The burger, is iconic American fare, and whether it's made of beef, turkey, mushroom, veggies, or soy, the burger is ubiquitous, not just in America, but in countries all over the world. While living in Seoul, S. Korea, during a stint overseas with the military, I visited many urban areas filled with people of all ages, and ethnicities. Among these urbanites, were restaurants offering a diverse mix of cuisine. While I wasn't surprised to see the burger among the mix, I was surprised to see the many different ways it was offered and produced. 

During one shopping trip in particular, the trip that allowed me to purchase a designer handbag for a fraction of what it would cost me in the states, I stumbled upon an outdoor burger vendor. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing unusual about the Korean operated burger vendor, but once I got closer and surveyed the outfit of the operation, I noticed some very important nuances that really set this vendor apart from the rest. The woman calling the shots on this particular day was much older looking than most working Korean women. She had skin that looked as though she had been working in the tundra most of her life, and a presence of peace and calm that could only come from wisdom acquired by age and experience. After an exchange of, "Ahn Yong Ha Sa Yo", the Korean equivalent of, "Hi How Are You", I fell into comfort almost instantly. This wise woman wasn't uncomfortable, nor was she intimidated by my round eyes and "American" stature. She was committed to my enjoyment and satisfaction of her product. Her younger assistants were very sharp as well, paying attention to the slightest of details. 

When I say details, I don't mean arrangement or presentation, but rather waste management, and production methods. The team worked with the ingredients carefully, and used a run off container to recycle the PEANUT oil used in the cooking. I also noticed the use of CFL light bulbs, rather than the more common incandescent bulb. This, I can only assume was to preserve energy, and maximize production time. But the most interesting of my discoveries, was the use of banana leaves as wrappers for the burgers. Now, I don't know for sure whether or not this was due to cutting costs, or "going green", but either way, both were accomplished. I also noticed that the burgers offered, only came one way, so there wasn't much variety; if you didn't like something you had to remove it yourself. This wasn't a problem for the locals, but I noticed a few foreigners tossing out some of the more unique toppings. I think the simple offering and limited ingredient list was due primarily to cost management and production time, but it also dramatically reduced waste. 

During this experience I realized the importance of awareness of self. I don't mean this in the yogi sense of the phrase, but in the sense that we all impact and shape our world. When we are aware of ourselves, we become aware of our choices and actions. And if we think before we choose, and act, I think for the most part, we will do right for our future. Now, this may sound "granola", or "idealistic" to some, but I think this is a real truth in a world filled with fleeting trends and labels. Even though I didn't particularly enjoy the taste of the burger, I walked away with something more profound than just a taste in my mouth. I, in the midst of one of the most populous, and unique cities in the world, stumbled upon "The Green Burger".

Tags: burger