Street Food in Korea

Street Food is, generally, one of the biggest attractions when visiting a place -especially these days- and Korea isn't the exception. Street Food is usually for adventurous people, as not everyone dares to eat food off of the street stalls, to be honest, they don't know what they're missing!

As Mexican, I grew up in a culture filled with Street Food and I LOVE it, I mean, not for nothing Mexican Street Food is considered one of the Most Delicious in the World! So, not only am I used to street food but I am an enthusiast of it; no matter where I go, I gotta have street food. Of course, always being precocious enough as not every street stall meets -at least- the minimum hygienic standards one would look for in a place to eat.

Street Food in Korea has a wide variety that goes from very delicious to pretty nasty things, going through a lot of weird stuff! lol (seriously)

Tteokbokki (떡볶이 – spicy rice cakes). Rice cakes in a spicy red pepper paste sauce, one of my personal favorites, though the taste varies quite a lot depending on the place, but it’s usually very good, tasty and spicy.

Sundae (순대 – blood sausage). Coagulated pig’s blood, glass noodles and barley, with pig or cow intestines for the sausage skin. We have something similar in Mexico called “moronga’, and I find them almost equally disgusting. 

Odeng (오뎅 – fish cakes). They are skewered on a stick and left in a broth, they look like long-gross brown-colored tongues…or something lol It also looks like Mexican food called “pancita”, which is maybe the reason why I don’t like it, though the disgusting taste also contributes.

Twigim (튀김 – Fried Snacks). It’s a variety of things like shrimp, eggs, kimbap, sweet potato, lotus root, peppers, eggplant, etc, dipped in a batter and deep-fried. The good thing here is the variety, it’s always easy to find something you like.

Dalkggochi (닭꼬치 - Chicken skewers). Portions of dark-meat or chicken skewered together and grilled over open coals, covered with a tasty marinade throughout the cooking process. These are good and well, with chicken and/or meat, you can hardly go wrong…though I did get a stomachache both time I had it (true story!).

Jeon – (전 - Korean pancakes). It’s a sort of pancake made with vegetables, kimchi (or other stuff) and batter, they’re fried up and made flat and round -just like a pancake!

Hoddeok – (호떡 – Sweet pancakes). A sweet (and in my opinion, much better tasting) version of the previous pancake. These are made of balls of dough and filled with cinnamon, and occasionally nuts. Then they’re put into a shallow pool of oil, squashed to form a pancake, and then flipped to finish cooking and melt the sugar inside.

   

“Olden Days” Hoddeok (옛날 호떡 - Sweet pancakes). The variation of the previous one , it is prepared in a similar way but this one is cooked in some kind of rotating waffle iron, making it not oily but dry as well as airier and crunchier. They’re both delicious if you ask me, but the first one is better for cold days.

And there seems to be another variety of them, though I'm not sure it is actually hoddeok as well, they're the same round sort of pancakes but these ones are filled with crystal noodle and vegetables, so it's like salty variety.

 

Bungeobbang (붕어빵 - Crispy fish-shaped pastries). This one is a crispy pastry shell stuffed with either sweet red bean paste (not my favorite) or cream (my absolute favorite!). They’re usually served hot and that makes them even yummier.

Gyeranbbang (계란빵 - Egg bread). A sort of oval-shaped piece of bread with an egg baked on top of it. It might not sound very appetizing, but it is actually good. I mean, bread and egg? What can be wrong with that? lol

 

Ojingeo (오징어 - Grilled Cuttlefish). Dry and grilled cuttlefish, well, needless to say I haven’t tried this one but just by the smell I can tell you not everyone loves it. Though perhaps Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods) would!

Beondegi (번데기 - Silkworm pupae). Silkworm pupae. Toasted warms, pretty much sums the whole thing up. We also have a similar thing in Mexico called “chapulines”. Try them under your own risk, if the smell doesn’t kill you first that is!

Kimbap (김밥 Stuffed Rice rolls). Seaweed stuffed with cucumber, crab, turnip, a bit of sesame oil and a variety of things such as tuna, pork and stuff. I used to look at it as if it was “cheap” suchi…because it sort if looks like it, only this is served the whole role together (though it is cut up) unlike sushi, which is usually laid in a nice way; but now I really like it! I’d say it’s definitely one of the good ones.     

So, if you're looking for a quick bite with the local taste, just hit up the streets of Seoul (or any other city in Korea) and bite away! Have you already tried Korean Street Food? If so, how did you like it? Which one of your favorite?

