Food Critic Korea: Braai Republic

April 23, 2016April 23, 2016 Chaplain Food & Drink, Travel & Siteseeing Braai Republic, Camp Humphreys, Itaewon, Pyeongtaek, The Ville, USAG Yongsan

On a recent visit to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, I went with one of my battalion chaplains and a visiting chaplain into “The Ville” to eat lunch at a restaurant called Braai Republic (down the main road of “The Ville” a couple of blocks, on the left then go to the 2nd floor). The battalion chaplain who was our guide said that it appeals to Americans because it’s a “meat and potatoes” restaurant (which appeals to me!) though the entrees are prepared a special way.

Braai Republic advertises itself as “A Taste of Africa,” serving “Traditional South African Food.” I’ve never been to any country in Africa or eaten at a fully African-themed restaurant, so I don’t have those comparisons to draw from, but can evaluate the food on its own merits. Walking into the restaurant, it looks very African in color and decor. There are a variety of stuffed animal heads lending to the African feel.

The menu has a good variety of meats: beef, lamb, chicken and pork. Many of the names are European in origin as well as uniquely South African and Zimbabwean. There are Lamb & Pork Chops, Pork Ribs, Bangers, Boerewors, Pap and Wors, Oxtail Stew and Potjie, Prawns, Biltong, Droewors and a variety of pies: Lamb, Chicken, Pork, Mixed Meat and Spinich & Potato. Also on the menu is Peri-Peri chicken, wholly roasted, in a sandwich and livers.

The sides are mainly common ones, though some with an ethnic twist: Potato Fries, Green Salad, Slaw, Creamy Spinach, Curried Green Beans, Garlic Potatoes, and carrots.

Our group ordered a variety of entrees from the menu, realizing that each meat dish is prepared and cooked when it’s ordered. The first to order asked for the Chicken Pie, which was the last they had. Another ordered Lamb Chops which looked very good. Someone else ordered Peri-Peri Chicken (a marinated half-chicken). I ordered the Peri-Peri Chicken Sandwich with Potato Fries and the battalion chaplain, not having much time because of an appointment, just ordered Garlic Bread, which came with a number of toppings making it almost a meal on its own.

Everyone spoke of their meals being good, but I can only speak to mine. First, the iced sweet tea came in a handled mason jar. It’s brewed fresh (with the tea bag still in the glass when it arrived). The taste was a bit different from “American” sweet tea, apparently being sweetened with honey.

I ordered my Peri-Peri Chicken Sandwich with Potato Fries instead of the Green Salad, not knowing what may be in the salad or what the dressings may be like. I wondered, with a name like “Potato Fries,” if they would be any different than American “French Fries” and discovered they weren’t, but they were very good, certainly better that fast-food French Fries.

I’ve had Peri-Peri Chicken before, but at an Afro-Portuguese restaurant in Qatar, called Nando’s Peri-Peri. I assumed it would be similar, which it was. The sandwich came on a hoagie-type bun with shredded chicken marinated in the Peri-Peri spice. It had a thin white sauce along the top, though I’m not certain what that sauce was. While the type of bun was more bread than I would prefer, the taste of the sandwich -with the seasoning and sauces- was very, very good. It did remind me of the Peri-Peri chicken that I ate at Nando’s, which is a pleasant memory. There wasn’t a choice of levels of spicy (at Nando’s, I’d get “mild”) so had to take what I received. It was what I would label as medium-spicy. Spicy enough that I needed to get an additional glass of water but not so spicy that I couldn’t enjoy the flavor. The Peri-Peri Chicken Sandwich was a great choice, and one that I will make again…after I sample the other items on the menu which all also look great.

I would highly recommend Braai Republic if you’re looking for “meat and potatoes” with a bit of spice and good side dishes. And, I found out while writing this review that not only is there a Braai Republic near Camp Humphreys (where I ate), there is also one in Itaewon near USAG Yongsan (their website is here), so I’m looking forward to eating at Braai Republic again soon!

Additionally, I discovered that the same owners of the restaurant have a shop where a variety of sausages and cured and dried meats can be purchased. Here is a link to the store’s website, which also has good descriptions of the types of meat they sell at the store as well as serve in the restaurants: The Biltong Guy Shop.

Higher-Command Chaplain Visit

April 22, 2016April 23, 2016 Chaplain Military, Ministry Braai Republic, Camp Humphreys, Pyeongtaek

Most of the time, higher headquarters are located near their subordinate units. Sometimes, however, higher headquarters are more distant, like here in Korea, my higher headquarters are located near Washington D.C. Also, usually there is a clear chain of command to those higher headquarters, but sometimes there are dotted lines of command as well as multiple chains. That is the case with my brigade and the subordinate battalions. Being in Korea, we have “dotted-line” chains of command to 8th Army and U.S. Forces Korea and in the event of resumed hostilities in Korea, Combined Forces Command. With all of the organic and “dotted-line” chains of commands and technical/supervisory chains, there is the potential of many different VIPs coming to Korea.

This week, one of my battalions had such a visit. This battalion is muddled with solid and dotted lines and a Chaplain (Colonel) from one of their higher commands visited the battalion and its chaplain. Adding to the “muddle” is that this chaplain is in a joint billet, so is an Air Force chaplain, visiting an Army battalion.

The visiting chaplain (center) with the psychologist (left) and the battalion chaplain (right).

