My first web page from 1998?

Sam Mee Korean BBQ
*private tea rooms available*

Menu

APPETIZERS
Bin-Dae-Duck.............$3.50
fried Korean-style bean pancake
Mandoo.............$3.50
fried Korean dumplings
Steam Mandoo.............$3.50
steamed Korean dumplings
Tempura.............$5.50
deep-fried shrimp and vegetables
Yang-Num Tofu.............$4.50
steamed tofu served with sauce
Kim Bop.............$5.50
seaweed roll with rice and vegetables
Rice cake.............$5.95

SOUP
Miso soup.............$1.50
Soybean paste soup
Spicy beef soup.............$2.50
beef meatball soup
Wonton Soup.............$2.50
Beef dumpling soup

TEMPURA
Shrimp tempura.............$9.50
Deep fried shrimp and vegetables
Beef tempura.............$8.50
Deep fried beef and vegetables
Squid tempura.............$8.95
Deep fried squid and vegetables
Vegetable tempura.............$7.50
Deep fried vegetables

TERIYAKI
Steak Teriyaki.............$10.95
Steak with teriyaki sauce
Chicken Teriyaki.............$8.95
Chicken with teriyaki sauce
Shrimp Teriyaki.............$11.50
Shrimp with teriyaki sauce
Salmon Teriyaki.............$10.95
Broiled salmon with teriyaki sauce

NOODLE
Shrimp Udon.............$6.50
Shrimp with Japanese noodles and soup
Vegetable Udon.............$6.50
Vegetables with Japanese noodles and soup
Tempura Udon.............$6.50
Deep-fried Shrimp with Japanese noodles and soup

FRIED RICE
Shrimp.............$7.25
Pork.............$6.50
Beef.............$6.50
Chicken.............$6.50

KOREAN DISHES
Kimchee Jigae
Sam Mee Jung Sik.............$12.50
Korean homestyle complete dinner served with Garbi or
Bulgogi and assorted vegetables, fish, soup, rice and kimchi
Kimchee Jigae.............$7.50
Spicy kimchee boiled with beef and vegetables
Tofu Jigae.............$7.50
Spicy Tofu boiled with beef and vegetables
Dan Jang Jigae.............$7.50
Dan jang boiled with beef and vegetables
Mandoo Gook.............$7.50
Korean Dumplings in mild delicate soup
Duk Gook.............$7.50
Soup with ricecake and seasoned meat and vegetables
Duk Mandoo Gook.............$7.95
Korean Dumplings & ricecake in mild delicate soup
Yuk Gae Jang.............$7.95
Hot & spicy boiled beef soup with vegetables
Garbi Tang.............$8.50
Beef-rib soup
Bibim Bop.............$7.95
Rice mixed with beef, vegetables and fried egg
Stone Bowl Bibim Bop.............$8.50
Rice cooked in a stone bowl with beef, vegetables and fried egg
Tang Su Yuk.............$8.95
Sweet and Sour pork
Chop Chae.............$7.95
Thin vermicelli noodle mixed with beef and vegetables
Bindaeduck Bockum.............$8.95
Fried Korean pancake made with meat, vegetables and ground bean

COLD NOODLE
Bibim Nyeng Myun.............$7.95
Spicy cold noodle
Mul Nyeng Myun.............$6.95
cold soup noodle

JUN KOREAN PANCAKE
Gochu Pajun.............$7.50
Korean pancake made with pepper, green onion and meat
Allmur Pajun.............$12.95
Korean seafood pancake

FISH STEW
Joe Gae Tang.............$8.50
Clam stew
Daegu Maiuntang.............$8.95
Spicy boiled fish in hot soup
Haemool Jeongol.............$19.50 (TWO ORDERS)
Mild spicy soup with seafood and vegetables

MEAT DISHES
Bulgogi
Bulgogi.............$9.95
Thin slices of beef marinated in special sauce
Garbi.............$10.50
Beef ribs marinated in special sauce
Je Yuk Kui.............$8.50
Broiled pork in special sauce
Chicken Bulgogi.............$8.50
Broiled chicken with hotsauce
Mongolian Beef.............$8.95

FISH DISHES
Nak Ji Bok Kum.............$9.95
Spicy octopus & vegetables with hot sauce
O-ging-o Bok Kum.............$8.50
Spicy squid & vegetables with hot sauce
Shrimp Bok Kum.............$8.95
Shrimp & vegetables with hot sauce
Domee Tee Kim.............$16.50
Deep fried red snapper with sweet sauce
Domee Kui.............$16.50
Broiled red snapper with special hot sauce
Ko-dong-o Kui.............$8.50
Sauteed mackerel
Kongchee Kui.............$8.50
Broiled sardine