21 Months ago on the 21

It’s been a while since I last wrote something –really- personal here but I feel like I need it. As some of you may know, 21 Months ago on the 21, I suffered the biggest loss ever…I lost my Mom to cancer. That changed my life forever. The whole first year seemed blurry for a while, I had to think hard to remember what had happened during that period, and then I remembered it was awful. I felt not only sad and completely wrecked, but also lost, angry, hopeless, hateful and had all these terrible feelings no one ever wants to have but that is good we all experience at least once as humans. I even went to therapy.

During that year, besides losing my Mom to Cancer, I lost my family to egoism, stupidity and lack of understanding (all from their part, of course). I don’t think I’ve ever talked about it publicly because I didn’t think it was even worth mentioning but now I feel much more at peace with myself and my life so now I can bring it up without an issue. So, after all those losses, all I got left was my sister; she became my only family and pretty much (or so I thought) all I got. I am thankful that we’re so close and mindful of each other, we always were, but now it’s different…our relationship is not only better, but it is stronger and also much happier than it’s ever been. And all of this is thanks to my Mom, not because she passed away and we had to become close, but because she raised us in her own way, with her own rules as she had no proper examples to follow regarding raising a child; still, she did what she thought was best, she gave us the best of herself, always provided for us, and not only with material things but also with the most important thing of all: LOVE! No matter what the situation, the times, the problems…love was there at all times, above all things. That’s how Mom raised us and perhaps we didn’t appreciate it (or notice it) as much as we do now as adults but now I am incredibly thankful for that, because thanks to that, now I know better and am able to actually be a better person everyday.

The love that Mom gave me encourages me everyday to go on and move forward, to fight for what I want, to not give up so easily; so even in the hard times (like the ones we’ve had a lot of lately), I feel like I’m stumbling, yes…but I know I won’t fall. I know that, if I’m strong enough, I will be able to keep ahead and get wherever I want. Because that’s who my Mom raised me to be.

I know she is watching and I certainly hope that, wherever she is right now, she is proud of us and happy to see us happy with ourselves, with our lives, with what we’ve got -no matter how little or much it is- because at the end of the day, everything I do is not just for me or for my sister, but for her. Making her proud is still –and always will be- one of the main reasons why I do what I do and why I try to be better and make the best out of life. Although I do get very sad and emotional everytime I see someone (around my age) with their Mom, or when I see some expats sharing photos of their Mom’s visiting them in Seoul and stuff, I honestly cry whenever I see that because I get sad and it makes me really jealous that I will never get to do that, that Mom won’t come visit me and see how I’m doing so far away from home, I won’t ever –again- get to see her pretty face full of pride because of me.

And now you all see me happy and content with myself, and I am, trust me; but please, don’t you EVER dare to think that I forgot about Mom and that I don’t think about her and talk to her every single  day, because I do. She is a huge part of me and no matter how much time it passes or what happens, nothing will ever change that.

Mumsy + Moi

In spite of everything that’s happened, of so much suffering, a lot of hard times and whatnot; now, 21 Months after that sad 21, I am really INCREDIBLY THANKFUL with everything that’s happened in my life; the good, the bad and the ugly (yes, like the movie!). And, maybe I don’t always know or understand why certain things happen when they do but I’ve come to terms with the fact that everything DOES happen for a reason (no matter how cheesy and repetitive it sounds!) and sometimes we don’t see it right away, but time usually give us the answer and, in the end, it is all life lessons that we have to learn in order to become who we’re meant to be. I am also really thankful for having so many great people in my life, people that in spite of not being related to me by blood, love me, worry about me, take care of me and is there for me; I’m even thankful for the random people that life puts in my way even if it’s just for a bit cause I know there’s a reason for it. And, above all, I am THANKFUL and HAPPY for My Sister, because without her, nothing would be the same and I would not be who I am. 

Gichef, Mumsy + Moi

"BITTER, SWEET, SEOUL" (고진감래)

"BITTER, SWEET, SEOUL" (고진감래) are not only words that can perfectly describe the city that is Seoul, but it is also a sort of movie/documentary by renowned Korean Film Director Park Chan-Wook and his colleague Park Chan-Hyun. They made a compound of several video cuts people from all over the World sent about Seoul and included them in the movie. The final result is a film that, without an actual storyline, characters or any kind of structure we may be used to getting in a film, turns out to be a true movie about Seoul; with the good and sweet things that go on in a city like this, but also with the bad and bitter ones that people usually don’t talk about.

In the movie you get to see a lot of the real Seoul and I like it, if you’ve ever been to Seoul, you will know it speaks the truth about the many faces of the City and it depicts the kind of hectic life that we, the ones who live here, are very well acquainted with.

It only lasts about an hour and, in my opinion, it’s totally worth watching as it is the combination of a Travel film and a very well represented City portrait.

