Week 27: Comfort Food and Family

Week 27: July 2-8, 2023

Some days making dinner feels like the worst possible activity in the world. Toward the end of this week, this was the case for me. I dreaded making dinner, especially because my fridge was bare and I desperately needed to go grocery shopping. I shop at H-Mart all the time, but I have never ordered from any of the restaurants in the food court there. After another futile peek at my empty fridge, I convinced my sister and my brother-in-law to meet me for an impromptu pre-grocery-run dinner at the food court.

I guess I decided I missed the fried food from last week's county fair because I found myself in the line for Zzang hot dogs. I never realized there was a Zzang location at the H-Mart food court. I had only been to the one at UTC mall in La Jolla. I had to get the classic - a cheesy, mozzarella hot dog covered in Hot Cheeto dust, was calling my name.

In front of me in line at Zzang, a mother juggled her grocery bags, a large purse and a rambunctious daughter. Unfortunately, a glass bottle of strawberry milk drink did not survive the juggling and fell to the floor. It shattered into a mess of pink liquid and glass. A couple of workers mopped up the mess. I helped out by carefully picking up some pieces of glass that made their way near me, quite far from the original drop site.

Even with the rambunctious kids and chaos, I've always loved food courts. We used to go the one in Emeryville a bunch when I was little. As an adult, I kind of see food courts as the modern day savannah. The hunters are the ones responsible for finding and staking out the next free table. The gatherers are the ones out getting the food and bringing it to the table.

After hunting and gathering, finally, we all returned to our table and surveyed the spread. My sister and brother-in-law got the Friend Set 2 from Jaws (Spicy Topokki stew, fish cake soup, and variety of deep fried delicacies) and I demanded we all share the veggie jja-jjang noodles from Kangnam Chef. Black bean noodles have always been one of my personal favorites.

Our efforts on the savannah were fruitful

And we can't forget about my Zzang dog.

Mozza-Sausage with Hot Cheeto Dust

I don't have much to report this week other than the following: a good way to test the relationship between your eyes, your stomach and your wallet is to go to the food court at H-Mart. However, a great way to spend less money grocery shopping is to go grocery shopping right after eating a ton of delicious food.

See you next week.