Korean BBQ Feast
On the way home.
While driving the truck, Jake mapped out his plans. A Korean barbecue party. It was going to be a big one.
Him, Sam, Dorothy, Nancy, and then Daniel, Road King, Sandman, and Big Tom. Eight people total.
How much meat should I buy?
Americans ate more meat than he'd expected.
Especially for barbecue.
Figuring at least a pound per person... that meant he needed about 15 pounds.
The moment he got home, he called Sam.
"Sam, it's me."
"Oh, Jake. You get that reward money okay?"
"Yeah. Check's coming next week. But hey, we're doing a barbecue party at my place next Saturday. You in?"
"Barbecue? You bet. What's the occasion?"
"Got the reward, and I wanna invite Officer Johnson and some other truckers. Gonna treat 'em to Korean style."
"Korean food? Sounds good! I'll bring the beer."
"Thanks, Sam. Come around 6."
Next, he texted Dorothy.
He could already picture Nancy bouncing around at the party. A smile crept across his face.
Finally, he called Johnson.
"Jake, what's up?"
"Daniel, doing a BBQ next Saturday evening. You free?"
"At your place? I was gonna treat you..."
"Nah. I wanna cook. Korean style. Korean BBQ."
He heard Johnson chuckle over the line.
"Korean BBQ? Nice! What should I bring?"
"Nothing. Just show."
"Can't do that. Drinks at least."
"Haha, alright. I won't say no."
"Send the address. 6pm?"
"Yep, 6pm."
He hung up and exhaled. Everyone was contacted. Now it was just prep time.
Friday morning.
He woke early and headed to H-Mart.
The big Korean grocery in Austin.
He parked the truck in the lot and stepped inside. The familiar smells hit him: kimchi, doenjang, sesame oil... The comforting scents of Korea, no matter how long it'd been.
He grabbed a cart and went to the butcher counter.
"Welcome!"
The butcher greeted him warmly.
"Pork belly and short ribs, please."
"How many pounds?"
"10 pounds belly, 5 short ribs."
"Whoa, party today?"
"Yeah, friends coming over."
"Nice. Thick cuts on the belly?"
"Yeah, Korean style."
"Got it. Short ribs?"
"LA galbi."
"Okay. One sec."
The butcher started slicing. The machine whirred loudly.
While waiting, he glanced around. It felt just like Korea, even in America. Mostly Koreans, carts full of Korean goods.
Coming here feels like going home.
He sometimes filled the homesickness here. Technically, he'd lived longer in the US, but his identity was still Korean. Strange, but Sam said it made sense. The home in your heart never changes.
He took the meat and hit the veggie aisle. Korean BBQ needed ssam veggies.
Lettuce, perilla leaves, onions, garlic, peppers... Cart filled fast. Then soy sauce, sesame oil, gochujang, gochugaru, sugar. Grabbed two tubs of ssamjang too.
This should do it.
Muttering to himself, he headed to checkout.
"Total: $187.65."
Pretty pricey with all that meat. But with the reward money, a little splurge was fine.
He hauled the heavy bags to the truck, loaded the passenger seat, and fired it up.
Heading home, excitement bubbled up.
It'd been ages since a proper Korean food party.
"Alright, time to prep."
Back home, meat in the fridge, party mode on.
War had begun.
First, marinades. Galbi sauce: big bowl, cup soy, half cup sugar, 3 spoons minced garlic.
Grated pear for juice—to tenderize.
2 spoons sesame oil, pinch pepper, splash cola. The cola sweetness adds depth.
Mix well, add ribs, knead by hand.
"Perfect."
Into zip bags, fridge. Needs a day to marinate.
Next, chicken—for the American friends. Not too spicy, sweet-heat balance. Gochujang, gochugaru light, soy, sugar, garlic. Taste-tested good.
Cut bite-size, coat, fridge.
"Pork belly grills plain."
Samgyeopsal was delicious as-is.
Finally, wash veggies. Lettuce, perilla—carefully, drain.
Prep onions and garlic for grilling: onion rings, garlic slices. Fry in sesame oil, perfect for ssam.
Chop peppers fine, plate.
Ssamjang tomorrow morning.
All prepped, he showered. Hot water soothed him.
Tomorrow's gonna be great.
Saturday, 4pm.
He was lighting charcoal in the trailer front yard. No Korean brazier, so Weber grill it was.
Piled coals, lighter fluid.
Struck a match—blue flames roared up.
"Jake, whatcha doing?"
Dorothy arrived with Nancy.
"Hey, little princess! Getting the coals ready. Good fire means tasty meat."
"Whoa, real BBQ at home? Awesome..."
Nancy's eyes sparkled at the grill.
"Jake! Fire! Fire!"
"Haha, yep. We'll grill meat here."
Seemed novel to her. He felt her circling, peeking.
"...Need help?"
"Nah, dangerous. Watch from there, Nancy."
"Aww, boring."
