The Busy Bee

Vol. 2, Issue 9===========================================================March 5, 2013 ---------------- Lifestyle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Looks Good, Tastes Bad: Sushi Bar Dong Hae Words and Photographs by B. Thao Lompoc, Calif. Located on such a wonderful piece of real estate, Sushi Bar Dong Hae just beckons the consumer to enter the doors, sit down, and eat. The prime spot in question is directly on H street across the street from a Jack-in-the-Box, and one of the least expensive gas stations in the area, the Vons gas Station in Lompoc. The exterior of the restaurant is a fusion of Korean influences with baby-boomer era architecture. The glass windows have been accented with semi-traditional paper windows with a light-colored wood framing. There are no silly neon lights to spoil the apparent elegant pretensions. Upon closer inspection, the local consumers have poked one too many holes in the paper windows for the establishment to bother fixing. This was a bit forbidding, but I was too lazy to back out now; and we had already been in line for 5 minutes. When we were finally seated and the menus were provided, it became apparent that the sushi bar did not in fact want you to order what somewhat understanding people, like myself, would consider sushi. (Sushi, or more properly nigirzushi or just plain nigiri, involves a small oval of rice with a piece of meat or something similar to meat lightly pressed on top). What the establishment would prefer to serve is sashimi or the more popular western style sushi roll (makizushi). I opted for Spicy Pork and an order of Sashimi Tuna; the wife ordered Udon with a side of sushi (nigiri), but she was not allowed to pick what nigiri she would be eating. It turns out that she was served a set of salmon, yellowtail, and tuna; and she was horribly upset that she could not have squid. As the pictures attest, the meal looked extravagant. The pork was properly sliced and looked as if it had been properly cooked with kimchi; the steamed vegetables appeared crunchy and tender at the same time; and the tuna looked (Continued on Page 2 Not A Bar)

Vol. 2, Issue 9===========================================================March 5, 2013 ---- On the Home Front (cont.) --------------------Not A Bar (continued) like it had not been refrozen, and indeed it had not. But what the pictures cannot show is how the food tasted. While I had expected the taste of kimchi and sweet Korean barbeque, I received the foretaste of A1 steak sauce with a hint of peanut. I figured it would grow on me. Well, it wouldnt. The more pork I ate, the more I tasted less A1 and more peanut, until it dawned on me, the pork tasted like peanut butter. It wasnt very spicy either. At least the rice tasted like proper Asian rice. The vegetables were normal American vegetables to say the least. The wife complained that her udon was bland, but thats what udon is supposed to taste like.... and shes had better nigiri elsewhere. So, I got the short end of the stick on this one. I highly recommend that you steer clear of this establishment.

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-------- Bite-Sized Morsels ---------------------------2013 Australian Rally Championship Round 1: National Capital Rally Canbarra, Aust. 2012 WRC Academy contestants Elfan Evans and Brendan Reeves had some difficulties competing against the locals. It appears as if you can never discount the local driver on their home turf.

------------------------------------- Classifieds ---------Used Tokico HP non-adjustable shocks and springs for RX-7 (FC). $250 OBO. Lompoc, CA. Pictures available. Email: furui_ga@yahoo.com 4-15 Steel Wheels. Stock for Kia Forte, 5x114mm bolt pattern. $20 ea or $60 for all 4. Lompoc, CA. Email: furui_ga@yahoo.com