Laura had an evening meeting, so I was on my own for dinner. You know what that means – time to explore the local cuisine. In this case, it was hardly local in origin. I decided to try the Korean BBQ place just off of Woodruff Road.  No catchy name here – just “Tasty Korean Barbecue.”

Atmosphere

It would be very easy to overlook this place.  On the corner is a Red Robin gas station and quickie shop, and it’s easy to think this is is all part of the same establishment.  The restaurant is small with utilitarian furnishings.  There are bits of Asian decor on the walls.

I got there at about 8:00 pm, a bit later than I normally dine. There was one large table with eight Koreans, and another with four.  I took that as a very good sign.  Two other tables were occupied besides my own.

Menu

I’ve never felt more ill-prepared for dining.  I’ve not had Korean food before, and the names of the dishes weren’t any that I recognized.  Therefore, I’m a bit uncomfortable commenting on the overall menu.  There were several types of bulgogi, and several dishes based on different types of kimchi.  Prices ran from $8 – $14 for dinner items, and $8 – $10 for lunch box specials.  There were several 2-person BBQ specials that hovered around $20.

Given my ignorance of the cuisine, probably the best thing I could do is just post a link to the menu online.

Food

I ordered the chicken bulgogi.  First to arrive were the kimchi sides that accompanied the dish.  There were six sides – the traditional cabbage kimchi, rutabaga, cucumber, bean sprouts, and squid, and one side of potato salad.

Of these, I liked the rutabaga best.  The cabbage, which the waiter had really talked up, tasted bitter to me.  The potato salad was bland.  The cucumber, squid, and bean sprouts fell somewhere in between.

Soon the main dish arrived. It was sizzling in a pan, similar to the way fajitas arrive.   For awhile it was difficult to eat because it was so hot.  There was a bit of spice, but not overpowering.  This also came with a side of rice.  Of course, the only utensils available were chop sticks and one spoon.

Things started off fairly well.  The flavors were unique and interesting.  However, there was a cumulative effect, and by the end of the meal it was tasting more bitter than I first thought.

Service

Service was friendly and efficient.  The waiter was kind enough to educate me on what I had ordered.

Conclusion

This is certainly a different option for cuisine in Greenville, and as far as I can tell, the only Korean option.  It doesn’t taste like any of the other Asian food I’ve tried in town.  I still haven’t decided if I like it or not.  I’d like to give it one more try with a different dish.  However, if they are promoting the cabbage kimchi as the most popular, I am a bit worried, as that was my least favorite.  I’ll see what the other options are.

When Alan and I came out to Lake Saluda last week, I wasn’t feeling so hot. Well, actually, I was too hot – heat exhaustion plus a fever of over 100. Couple that with the fact that we missed the channel we were supposed to be taking, and it wasn’t an ideal trip. So, when Dave Freeland called and wanted a close paddling venue that would be good for his 13 year old son, Zach, I suggest heading back to Saluda.

We made our way back down Motor Boat Club Road to Saluda Landing. Personally, I would love to find some other access point. These guys charge per boat, so to launch our three kayaks was $15. I don’t mind paying a parking fee, but the per boat fee is a bit steep. However, they have a monopoly on lake access, and they know it.

We paddled out, then southward to avoid the silted spit, then turned upstream. This time we hugged the right channel toward the river, rather than being tempted by the more open water of the west arm of the lake. (more…)

It’s pretty bad with 85 degrees feels like a cooling trend. However, the humidity was down, and it didn’t feel as sweltering as the past several weeks have been. Laura and I had taken advantage of the nice weather to do some yard work in the morning, and in the afternoon we decided to take the bikes up to Furman and ride part of the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

We parked at the south end of the Furman section of the trail and headed north.  This was the first time Laura had ridden the trail since it had been paved.  However, the combination of earlier yard work and lack of recent cycling got to her.  We made it about 2.5 miles before she decided it was time to head back.

I wasn’t done, though.  I wanted to continue on down the trail toward Greenville.  I particularly wanted to see parts of the trail I hadn’t traveled yet.  I knew that the trail had been closed at the CSX railroad crossing, so I couldn’t make it all the way into town.  My intent was to ride down to the barricades, turn around, and head back.  Turns out I did two things I hadn’t intended – I made it all the way to Greenville, and I did it illegally. (more…)

When I mention Saluda Lake to my acquaintances, many don’t even know it exists. They usually reply, “Don’t you mean the Saluda River?” Or, they try to correct me by naming one of the many other lakes fed by the Saluda.  Most don’t seem to be aware that there is a rather large lake on the west side of Greenville with that name.

I can see why Saluda Lake is overlooked.  While it’s a nice lake, the banks are almost completely built up, and there is very little public access.  There is limited access right at the dam, but no place where one could easily launch a boat.  The only boat ramp is on the north end of the lake on Motor Boat Club Road.  It’s privately owned, and the signs make you think the owners are somewhat less that friendly.

Despite the limited access, Alan and I decided to give it a shot.  The lake is relatively close, and I’d never been on it.  The plan was to put in at the one boat ramp then paddle north up the Saluda River to at least Farr’s Bridge on Highway 183.  For a variety of reasons, we didn’t quite make it that far.

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One of my paddling buddies accused me of posting “food porn.” Sorry, James, but here’s some more…

For months now I’ve seen signs for Doner Kabob, and have wondered about the food being advertised. To me, a kabob is meat on a stick with vegetables, cooked on a grill.  Little did I know that it’s actually a type of German sandwich, in this case sold from a large trailer that moves from place to place.

One of our office co-workers offered to get sandwiches for everyone at lunch, and they were quite good.  Mine was a very spicy turkey on a flat sort of bun.  Along with the discovery of the sandwich came the discovery of a new German restaurant in the community of Pelham.  So, with Laura out of town, tonight was the perfect night for my sister Glynda and I to give Hans and Franz a try.

Background

First, the building – this was one of the original 1860′s buildings for the Pelham Mills.  It was a barn structure to support the main mill, which made Confederate uniforms during that war.  For awhile recently Rocky Creek Bakery occupied the building.  Glynda and I had a couple of lunches here, and loved the old structure and wonderful bread.  We were both thrilled to see the new restaurant here.

It’s my understanding that Hans and Franz is an enterprise by the folks that own Addy’s Dutch Restaurant in downtown Greenville.  They have been wanting to branch out into German cuisine, which has been sorely lacking in the area since the demise of Haus Edleweiss.  While not owned by them, the Doner Kabob trailer works in partnership with the restaurant in a symbiotic relationship.

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