Tuesday, October 8, 2013

First Monday Airhead Mtg.

Yesterday evening was the monthly gathering for the Airheads at the Silver Gulch microbrewery in Fox. Three of us rode there taking advantage of the Chinook wind and the resulting near-tropical temperatures. By near-tropical, I mean mid-40s (°F). There was a pretty good turnout including the gentleman that just bought the white '78 R100/7 that my sidecar used to be attached to. I thought that it looked to be in pretty good shape when I saw it but there are some mechanical issues related to it sitting outside unused.

At the end of this week, there is a technology event going at the Fairbanks campus of the University of Alaska called TechFest. This is the event that the geocaches are part of. About every other day, I get to take a walk and check out the caches. Yesterday afternoon, a student dropped by an art project for display at the event made up of keyboards. I think it's called "Game of Thrones" or something like that. He also made a crown of USB cables but it was starting to unravel so he took it back to add a little more glue.

Out checking the geocaches again once it got lighter. As you can see, our trees have pretty much agreed that fall is here and winter is around the corner. Checking the caches ensures that I get at least a four miles walk. I may try taking the bicycle on this trail tomorrow. So far, 29 people have visited the caches.

I'll end with a food pic of one of my favorite dishes. It's a Korean dish called dolsot bibimbap (with many different spellings at the places I've tried) and this is the version served at Seoul Gate Restaurant just south of downtown Fairbanks. The place has been around for a long time but this is only the second time I've been there. It's located under a bowling alley which always made me wonder how good can it be. The dish served in a very hot clay bowl (dolsot) and the rice on the bottom usually gets a nice crust. It is covered with a large selection of vegetables some raw, some cooked and some pickled and a fried egg. This bowl wasn't as hot as it could've been. I'd give it 7 out of 10 for that. The spicy chili sauce served with the dish as well as the assortment (ten bowls) of pickled vegetables served while you're studying the menu were fabulous.

10 comments:

  1. One has to wonder if the airheads invite blondes or is that a separate get together? The next time my wife is away and I am rummaging about in the fridge in desperation I shall tell Cheyenne we are having bibimbap. Perhaps it will sound better than left overs with egg on top.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No comment on the airheads and blondes. You'll have to read their bylaws.

      When I was growing up, we used to have fried rice for breakfast and it was the "use up the leftovers" dish. And it is best, in my humble opinion, with a fried egg on top. Cheyenne may not care for the pickled vegetables in the bibimbap.

      Delete
  2. Richard:

    that trail looks cold, esp if it is 4 miles long. Do you have to watch out for bears ?

    I never warmed up to Korean as I do not like pickled anything, but I do like to have an egg on top. We have a nice Cambodian Restaurant here (was featured on Diner's and Dives), a "jumping beef", very tender over rice topped with an egg. Getting hungry already. Hard to go there as there is always a long lineup

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The trail is pretty long but the cache is only a half mile out on that trail. There are three caches set out and to visit all of them is around 4 miles.

      I saw that show with the "jumping beef" and it looked like a pretty good place to try. I remember wondering if you've been there or not.

      Delete
  3. Conchscooter's comment is funny...but that does look really good.

    Checking your temps and webcam I see you are certainly in the comfort food season now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of the best parts of bibimbap is the crusty rice that you get with the smoking hot bowl. The other ingredients seem to vary with restaurant. I tried this dish in San Francisco, Portland and Singapore and expected it to be better than the local versions but was disappointed each time.

      Delete
  4. The trail looks pretty with the leaves all over it.

    The crispy rice part of the dish sounds good.

    When we have a clean out the fridge day we say we're having Mustgo for dinner. As in everything in the fridge Must Go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoy walking on these trails and when you come across one that has the leaves all over the trail, you feel like you're the first one out there. This is actually labeled as the "Commuter Trail" and sees quite a bit of foot and bicycle traffic during certain times of the year.

      I've ordered the bibimbap without meat many times (and extra veggies) and the flavor is unchanged. Much of the flavor comes from the pickled vegetables and the chili sauce. The crispy rice adds texture. The hot stone bowl also partially cooks the raw vegetables which are cut to cook quickly. It's interactive food, kind of like fajitas or a salad bar.

      I think we need a "Mustgo" night at our house...

      Delete
  5. Bibimbap! My life is better since you introduced me to it when I was in Alaska abusing your hospitality limits!

    I must find a Korean place in Denver and see how theirs compares.

    dom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whenever I find a new Korean restaurant, it's one of the first dishes I try. Most have been alright but so far, my favorite is still Ichiban Noodles.

      Delete