"BITTER, SWEET, SEOUL" (고진감래)

Have you watched it? What did you think of it? Leave your comments below!

Korean Culture 101

Koreans and their quirkiness.

”Cultural Differences”, oh, how many times we’ve heard that phrase! Sometimes, when we see someone from another country do or say something amazing, and sometimes, appealing to it to justify when someone from another country do or say something bad or just weird. Anyway, they sure exist and some are good, but some aren’t.

Since I am in a country (Korea) very –VERY- far away from my own (Mexico), I get to see and live “cultural differences” every single day. I actually enjoy some of them and can’t really deal with some others; but well, I’m in their territory so I have to suck it up, basically lol Anyway, judgment aside…these are some of the things that Koreans do and I guess can be considered as such (cultural differences); good or bad –it is what it is!.

Korean Flag made with Kimbap and sauces

Koreans:

- Don’t always wash their hands after using the toilet. They’d much rather spend their time fixing their hair and makeup in the mirror...or taking selfies. (Here’s when you appreciate the fact that they don’t shake hands ^^)

 

- Must look as nice as possible at all times. B*tches be wearing heels and miniskirts with a full face of makeup while climbing a mountain during the summer…or a hip hop concert.

- Wear the same. Yes, it is very common to see tons of people on the street wearing the same and not just the same jacket, or t-shirt or jeans, but the same entire outfit! I guess this happens because the clothing stores make their mannequins look so good, people just go like “I’ll have that outfit, please” –yes, all set up as it is on the window.

- Don’t acknowledge a sneeze. Did you sneeze? Well, that's okay, you don't need to excuse yourself or say anything about it, just carry on with whatever you were doing as if nothing had happened (even if you were eating/drinking/talking), but also, don't expect someone to say “bless you” either, cause nobody will.

- Drink instant coffee mix. Real coffee is for special occasions or for coffee shops, at home, there's no need to drink real coffee when a coffee mix stick will do...even if the package is only enough for a dwarf's cup.

 

 - Master the Art of Self-Service. Waiters? What's that? Yeah, there's no such thing as -proper- waiting service in Korea; you want water? You go get it. You want side dishes You go get them. You want...well, you get the idea. (Personally, I really miss waiters as it is part of the charm of eating outside, right? To have people do things for you!)

 

Banchan (Side dishes)

- Don’t tip. This is the up side to the no-waiting-service thing. Since there are no waiters to serve you, there is no tip to give. Simple as that.

- Take Kimchi as a way of life. That's right, eat Kimchi for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert (I hear there's chocolate Kimchi) and also, in Western food (Kimchi fries, kimchi pizza, etc.). Not only do they think its delicious but it is also healthy, so that adds up to it.

Kimchi Fries

 - Push people around. Whether it's the subway, train or just a crowded street, they will push people around even if they're not in a hurry, it's a normal thing here. And even though most people (all ages) do it, is particularly done by older people.

  

- Feel entitled to anything and everything as they get older. That’s right, in Korea, just because someone is older must be treated with respect, regardless how they treat others. This is a hard one for me, as I learned that respect is something you earn as opposed to something you’re just entitled to. It is ok to respect old(er) people, but they make it a really hard thing when they mistreat you or push you around for no reason.

- Make awfully loud sounds when they're eating. Yes, this is gross and irritating in the rest of the World, but in Korea it's more than accepted. I am still not sure why they do it as even asking about it seems rude to me, all I know is it's rather annoying and I wish they didn’t do it.

- Obsess about Health (more than anything else). That's right, Koreans are more obsessed with health and “well-being” than anyone/any other race I know, and you'll find they do a lot of the things they do due to their eternal pursuit of health. They will, gladly, buy anything labeled as such, whether it’s a (hand/face/body) cream, food, a beverage, a face mask, you name it, if it’s healthy, they’ll buy it!

Health and Beauty Products

And well, that is just some of the things Koreans usually do, but there are a lot more that I will -maybe- talk about later on.  There are also a lot of misconceptions about them that I like to talk about such as "all Koreans are tall", "all Koreans are mean", "all Koreans are such bullies", "all Koreans smell like garlic/kimchi", etc...but well, that's a topic for another post. If you have a [mis]conception of Koreans, do let me know!

How to be a Korean in 10 Days

From the series "How to be a [insert nationality here] in 10 Days", today I bring to you "How to be a Korean in 10 days".

This is an article about how to become a Korean (well, you know, as close as it gets for any foreigner) in only 10 Days. To accomplish this difficult task, I worked hard during these past few months, but I figured not everyone can be in Korea for months, so I thought 10 days would be enough; I picked up a few things from my personal Korean Chingu (friends): Hong, Yoonju, Hyuk (aka Baby Bro), Young (aka Oppa), Eunkyung, Jae-min (aka Lame-in), Linda, J and a few more people, who were absolutely awesome.

