New Clips!

So this summer, I wrote restaurant features for The Morris County Daily Record. The articles can all be found in the archives section of themorriscountydailyrecord.com

But, I will post one of the stories below!
Enjoy!

At MeeSo, diners choose Korean or Japanese, spicy or sweet

BY KATE KLINCK
SPECIAL TO MCWTHISWEEK
• August 26, 2009

CHESTER — You've been eating lo mein and General Tsao's chicken since you were 12, at college you discovered pad Thai and crab Rangoons, and when you turned 30 you decided to be healthy and hip, so you embraced the sushi craze.

Now, it's time for the next chapter of your life, maturity and worldliness, so bring on the bi-bim bap.

"Japanese food is more popular than Korean," said Myung-Hee "Hannah" Han, owner of MeeSo. "People are scared to try Korean so they try Japanese the first time they come. Then they come back and try Korean."

As Asian food becomes increasingly popular in America, Han decided to introduce Korean food to the Chester area. She opened MeeSo in May 2005 because she wanted to serve people fresh healthy Korean and Japanese food.

"We use lots of different kinds of vegetables and we have many dishes that are okay for vegans and vegetarians. And we don't use butter or any type of chemicals," Han said.

Han, who came to America from Korea in 1997, said that because people were more comfortable with Japanese cuisine, she paired it with her Korean dishes so that customers were not intimidated by an entirely unfamiliar menu. Another culture that influenced the restaurant was Chinese. The word, "Mee," like the first three letters of the Restaurant's name, Meeso, translates to "delicious" in Chinese. The entire word, MeeSo, translates to "smile" in Korean. Han said she liked both translations.

"They provide a more positive feeling for customers," she said.

One meal that has made many customers smile is the Korean bi-bim bap, which is rice mixed with vegetables and spicy Korean sauce on the side. It is served with the customer's choice of beef, egg, or vegetables.

Another best-selling Korean dish is the bulgogi box. There are several different box specials on MeeSo's menu. Each box consists of several compartments that include an avocado and cucumber roll, a vegetable dumpling, tofu cake, rice edamame, a house salad, vegetables and a seaweed salad. Then, the customer can choose from a selection of boxes, each containing a different main item. The bulgogi box item is thin-sliced beef marinated in a mix of garlic, sugar, fruits, sesame oil and soy sauce.

Popular Japanese dishes include many of the sushi rolls such as the California roll, which is crabmeat, avocado and cucumber; the shrimp tempura roll; and the cream cheese, avocado and cucumber roll.

Korean and Japanese dishes are different, but Han said they mix well on the menu because both cuisines are made with the same type of rice.

Han described the difference between the two when she explained, "Japanese is sweet. Korean is spicy."

Some people are apprehensive about trying Korean food because it is so spicy, but Han said the chefs at MeeSo can adjust the amount of spice on the food. Spiciness ranges from mild to extra spicy.

Some, of course, are excited to order extra spicy Korean food.

"American people like spicy food. I asked one boy if his dish was too spicy or if it was okay. He said, 'It's like candy!"' Han said.

Customers who dine at MeeSo sit among green, yellow, red and orange walls covered with black picture frames. Han said she chose fall colors so that the customers would feel comfortable while they try new foods such as the spicy pork dish she recommends to newcomers who like some spice in their meal.

Han's decorations and helpful advice when choosing a meal are two things she provides to make customers feel welcome in her environment. She just asks one thing of them in return: "Take a risk and try the food — You never know!"

Hi Readers! This blog is a list of the pieces I wrote while interning at Stuff@Night Magazine in the fall of 2008. Enjoy!