Dorothy came with a big bowl.
"Caesar salad. And brownies baked."
"Perfect. Thanks."
"Where's the table?"
"Set up over there."
Folding tables out front, red checkered cloth for vibe.
"Nice setup. Total picnic."
"Haha, yeah? Weather's perfect."
Mid-December, but Texas warm. Evening around 68°F.
"Jake, need a hand?"
Sam emerged.
"All good. Almost ready."
"Beer's in the fridge. Grab later."
"Thanks, Sam."
Coals glowing red. Perfect timing.
5:45pm.
Road King, Sandman, Big Tom rolled up.
"Winch! Here you are!"
Road King waved.
"Welcome. Easy to find?"
"GPS, man. Whoa, great spot."
Sandman looked around.
"Trailer park had me worried, but this is solid."
"Best around."
Nancy marched up boldly.
"Hi!"
"Hey, little lady. What's your name?"
Sandman knelt to her level. Huge guy—even then, she craned up.
"Uh... I'm... Nancy!" Hic!
Her eyes wobbled looking up. Princess spooked.
"Pretty name. I'm Sandman."
His rugged face twitched—a smile attempt. Made it worse.
"Sandman... weird name."
Everyone burst laughing. Nancy's mutter cracked them up.
Sandman chuckled, scratching head.
"Haha, nickname. Real one's David. Call me Bear Guy if you want, missy."
"Bear Guy!"
Better. She warmed quick, bragging about Mr. Hop. Her sunshine melted the big guys.
6pm sharp, black SUV. Daniel Johnson.
Casual: jeans, polo, sneakers.
"Jake!"
"Daniel, come on in!"
Handshake, back pat.
Introduced the family.
"This is Sam, Dorothy, Nancy. Our family."
"Hi. Daniel Johnson."
Johnson shook Sam's hand. Sam grinned.
"Heard lots. Thanks, officer. Helped Jake big time."
"Nah. He helped me more."
Dorothy too.
"Hi. Jake's cousin Dorothy."
"Nice to meet you. Good kinfolk."
"We got lucky with him."
Nancy hid behind Dorothy. Dorothy pulled her forward, laughing.
"Nancy, say hi?"
"..."
Whisper: "Policeman scary..."
Daniel knelt, eyes softening.
"Hi, princess. I'm Daniel. Wanna be friends?"
Nancy peeked.
"...Really? No arrest?"
"What? Haha... If our princess did nothing wrong, no way!"
Laughter again. Dorothy stroked Nancy, embarrassed.
"Sorry, we watched a movie... crime flick."
Daniel nodded, amused.
"Haha, happens. You good for mom and dad, Nancy?"
She nodded, clinging Dorothy.
Whisper: "Brushed alone, combed hair... listened to mom. Gasp, but slept late yesterday..."
"Haha, good enough! Friends?"
Nancy nodded, hand out.
"Yeah. Friends!"
Johnson took her tiny hand, stood. Dorothy impressed.
"Good with kids."
"Haha, four nieces/nephews. Practice."
Everyone sat.
"Let's eat?"
He laid marinated galbi on the grill.
Sizzle—
Savory smoke rose, sweet-salty aroma spreading.
"Whoa, smells amazing!"
Road King sniffed.
"Korean food hits different from the smell."
Daniel awed.
Flipped galbi carefully—no burn.
Key for sauced meat: fire control.
Added pork belly. Thick slabs dripped fat.
"Jake, beer?"
Sam offered cold one.
"You know it."
To Daniel too.
"You good?"
"Love it. Off duty. Thanks."
Clinked glasses.
"Cheers!"
Cool beer down the hatch.
Meat done, tongs to plates.
"Like this."
Laid lettuce, ssamjang, galbi, garlic, pepper. Rolled tight, bite-size.
"This is ssam. How Koreans eat."
Daniel tried. Clumsy but earnest.
"Like so?"
"Perfect. One bite."
Daniel popped it. Eyes widened.
"Mmm... holy crap."
Chewed slow, eyes closed.
"Damn, this is... fantastic?"
"Good, right?"
"'Good' doesn't cut it. Whole new level."
Road King, Sandman ssams too.
"Addictive."
"Feels healthy even. Tasty stuff."
All liked it. Big guys devoured fast.
More meat: belly, ribs, chicken rotating.
"Eat up. Plenty."
"Gonna burst."
Big Tom laughed, another ssam. Dorothy's salad perfect match.
"Dorothy, killer salad."
Daniel praised.
"Thanks. Homemade Caesar dressing."
"That's the fresh kick."
Nancy ate small cuts.
"Nancy, yummy?"
"Yeah! Super yummy!"
Ssamjang on her face—laughter.
Meat gone, they sat with coffee. Dorothy's brownies out.
"Whoa, too full."
Road King patted belly.
"Dessert's separate."
Dorothy laughed, served.
Daniel sipped coffee.
"Folks, like I mentioned before, good news."