Combination
Combination of Chop Chae, Bulgogi, Galbi, Yakidori,
Soup, Mandoo and assorted side dishes
(serves two).............$35.00

Sam Mee Korean BBQ
3370 N. Clark
Chicago IL 60654
phone: (773) 525-5050
Map to Sam Mee

BUSINESS HOURS
MONDAY - THURSDAY 4:00-10:30pm
FRIDAY 4:00-Midnight
SATURDAY Noon-Midnight
SUNDAY Noon-10:00pm
design by Rick Vaughn

RESTAURANT REVIEW
By The Plaid Adder plaidder@mindspring.com
Sam Mee Korean Restaurant Somewhere on North Clark, near the El
Sam Mee has an unprepossessing exterior: a sort of sad-looking sign, purely functional storefront, and not much snazzy when you look in the windows. Inside, it’s spare, but clean, well-lit and in repair (unless you want to count the sort of peeling wallpaper to be found in some of the private rooms in the back, but that’s not visible from the main dining room…more on that later). I mention all of this just because if you were looking for it, you might miss it; and you shouldn’t do that. Korean food is less well-known and widely-consumed than Chinese or Japanese, both cuisines with which it obviously has some affinities; but that’s not because it’s not up to the same standard. My introduction to Korean food was a dinner put together by a friend of mine’s parents on the night that I and the rest of the bridal crew arrived to begin the monumental task of constructing her wedding. For the next several days we worked like dogs, doing things like arranging the flowers (there is still a picture of me somewhere sawing the ends of the stems off a 50-pack of roses because I have to get them all recut and into water before I get into the rental car and drive off to pick up another shift of visitors at what is now Reagan International Airport…but I digress). But that’s all right, because that meal stands out as one of the great culinary moments of my life. (The wedding was also a beautiful experience.) So I was pretty psyched when a friend of mine introduced us to Sam Mee, which we intend to patronize frequently and with gusto.
I have to say it’s the only Korean restaurant we’ve been to yet here, but we keep going back, so it must be good. The menu includes a lot of stuff that we’re not woman enough to try yet—which for us means that it is based around either an animal or portion of an animal that we are not used to thinking of as food. (Given popular misconceptions about Asian food I hasten to point out that none of this involves animals we think of as pets—I mean ox feet and things like that.) However, it includes a number of vegetarian and beef/chicken based items suitable for the timid. But whatever you do, if you go there, you gotta get bibim bop.

I say this not just because it’s fun to order. Bibim bop is a whole slew of ingredients, including pork, rice, many vegetables, and a fried egg, that are dumped into a bowl with some sauce and mashed up together into a mixture which you then eat. I know it sounds nasty, but it’s not; it’s fantastic. I warn y’all that it is spicy, and that furthermore it’s a spicy that sneaks up on you. You go through the first plateful thinking, "This isn’t spicy at all, she must just have thought we were typical Indianans to be warning us about it," and then after a certain point you stop eating and say, "I think I’ll just drink water for a while." Our other favorite thing is bin dae duck bokum, described as a "mung bean pancake" with vegetables and spicy sauce. It also is spicy, but it also is mighty tasty.
In fact, if you’re a spicephobe, Korean probably just isn’t going to work that well for you; even the condiments they put out on the table are pretty hot. They come in six little bowls, and except for the dried fish (which I’ve tried, but found a little too…dry) they work very well with the meal. It’s kim chi, fish, soybeans, seaweed, spiced potatoes, and one other thing I can’t remember.
So, the food is good. But. The real attraction at Sam Mee is the seating arrangements.
Well, perhaps not everyone shares this opinion. But we were very excited to discover when we showed up by ourselves the second time around that there are these little rooms in the back that you can have all to yourselves. You take your shoes off and leave them in the hallway, then go sit on these low benches surrounding a table. The rooms have sliding doors you can use to close them off if you want privacy (although this also means that you forgo the attentions of the wait staff). So, not only do you get to have your own little secluded nook all to yourself, but, since you have already taken your shoes off, you can play some serious footsie.
So, as far as I’m concerned, this makes Sam Mee the ideal spot—great food, excellent service (around when you need them, not in your face when you don’t, and very friendly and helpful) and a place to get mushy. The only drawback is that the romantic possibilities represented by the private rooms are somewhat counteracted by the spiciness of the food—spicy food demands respect and attention, and after a while the sensation of having your mouth and throat on fire can interfere with the others you may be interested in experiencing. But even if mushiness is not something you look for in a dinner experience, it’s still a good place to go for compelling food served by competent people.

