Ohgane Korean BBQ Restaurant

Today my friend took me out to a Korean buffet lunch at Ohgane Korean BBQ Restaurant at 3915 Broadway, Oakland, CA  94611. It was a great way to kick off the new year with good company and good food! We enjoyed a wide variety of Korean and non-Korean food at the buffet and piled our plates high with excitement! I got to taste a bunch of new Korean dishes including two new soups. I was in food heaven! I was not ashamed to go back for more...I had to take advantage of all this Korean food at my fingertips, especially since this was the first time I've ever been to a Korean buffet. 

I have to admit that the food was definitely on par with what you would expect from a buffet--it wasn't as good as it would have been if it were ordered fresh, but it was still a good, quick way to eat a lot of different dishes without having to order all of it individually. (My friend's cooking is way better and tastier than this buffet sampler, but it was still worth going to try all the food at Ohgane). Even I could tell that this food was toned down quite a bit in spiciness for an average consumer to enjoy. Nevertheless, the buffet was memorable and it is a good way to introduce several Korean dishes at once. (I can handle some spice and this food was not spicy at all.)

This daikon soup with noodles was so simple, yet so delicious and not as spicy at it appears. The noodles had a nice texture and chew to them and the daikon was tender and mild in flavor, completely different from the crunchy, pickled variety.

At the end of our meal, the waitress gave us a beautiful calendar for 2012 (free)! It is filled with gorgeous photos of Korean dishes and some background information about the food. Also, there are short translations of Korean phrases, so you can learn some Korean as well! I just noticed that they also cleverly included restaurant coupons for free items throughout the year! How sweet and ingenious--that is reason enough to go back and try more items on their menu!

I don't know how long they will be handing out free calendars, but we sure lucked out this year with this freebie! Now I know to go back next January to get another free calendar (if they offer that promotion again).

The Korean buffet turned out to be a great way to sample a ton of different dishes at once. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to go back again!

Happy New Year!

Make Your Own Volcano Model at Home

If you want a fun and simple science experiment to try at home with your child, here is a neat and easy way to make a model of a volcano erupting! I love homemade science experiments with everyday ingredients and objects around the house. 

What you will need:

1. One 8 oz glass

2. Plate or bowl to catch the eruption

3. Vinegar 

4. 4 tsp colored gelatin powder 

5. 2 tsp baking soda

Place the glass in a bowl or plate. Fill the glass 2/3 full with vinegar. Add the gelatin powder and mix. Add the baking soda and watch the volcano erupt! This is a fun way to get kids to measure out ingredients, too! 

Don't Bother Me, I'm Crabby

My husband went on a two week trip to Baltimore, Maryland and brought me back this silly mug that says,  "Don't Bother Me,  I'm Crabby."
This mug speaks to the famous Maryland crabs,  of course,  but it also underscores the necessity of a good cup of coffee in the morning... especially for me!  I need my coffee before I can get going.

But,  crabs,  crabs,  crabs... I love crabs!  My husband knows that,  so he had to rub it in that he was in crab city! Now that he's home,  he can still be in crab city if I miss out on my morning coffee! 

National Coffee Day: Free Coffee at Kripsy Kreme Doughnuts September 29, 2011

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is offering a FREE 12 oz Coffee on September 29, 2011. Best of all, there is no purchase necessary to get the free coffee! Drop by Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to celebrate National Coffee Day with a free coffee! Ahhhh, something to look forward to on Thursday!

Cheers to free coffee! Yay! (Might have to sneak in a doughnut or two, though...they are so tempting!)

Quinoa and Beet Salad

Quinoa.  Sounds too healthy to be good!  Beets?  How do you eat more of these healthy foods without feeling like you're at a boot camp?  I am trying to add more veggies and protein to my diet,  which inspired me to make this salad--it came out pretty tasty!  The best part is that you can tailor it to your tastes and take out whatever you want or add other veggies you have on hand. Here's what I did...
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
One package of Trader Joe's precooked beets, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
Three green onions, chopped
Two mini bell peppers,  chopped (yellow and red)
Handful of cilantro, chopped
6 mint leaves, chopped
One lime, squeezed on top
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Plenty of salt and freshly ground pepper

Mix well and adjust seasonings to preference.

I love this salad.  It's a great side dish or one dish light meal.  The beets have a lovely earthy flavor and the quinoa almost reminds me of cous cous and adds a nice texture to the salad. It is nice and filling from the fiber in the bell peppers and the protein from the quinoa!  I imagine some feta or goat cheese would be lovely in this salad too.  Just experiment with the flavors and veggies you like.  You can even add avocado for a nice creamy bonus or some toasted pine nuts for more crunch!

Enjoy!

Kids Bowl Free All Summer!

"Kids Bowl Free" is a wonderful program that allows kids to bowl two free games every day this summer! This year the shoe rental is even included free, as well! What a cool way to get kids bowling! I love this program and it's 100% FREE, no strings attached, no purchase of any kind is necessary!

There are participating locations all over the country, just find a location near you.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to enjoy free bowling this summer! Sign up for 2 games per day of FREE bowling for your kid(s) and register at Kids Bowl Free.

Happy Bowling this summer!

FREE Small Drip Coffee at Peet's Coffee & Tea on Monday, June 20 only

FREE Small Peet's Drip Coffee on Monday, June 20, 2011 only. Now, that's something worth waking up for! What a nice treat from Peet's Coffee & Tea! (You can also upgrade to any beverage by applying the retail value of a small coffee to another beverage of choice. That turns out to be a nice discount if you don't want the free coffee!)

Print your Peet's Coupon. This coupon is only valid Monday, June 20, 2011 and may not be used at airports, BART, or supermarket locations. 

Cheers! Here's looking forward to a Monday for a change! YAY!