So, let's get started. I now present to you a list of things to do to help you get closer to becoming a Korean:  

- Make sure you have a cellphone (preferably a Samsung -3 or newer- or iPhone). Have it in your hands at all times (this is very important!) so you can be looking at/playing with/listening to it non-stop. Don't put it in your pocket, the having it always in your hands is crucial for Koreans!

 - Make awfully loud sounds when you're eating. Yes, this is gross and irritating in the rest of the World, but in Korea it's more than accepted. (Personally, I don't do this one, I prefer seeming a foreigner lol).

- Do the Peace sign in photos. Well, this is just a must, it will make you look cuter and well, sometimes it's even fun to do it!

They've been doing for as long as they can remember!

- Push people around. Whether it's the subway, train or jusr a crowded street, feel free to push people around even if you're not in a hurry, it's a normal thing here. 
 

Never afraid of invading strangers' personal space

- Kakao Talk. Download the Korean IM Application KakaoTalk so you can talk to all of your Korean friends as, in Korea, everyone has/uses Kakao -elderly and youngsters equally.
  

 

 - Adopt Kimchi as a way of life. That's right, eat Kimchi for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert (I hear there's chocolate Kimchi) and also, in Western food (Kimchi fries, kimchi pizza, etc.)

Kimchi

Kimchi Fries

 - Master the Art of Self-Service. Waiters? What's that? Yeah, there's no such thing as -proper- waiting service in Korea; you want water? You go get it. You want side dishes You go get them. You want...well, you get the idea. (Personally, I really miss waiters as it is part of the charm of eating outside, right? To have people do things for you!)

I truly miss waiting staff in restaurants

- No-tipping policy. This is the up side to the no-waiting-service thing. Since there are no waiters to serve you, there is no tip to give. Simple as that.

- Don’t acknowledge a sneeze. Did you sneeze? Well, that's okay, you don't need to excuse yourself or say anything about it, just carry on with whatever you were doing as if nothing had happened (even if you were eating/drinking/talking), but also, don't expect someone to say “bless you” either, cause nobody will.

- Drink instant coffee mix. Real coffee is for special occasions or for coffee shops, at home, there's no need to drink real coffee when a coffee mix tube will do...even if the package is only enough for a dwarf's cup.

Refrain from looking for a particular brand, they're all equally bland.

- Use Internet Explorer. Yes, as if it was still the only browser available. And when you wanna know something (and aren't too busy watching satellite TV, Kakao-ing or playing games), use Naver instead of Google -you will find more sources there IF what you're looking for is Korean, anyway.

- Try to sing in tune. Well, usually this is something you either have on you or you don't, if you don't, well, at least do your best when going to the Norebang (Karaoke) with your (Korean) friends because all of them can sing, trust me, ALL of them! Of course, some are better than others, but these dudes/dudettes are just naturals at it and by being a foreigner, you're already at disadvantage.

 

- Wear Oversize shirt dress, leggings, heels, top knot hair, big glasses (or all together). This way, it will be easier for you to try to blend with the rest of the Seoulites with an edgy sense of fashion. You can also add sporty sneakers (fluorescent colors are a plus!), pullovers with hoodies (extra points if you were 2 or more...at the same time!), oversize caps and stalkings to the list. 

The bigger, the better!

- Obsess about Health more than anything else. Koreans are more obsessed with health and “well-being” than anyone I know, and a lot of the things they do due are in their eternal pursuit of health. So, buy anything labeled as such, not only for you but also as presents and, when giving it to your friends/colleagues, say it is for a "healthier [whatever]", they're gonna love you! Also, when you say goodbye to someone (when sending them off or something), wish them for health...a safe fight? Whatever! Health comes before a safe flight! lol Also on their birthdays, wish them a good health and on a Holiday, and...well, you get the idea. 

If it's got green and roots, it means it's healthy

- Love Coffee Shops. Well, in reality, we all do, don't we? Or most of us anyway. But in Seoul, there are way more coffee shops than you can count (physically, anyway) and not only chains such as Starbucks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Gurinaru, A Twosome Place, etc., but there are also tons, and I mean TONS of lovely-charming-little independent cafes where you can catch up with your Korean buddies and/or make your office for the day. And honestly, at least 85% of the cafes in Seoul are quite charming and make you wanna go in, sit and have a sip of their best brew (or hot coco, tea or whatever fancies you) so, this one should be easy.

 

 

Check out the "How To Be a "Parisien" in 10 Days" post!