Jack Abramoff on Lobbying: 'Look, This Is Bribery' | The Nation

How could you sell out the kind and wonderful people of the Mariana Islands, who hired you and trusted you, Jack? Maybe you should fly back to Saipan on your own dime and stop at every household in every village, asking forgiveness. A pig for every fiesta might not be a bad idea. Also you might want to contribute some of your ill gotten wealth to the upkeep of the schools and hospitals there.

Filipino food in South Seattle

When I arrived in Seattle in November 2010, I noticed there seemed to be a dearth of Filipino restaurants in the area. All the conversations on Yelp, Chowhound and the like seemed to indicate that Filipinos in metro Seattle either cooked at home or went to catered parties, but there were no eateries as such (except for Oriental Mart + Kitchenette in Pike Place Market, which seems to be closed due to construction). But when I found out that Filipino supermarket chain Seafood City had not only opened a branch in south suburban Tukwila, but also brought along the Manila-based chain restaurants Jollibee, Chowking, Tokyo Tokyo and Red Ribbon Bakery.... well, I for one would have to check it out.

After looking at all the available choices, I opted for Chowking. They specialize in Filipino-style Chinese food, with some local specialties as well. Chowking was my usual choice when I was in Manila. 

I liked their menu at this location; of particular interest to me is the fact that they serve breakfast all day, and all breakfast orders come with egg, garlic rice and boneless bangus (a native milkfish). After much deliberation, I chose the pork adobo with garlic rice and pancit, and a side of calamansi (native lime) juice.

I actually found the food at this branch of Chowking to be pretty good. They were actually my favorite chain fast food place back in the Phils. The adobo had just the right flavor and texture, with hints of vinegar, soy sauce, and pepper. The pancit was perfect too. The garlic rice was the only thing that was unusual, it was just regular rice with toasted garlic on top, and was sort of dry, but when i mixed the pork with it it took on a new life and got that good slightly oily texture that good garlic rice should have. I almost ordered desert but I was too full. For 50 cents more you can have mango or calamansi juice with your meal instead of soda. I was very satisfied with my choice here.

See more reviews of Chowking at http://www.yelp.com/biz/chowking-tukwila.
See more of my reviews at http://rickv.yelp.com/

Goose Island gets it's due

Down In One
by Roger Protz, The Guardian (UK)

The United States is currently enjoying a revolution in craft brewing with more than 1,300 "micro" breweries. Their sales grew by 16% last year and they now enjoy a market share of more than 10%. Many of these "micros" are extremely big by British standards: Sierra Nevada in Chico, California, for example, produces 800,000 barrels a year. Its Pale Ale and India Pale Ale are sold in Britain.

Prohibition in the 1920s and 30s destroyed a brewing industry with a rich heritage of British and German-style beers. Only a handful of giants, led by Anheuser-Busch with Budweiser, saturated the vast market afterwards with thin and insipid interpretations of lager. The label on a bottle of Bud, for example, announces it is brewed from the finest rice, barley malt and hops. Rice is tasteless and sums up the beer. Other giant breweries use large amounts of cheap corn.

In 1965, a beer aficionado named Fritz Maytag bought the ailing Anchor Steam Brewery in San Francisco and fired the first shots in the second American revolution. The success of his beers encouraged others to open small commercial plants. Some were enthusiastic followers of the Campaign for Real Ale in Britain; others of German descent have fashioned lagers of such quality they should bring
a blush to Budweiser's cheeks. Today the likes of Brooklyn Brewery in New York City, Pike and Redhook in Seattle, Rogue in Newport, Oregon, and Samuel Adams in Boston are a power in the land. And Goose Island IPA from Chicago, on sale in Britain, may just be the best beer in the world.

Here's a great way to start the New Year - put simply, this is one of the finest new beers I have tasted for some time. Goose Island is a micro-brewery in Chicago - I've visited and revelled in the beers, and now, thankfully, Safeway is making this IPA available here. Brewed with awesome dedication to the English style of the early 19th century, it uses just pale malt and a massive dose of hops. The hops in question are American Cascade, English Fuggles and Styrian Goldings from Slovenia, with American Centennial used for 'dry hopping' - which means adding hops after fermentation, to deepen the aroma and palate. Those hops create 70 units of bitterness, around twice the rate for a typical English bitter.

