As we point out in our assessment of the cuisine served up at Jumong, a restaurant out in Buffalo Grove, most Americans really ought to try Korean cuisine. The food is largely meat-based, and prepared in ways -- grilling, barbecuing -- that we're comfortable with. In short, there's no reason not eat a little Korean. Although kimchi has a (mostly undeserved) reputation as being hot and pungent, most of the entrees are meat dishes and soups that you'll have Absolutely Nothing to Fear About.

In a similar vein, Dick explains how he learned to avoid being afraid of dining out while traveling: order the New York Strip Steak -- aka "The Traveler's Friend." He was taught this when working for Digital Equipment Corporation.

CONTACT INFO FOR RESTAURANT
Jumong, Cambridge Commons, 23 E. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. (847) 353-3333

ChicagoScope feedback line: 312-683-5272. Send e-mail to ChicagoScope@gmail.com.

We rolled into the Rolling Meadows Meijer because Leah & Dick's cat, Max, has suddenly decided not to eat catfood. The solution: Gerber baby food. But the real surprise for me was the vast cornucopia of stuff at this 24-hour store.

No matter what you want, it seems to be available here. Speakers for your iPod, plumbing supplies, lawn furniture, comic books, tiki torches, fuel for your tiki torches, eggs, teas from all over the world, T-shirts, shoes, balloons specially designed for use in water-balloon fights, Amish potato salad, hamsters, guinea pigs -- and even spotted dick in a can.

Yep, at midnight or 2 a.m. you can apparently buy a guinea pig ($25) or a hamster ($3). You don't need to be a PETA supporter to figure out that selling an animal for $3 is a universally bad idea. At that price, the poor thing is a toy -- not a pet. What was especially sad was seeing one of the hamsters desperately trying to escape. Ah, well.

MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST

Crowbusters

Prospect Heights

Al Capone's Hideaway & Steakhouse

Tommy Guns Vodka (I mistakenly call it Al Capone's Vodka)

John Dillinger

ChicagoScope feedback line: 312-683-5272. Send e-mail to ChicagoScope@gmail.com.

It was sure hot the night we dined at Azucar, a tapas bar in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. And several of the young ladies seated in a window table were pretty and hot, too, much like the senioritas of "Sabado Gigante" -- the Spanish-language program that seldom requires translation.

And speaking of Spanish, much to my disappointment, I learn that patatas bravas has nothing to do with one of my favorite movies, "Rio Bravo."

Overall, we really liked the food, as you'll discover in this podcast that tackles a wide range of other topics as we roll down the windows in the Mobile Recording Studio and treat you to a B-grade soundseeing tour of Chicago, the Northwest Side, Niles and other similar hotspots.

Subjects on our plate this time include miniskirts, pantyhose, why guys are wearing clothes that are looser than ever at a time when gals are wearing fashions tighter than ever, why it's called "Wilbur Wright College" and not "Orville and Wilbur Wright College" (did Orville get caught giving someone a prop job?), as well as numerous other diversions on the way to dessert.

OTHER ASSESSMENTS

Metromix.com

Centerstage Chicago

Citysearch

LTHForum.com (Nice photos!)

CONTACT INFO FOR RESTAURANT

Azucar Tapas Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, 2647 N. Kedzie Ave., (773) 486-6464

ChicagoScope feedback line: 312-683-5272. Send e-mail to ChicagoScope@gmail.com.