and the significance of the decor (wall hangings), NOTHING about this post makes any sense except that you totally enjoyed your two hour lunch waiting for your visa. Now I know it's not cheesesteaks, those things get served up on street corners--in Philthydelphia, not NY.

You did get your visa, right?

[Kikomom]

Ok, I just got the hint in the title... weiner. Coney Island hotdog?

Since you say he doesn't do franchise, it can't be Skyline Chili.

[Chambertin]

I do understand leaving out the resurant was kinda dumb.
The internet cant do anything really. I just didnt feel like having a restaurant I respected before the visit, and respected much much more after being the victim of a Dave's-ing down.
Also it was kinda fun to have it as a quiz.

It was Hot Doug's In Chicago
Very Close Kikomom!

I had these
Blueberry-Infused Venison Sausage with Raspberry Mustard and St. Paulin Cheese
Red Bell Pepper Wild Boar Sausage with Sun-Dried Tomato Mustard and Pistachio Pecorino
Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris
Chicago-Style Hot Dog with all the trimmings + chili
and the
DUCK FAT FRIES

[Kikomom]

The only TV chef I know that uses duck fat is Gordon Ramsey. Yes, Chef!

I had actually googled NYC hot dog restaurants and came up with Nathan's and Sabrett, but they're franchised too. :p

Fries and FOUR sausages? Foie Gras dogs??? Man, that's a walking heart attack!

OK, we got the sexy/killer weiner part down, I suppose that only someone who's been there will know the curious mag? Epicurious in Japanese? And don't forget to tell us about the interview. I swear, they must swear you guys to secrecy or something.

[Chambertin]

I guess this is a lesson to me: Don�t post after 16 hours of driving and 3 beers. I left out way too many important details by accident and for some reason thought I shouldn�t put the stores name down. I was way out of it.

The magazine was an old Japanese softcore porn magazine, Hot Dog. It looks perfectly innocent as it�s just a pretty girls face on the front. Yet if you read Japanese it says �This little cuties is gonna show it all.�

As the story said, unless someone from Japan was too embarrassed to mention it, I was the first person to understand the truth behind the cover.

As for the interview it was the usual hold a mirror under the foreigners nose test for a private school. "tell me about you, your work history, you experiences in a foreign country" I think it lasted 5 minuets and the guy interviewed two of us at the same time.
The whole process was more of a formality than anything.

[friendoken]

People have been making fun of the OP since 1984

That's 25 years of mockery

Let me see here...25 years of abuse + a clear lack of self confidence because the OP claims he does not care + an obvious death wish due to the OP's outrageous diet = TED BUNDY!!!!!!!!!

LOOK OUT