This 5.9% beer has an intense aroma of sultana fruit and spicy hops, with tart fruit, juicy malt and bitter hops in the mouth, while the finish is dominated by a rich fruitiness reminiscent of blood oranges, balanced by a quinine-like bitterness from the hops. The beer is filtered but not pasteurised. And it's a snip at £1.29 for a 35.5cl bottle.

I'm Forever Your's Faithfully....

(reposted from Saipan Middle Road)

Jul 18, 2009

'Brings back memories whenever the band, Journey, sings this song...

Yet, it couldn't stop me to wonder what had happened when the Juan-Galvin campaign manager jumped over the other party's fence, so I've heard and read. This makes me think, is the Heinz-Arnold tandem sure that the island's Republicans will really go and vote for them? Or, how are they going to know for sure that the Juan-Galvin supporters will have their votes this coming elections?

As we've said before, if the islands want the current administration to change, why divide the opposition?

I personally see that the green color will still be the fad this year. Of course, I could be wrong too...

Post by On Saipan at 2:27 AM

---

Tell it like it is said...

Saipan Middle Road -- I hope you don't mind me posting some quotes that came from various individuals commenting on Wendy Doromal's website. I just thought they might be relevant here too.

***

"Being an incumbent doesn't automatically mean you are that steady hand that is needed. Being an incumbent doesn't mean you are a man of integrity."

**
"That steady hand you speak of has been guiding the CNMI into the worst situation it has been in the last 30 years."
**
"We need a real leader to take the helm and turn this ship around. A real leader with integrity that awards people based on merit not on political favors."
**

"VOTE FOR FITIAL IF YOU LIKE:

1. a know-it-all dictator who does not respect the law, legislature or people. No siree, only King Fitial knows what is good for the CNMI.

2. a power-hungry manipulator in charge who will cut hours and jobs and at the same time spend on ridiculous lawsuits.

3. side deals with Koreans investors

4. no integrity, lots of schemes

5. someone who will drain the coffers to promote his agenda whether endorsed by the people or not...

6. completely unqualified, unscrupulous, and/or ball-less policy advisors and department heads running the government

7. tens of millions in taxpayer money (federal or local) mysteriously vanishing (poof -- gone!) and totally unaccounted for

8. weak, demoralized, incapacitated law enforcement attorneys and officers

9. an impotent and illegitimate acting AG (no confirmed or nominated AG for almost a year)

10. lots of "acting" secretaries

11. no plan for economic recovery (plan? what plan? who needs a plan?)

12. really bad relations with the feds

13. sketchy "nonprofit" foundations in fitial's name receiving hefty, unaudited "donations" from unknown sources for certain unknown "charitable causes"

14. REALLY cheap public land leases and tax breaks for REALLY sketchy foreign investors

15. special legal counsels up the yin-yang, including the last legitimately-confirmed AG we ever had who stepped down not even a year ago, and two highly questionable, not-so-free "volunteer" attorneys

16. really bad judgment in selection of friends (abramoff? mafnas? tim?)

17. capital improvement projects stagnating, and very little infrastructure spending/development to speak of (how the heck ARE we going to spend all this free money? too bad we have to account for it...)

18. surrounded by former Tan employees

19. misplaced loyalty

20. lies with a scary Cheshire cat smile

21. Willens and Siemer

22. Cinta

23. CHC fiasco

24. getting fired for being "disloyal" to the Covenant party

25. being forced to hire and/or work among politicos who have no qualifications to speak of other than being related to fitial or his cronies AND who might also be convicted felons

26. never getting your rightful merit increase no matter how long and how hard you have worked, or how competent you are -- and then seeing unqualified political hires START above your civil service salary

27. worrying about furloughs... even as government hiring of nonessential (political) hires continues

28. Sleaze -sick of the prostitution and the sleazy clubs.

29. waste of money for trips, trips, trips

30. turns eye to and even supports fake schools' "

***
Note: The list above came from many different individuals. It is by no means exhaustive.

Please, anyone, feel free to add more.

Read the rest of the post and comments here.

A trip through Saipan

By Aguarin Iriarte
Pacific Daily News

In a month's time the island's high schools will begin the new school year. For incoming seniors that means one last year together with the people you've grown and shared countless experiences with.

