We drove in two cars. While other streets have dimmed down and closed their storefronts, the streets of Koreantown remain bustling and vibrant. Finding parking proves to be difficult as we circled around the blocks of cars lined up against the side of the street. We finally decided to pay the valet fee and park in the parking lot.
Our group was split between two cars. My group arrived there first, and we walked up to reserve a table for the 8 of us. The waiter greeted us in Korean, but none of us in the first car knew the language. He had us wait to the side as he assisted other regular guests who conversed with him in Korean. The other car arrived approximately 15 minutes later. Our Korean friend was in that car and he came out to speak with the host in regards to our table. After he exchanged a few friendly words with the host, we were promptly seated.
I looked at the tables around us. And walking by the tables, I felt everyone's attention turn to us as our group seemed to stick out from the rest. Everyone had a very similar look. Not only were they from the same ethnic background, but their clothing style and labels everyone sported seemed to be of a similar class stature. Also, they all seemed very comfortable with the set up of the restaurant. Each table had a grill where we could cook our own food. Those seated around us looked as if they were sitting at their family tables, familiar with the placing of the various kitchen utensils and side dishes that surrounded them.
I had trouble figuring out why there seemed to be no napkins available. Turns out they were in the drawer behind our table.
Our friend who frequented the place, sensed that we may have felt out of place. He explained to us that the cuisine presented at the restaurant was so distinct that only a certain group of regulars were familiar with the place. These regulars came from the same ethnic background where this time of delicacy was enjoyed. Also, because of the quality of pork belly offered and the prices it was offered at, the restaurant catered to a more affluent population. He further discussed how these segmented group of people that ate at the restaurant really took pride in what they believed to be their distinct cultural background as well as their affluence within that group.
This reflects on idea of object relations theory mentioned in David Sibley's Mapping of the Pure and Defiled. The object relations theory "posits that individuals as well as groups form positive identities of themselves through a process of excluding other individuals and groups thought to be deviant." Perhaps by entering this restaurant, as those who were unfamiliar with the culture and did not hold the same level of affluence, caused the regulars to feel as if this delicacy of theirs did not hold as much value as it has built up to be for them.
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