One of the things that this chaplain did while in Korea was present a “safeTALK” which is a half-day of training on suicide prevention, awareness and intervention. There were 30 or so Soldiers present for this training which helps them identify Soldiers in crisis and intervene to prevent suicide.

Each participant in the 1/2-day safeTALK class received a completion certificate.

Since this Chaplain (Colonel) came from the U.S., the battalion chaplain did much of the coordination for his visit and for the class, so she was honored with the presentation of the visiting chaplain’s coin of excellence which is always a thrill to receive.

The battalion chaplain receiving a coin from the visiting chaplain for all the work she did coordinating his visit and the class.

After the safeTALK presentation and before the visiting chaplain continued his visit with site tours and office calls, we went to lunch in “The Ville” at a nice South African restaurant called Braai Republic. With us were a couple of gentlemen who are civilian contractors in the same organization as the visiting chaplain, and a clinical psychologist in a related organization. It’s always great to visit with other chaplains, especially senior chaplains, and pick their brain to learn from them and their experiences. We had a good time of conversation while waiting for, and eating, our meal.

Our group enjoying lunch at Braai Republic in "The Ville." — Our group enjoying lunch at Braai Republic in “The Ville.”

After lunch, it was rush back to post for him to continue his visit at the battalion before he moved on to Osan Air Base then to Japan before returning to the U.S.

KATUSA Promotion Recognition

April 2, 2016April 2, 2016 Chaplain Food & Drink, Military, Ministry, Travel & Siteseeing Dino Prime Meat Bar, KATUSA, Promotion, Pyeongtaek

The U.S. forces in Korea have a large number of KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to U.S. Army) Soldiers working with us. The chaplain’s offices often have a KATUSA assigned to them. In my brigade, we have a KATUSA as part of the BDE UMT and one of our battalions also has a KATUSA. These KATUSAs are doing a 2-year tour of duty with about 18 months of it on assignment with us. They receive their rank based on time-in-service. My KATUSA was recently promoted to corporal and the battalion KATUSA was just promoted to sergeant. To help him celebrate his promotion, we went to Dino Prime Meat Bar in Pyeongtaek, a great meat buffet. Here’s some pictures:

KATUSA Promotion — I gave the newly-promoted KATUSA a choice of a cross to wear around his neck or a cross on a key chain (both made and donated by my nephew).

Pyeongtaek street — Here’s a very Korean-looking street of Pyeongtaek on the way to Dino Prime Meat Bar

A Stroll in the “Ville”

March 19, 2016April 19, 2016 Chaplain Food & Drink, Travel & Siteseeing Camp Humphreys, Pyeongtaek, The Ville

Spending the weekend at Camp Humphreys to spend time with my battalion chaplains and attend some of their events and worship services, I took some of my free time to go out the “walk-through” gate into the area of Pyeongtaek directly beside the base. I walked up the road in the area affectionately (or not so much) called by the Soldiers, “the Ville.” This is pretty much the main part of town that our Soldiers can get to easily and contains a combination of restaurants, bars and a variety of stores. Here’s a few pictures of my stroll in the “Ville”:

A view down the main road of the "Ville" — A view down the main road of the “Ville”

Several tailors can be found any of the military posts in Korea to include Camp Humphrys. I think I'll go with the red one... — Several tailors can be found outside of any of the military posts in Korea to include Camp Humphrys. I think I’ll go with the red one…

Hooters Snack Bar Pyeongtaek — Looks like this used to be some kind of snack bar. I wonder why it didn’t survive. I don’t think it was the “Hooters” the Soldiers were expecting!

A view down one of the side roads... — A view down one of the side roads…

Royal Hotel Pyeongtaek — …and then you see this: The Royal Hotel.

Love Shop — One of the places Soldiers need to stay away from!

USA Military Surplus Pyeongtaek — There are several military surplus stores outside of Camp Humphreys in the “Ville.” Here’s one of the largest ones.

Pyeongtaek Fish Market — Stores of all kinds line the road in the “Ville.” Here’s a fish market.

Pyeongtaek Korean Oreos — Another market has a variety of food, some very familiar!

Korean Frosted Flakes — They’re Gr-r-reat!

Pyeongtaek market — I had to get a few snacks from this market.

Pyeongtaek — A view down another road in the “Ville.” No end to shops.

Korean Food Pyeongtaek — So you can find Korean Food in Korea!

Pyeongtaek alley — A “shady” looking alley in the “Ville.”

Pyeongtaek street art — Interesting street art. Looks like how many people drive!

Pyeongtaek snack bar — There’s never a shortage of food to eat. Not sure how safe some of the places are, though…

Pyeongtaek Restaurant Varieties — There’s also a variety of ethnic foods. Down this side road is Filipino and Thai restaurants.

Nazar Kebab Pyeongtaek — I decided to eat at Nazar Kebab, a Turkish restaurant my chaplains took me to last weekend.

Small and large communities of businesses crop up outside of military bases all over the world and contain their share of nice places and not-so-nice places. The benefit of these business communities is that the military personnel have a place to shop and eat, offering a change from the common on-post establishments. In turn, money spent by these Service Members go into the local economy to help those who live and work in the area.

Road Trip: Seoul to Pyeongtaek & Back

January 10, 2016January 11, 2016 Chaplain Travel & Siteseeing Domino's Pizza, Harley Davidson, highway signs, McDonald's, Pyeongtaek, Seoul

I make a lot of trips to Camp Humphreys, but seldom take many pictures. Last week I had a little more time, so took more pictures. Here is what I saw, with no commentary (click on a picture to enlarge it):