It's not uncommon for seniors to look for a way to commemorate their last year together by planning a senior trip. Making the trip work always take a lot of planning and fundraising -- something the senior class needs to start working on right at the start of the school year, says Danielle Gervacio, a recent George Washington High School graduate and student counsel member.

Although her class did not end up taking the trip they were planning for, Gervacio says public schools have strict guidelines that have to be met to allow for a trip.

The 2009 graduate and former VIBE reporter says plans for the trip need to be submitted by September and a quarter of the money for the spring trip must be raised by October. Then there is also the issue of finding chaperones.

She adds that the trips, to be approved, need to serve an educational purpose for students. Even overcoming tough guidelines is not a guarantee a trip will work out because of the expense of it all. Thankfully, Guam's seniors have a more affordable alternative as the island's proximity to our neighboring islands in the Marianas can make for a great travel experience. Consider Saipan as a possible destination.

Beautiful scenery, lots of history and a ton of activities makes Guam's neighbors to the north a great option for seniors looking for one last adventure together. The island's pristine beaches are a sight to behold, says recent Southern High School graduate Joelyn Borja.

"I didn't think these kind of beaches existed," says Borja, who recently took a trip to Saipan.

Saipan is about 120 miles north of Guam, so after a quick 40-minute flight on either Continental Airlines or Freedom Air, you'll be on your way enjoying the sights and sounds of the island.

"It's a trip back in time," says Saipan resident Brad Ruszala, "Guam is beautiful, but it's quite a bit more commercial than Saipan."

Ruszala says Saipan is a great place to experience with friends because a 10-minute drive in any direction "will take you to an adventure."

"A trek through the jungle, a trip to the beach, lunch with the locals? We've got all of the finer things in life but it's the simpler things that make Saipan special," he says.

Flame Tree Festival

Held annually in April, and right around the time of spring break, the Flame Tree Festival brings together groups from around the region to celebrate Pacific Island art and culture. According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, The Flame Tree Arts Festival is Micronesia's largest annual arts and culture celebration, featuring traditional and contemporary visual, performing and culinary arts from the region.

"It's so beautiful, it seems like it's on fire when the trees are in bloom," says Tammy Lujan, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School. Lujan, who traveled to the island recently with family and friends, says she will definitely be back when time permits.

History lesson

A senior trip to Saipan is also educational. The island has two superb museums with one specifically focusing on the island's role in World War II, and the other on the cultural heritage of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Remnants of World War II can be seen throughout the island. One interesting relic that seems to catch most eyes are the tanks that lie off the waters of Beach Road in the village of Susupe.

Banzai Cliff, Puntan Sabaneta in Chamorro, and Suicide Cliff, Laderan Banadero in Chamorro, offer spectacular views of the northern coast but both were tragic sites of WWII.

An evening out

You can't talk about a trip to Saipan without mentioning the Thursday night market in Garapan, the heart of the island's tourist district. Food and retail vendors set up tents to sell a variety of dishes to eat and items to buy to passersby.

A three choice meal without a drink would cost you about $7.95 on Guam, at the Garapan night market, a six choice meal will cost you under $6 and that includes a drink, and even dessert.

Shopping in Saipan is limited as the island's only mall closed in 2004, although several smaller shopping centers and the DFS Galleria can be found on the island.

All that still doesn't cover all the island has to offer, as Saipan has great hiking spots like Mt. Tapochau -- from whose summit you can see the islands of Mañagaha, Tinian, and Aguijan -- or the abundance of exotic birds like the Collared Kingfisher, Mariana Fruit-dove, Mariana Crow and the Ga'ga Karisu.

With fabulous beaches, dazzling sunsets and friendly people, a trip over to our sister island could be just the solution for seniors looking to plan an affordable last adventure together.

Additional Facts

Planning a trip

Destination: Saipan

Flight Cost: $120-$250 depending on the time and season you wish to depart

Flight Time: 40 minutes

Airline Contacts: Freedom Air 647-8359, Continental Airlines 645-8500

Hotel Cost: $50-$350

For more information on Saipan, contact the Marianas Visitors Authority at 670-664-3200 or visit www.mymarianas.com

Maps in the mail

Over the last couple days, I received tourist maps in the mail from GVB (Guam) and MVA (Saipan, Tinian, and Rota). Some interesting and helpful info was included, so I think I will be able to make more headway on the Google Mapmaker project.