Lunch today at 영통맛집 봉평메밀촌-Yeongtong matjib bong-pyeong maemil chon.
Located in Yeongtong, Suwon City, about 30min. south of Seoul. Serving healthy and delicious buckwheat noodle dishes. About 7,000-9,000Won per noodle dish. Pancakes (side dish) are 4,000-5,000Won. Various side dishes served free as well.
Restaurant’s English name – ‘BongPyeong Buckwheat Village.- BongPyeong is a small town in Gangwon Province that’s considered the best place to grow buckwheat flowers.
메밀 – Buckwheat (me-mil)
비빔막국수 bibim-makguksu
Buckwheat noodles in a cold sauce with seaweed, sesame seeds, and diced red peppers. Continue reading →
Korean barbeque always tops the list of favorite foods for foreigners. Table grilling offers a unique bonding experience, much like a backyard picnic. And like any BBQ, beer and soju are a must. There are many different ratios for making so-maek, which is a mixture of soju and beer (maekju). Some restaurants even provide special measuring glasses that aid in creating the perfect recipe. If you look closely at the picture above, you’ll see that soju is poured first followed by the beer…it’s up to you to choose the best mix. Here’s a picture of the same Hite-Jinro so-maek glass. And more pictures.
Budae-jjigae is my favorite dish. This hearty stew was a creation of US Army rations post World War II – sliced hot dogs, vegetable dumplings, Spam, kimchi, tofu, ground pork, baked beans, green onions, ramen, sliced rice cake, bean sprouts, a slice of cheese, and red pepper paste. Today, it’s an inexpensive and filling meal that makes a great lunch or dinner.
Cooked and ready to eat
Other ingredients are available a la carte. A few shops offer unlimited ramen, and all serve side dishes such as bean sprouts and kimchi. There’s a popular local chain called Nolboo that serves variations of the dish, though I find mom-and-pop shops to be better. Supermarkets offer pre-made types in the refrigerated section as well as stock to make the broth. It’s not difficult to prepare and it’s an easy meal to customize to your tastes.
In Seoul, it’s easy to find 24-hour budae-jjigae restaurants, some of which deliver. And as with most Korean stews, a minimum of two people is required. Cost: About 5,000-8,000Won per person
Today’s Korea Times reports that spicy Korean ramen is taking off in the US. Japanese companies have thrived in the market for years but tastes are expanding and interest grows in spicy Korean-style ramen. Complete story here.
The word ramen is used for all kinds of instant noodles:
컵누들 (keop-nudeul) – cup of noodles, any style of noodles in a cup 칼국수 (kalguksu) – knife-cut wheat noodles, traditionally handmade, not here though 우동 (udong) – thick wheat noodles, comes from the Japanese word ‘udon‘
Chopped green onions, sliced rice cake, sliced fish cake, and a fried-egg are commonly added to enhance the flavor and texture. Many Koreans will admit to eating ramen two or more times per week since it’s cheap and easy to make (especially men who can’t cook). My favorite dish, 부대찌개 (budae-jjigae), normally comes with it too. And although ramen makes a tasty snack, it’s high in fat, sodium, and calories.
Many Korean bakeries and pastry shops make fantastic birthday cakes. While a bit expensive, they include tall candles, matches, and a plastic cutting knife upon request. A complete birthday set!
Prices for premium cakes range from 20,000-40,000Won (approx. $20-40). My favorite is green tea cake.
blueberry crepe – 블루 베리 크레페 (beullu beri keure-pe) green tea cake – 녹차 케이크 (nok-cha keikeu)
비빔막국수 bibim-makguksu
