To my children
We now have a lot of choices for eating out in Korea. It was very different in 60-70’s. We did not have much choices. In Western style restaurants, only few served steaks. Most of them served just hamburger steak, tonkatsu, and omelettes.
I first tasted Western style food thru my grandfather, my mother’s father. He managed men’s social club. Each member paid large sum of membership fees. He loaned that money out and used the interest to run the social club.
The club had their regular meetings at the restaurants. They rotated Chinese, Japanese, and Western style restaurants. My grandpa made all necessary contacts including reservations. When I heard him saying ‘Mi Jang’ to the phone, I was very happy. It was Western style restaurant. He always brought me his leftovers. There was grilled chicken or a piece of small steak in thin wooden to-go box. Sometimes he brought home a box full of dinner rolls with butter and jam spread in the middle.
Knowing that he was taking home leftover for his grandson, me, the manager gave him some extra. He also knew that little bribes would bring him more business, too. On those days, I did not mind him rubbing his hairy cheek against mine. I cold smell alcohol, too.
The portion of the meat was not much in those days. To save some for me, he probably filled himself with soup and the bread.
The first Western style dinner I bought with my own money was the hamburger steak. It was around later part of 70’s. I was working for English to Korean translation agency. My boss was leaving to move to the United States. I and few other part-time employees decided to take him out. We went to the restaurant called ‘Press.’ My father’s cousin was the owner. His wife ran it.
‘Press Special’ was a hamburger steak with fried egg on top, and some pasta on the side. Everyone ordered it. After the meal, I collected money from everyone. Everyone should have paid for their own meal and few more dollars to cover the boss’ meal. Some did not even have enough to cover their meals. I had to tell my aunt that I would pay the balance later. And I never paid her back.