My first real food

Today, I had the pleasure of eating my first real food since I got here about five days ago. Two mistakes were required to make it happen. First was when I asked the front desk about ordering some 감자탕 / potato soup from their menu. Their response, after some initial confusion: "Dumbass. That's not our menu. That's a restaurant take-out menu." (I added the dumbass part myself, of course.) 

Then the super-nice front desk lady walked me a full block to a potato soup restaurant on the main street. She escorted me inside. (Perhaps sensing my desperation for a real meal? Maybe she read my previous post about the No Brand Burgers that I subsisted on in Pyeongtaek?) I think she told the restaurant lady I was looking for potato soup. And there may have been a bit more to the conversation. You do understand, don't you, that between missing language and my hearing issues I'm operating at about 50% comprehension?,

At any rate, the restaurant lady served me up a wonderful meal, a full set: meat bone soup, sauce for the meat, three kinds of kimchi, and rice--beautiful, wonderful rice. As the first real meal I've had here in five days, it was excellent. Perfect. It couldn't have been better.

There was, however, one slightly troubling aspect, and that involves the second mistake. While I was eating it, I was facing the menu board and looking at the menu items and prices. One stood out: Potato Soup at USD 27. I thought about it. I mean, they had to cook the meat for hours in order for the meat to fall off the bone like it did. The price is fair enough if you consider all that. I also saw several other menu items in the USD 7 range for ordering next time. I made my peace with a one-time purchase of Kangwon Province's famous potato soup for USD 27.

I dug deep into the passport bag for a 50,000 Korean won bill (USD 38). I hold onto those really, really tight. This was a one-time splurge. The kindly restaurant guy takes my 50,000 won bill and comes back with 40,000. As a student of Cool Hand Luke, I said nothing--I just played it cool. A bit later, after putting my shoes back on, it was time to take my leave.

Me to the kindly restaurant guy: "That was my first time eating Kangwon Province potato soup, and it was great."

Restaurant guy: "Thank you."

Restaurant lady: Audible-even-to-a-deaf-guy laughter from her in the kitchen area.

Me: "Hmm..." 

I got back to the motel room and cleared my pockets like all absent-minded low-budget travellers do. I mean, you never know what you'll learn or remember. What I learned in this case was that I had not, in fact, eaten the famous Kangwon Province potato soup. Rather, they had--quite astutely and appropriately--substituted USD 7 Ox Bone Soup for the USD 27 Potato Soup. 

There are a few possibilities, listed below in order of probability.

• The Potato Soup could have been one of those dishes for two or more people. There are many such dishes.
  
  
• They ID'd me as a low-budget traveller.
  
  
• They are reading my posts in English. (Not likely given that Gangeung posts began only today.)

In conclusion, my reputation as a professional low-budget traveller remains intact. I have yet to taste the famous Kangwon Province soup. Something to look forward to because I'm here for a while.

20220820 - Excellent Ox Bone Haejangguk