Other than this instance, however, I have found Korean food very good. I sort of figured it would be along the lines of Chinese, but it's actually very unique. There are similar elements--lots of noodles, dumplings, vegetables--but Korea certainly has it's own distinct cuisine. The single greatest thing about Korea so far is the barbeque. Korean barbeque is delicious. Actually, the entire restaurant experience here is a beautiful thing. You usually sit on the floor, and you have to take your shoes off, so it's super comfy. When you are ready, you ring a little bell that's built into the table, and the waiter comes over to take care of you. I am still in the only-ordering-food-with-pictures phase, so I point to what I want, and then they fire up your own personal grill in the middle of the table. You get to see the food cooking in front of you, so you know it's trustworthy, and you can grill it as long or short as you want, which guarantees that it's delicious. Usually, there's some sort of dipping sauce and vegetables to go with, and then you wrap the whole thing up in a lettuce or sesame leaf and eat it like the world's healthiest taco. And tipping is nonexistant here! It is, as my uncle Chuck would say, the total package.

And the side dishes. Every meal comes with about 8 side dishes, from soups and rice to vegetables, eggs and lots of things from the ocean. I have now expanded my definition of food to include about ten kinds of seaweed. It's actually quite good. And of course, there's the kimchi. Okay. I've been here a month, and it's time to talk about kimchi. When I said I was moving to Korea, the first thing everybody said was "Stay away from the kimchi!" Those people are wrong. Kimchi is good. It comes in many forms, but usually it's pickled cabbage or radishes in some kind of red spicy sauce. And yes, it's served with every meal.

So I've been trying to remain open minded and expand my edible horizons. I think I am coming along fairly well. At bars, instead of peanuts or popcorn, they serve dried fish or squid. Squid is really chewy. I had to chew it for what felt like hours, as if it were a piece of the worst gum ever. The best thing I can say about eating squid is that it's a life experience I've now had. And at least it's better than tofu.

written by  alli_ockinga on March 4, 2009 from Inch'on, South Korea
from the travel blog: I go Korea!
Send a Compliment

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Dog meat? ewwwwwwwwwwwww

written by  uncle denny and aunt judi on March 9, 2009

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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sarah

http://grillsblog.com

written by  Sarah on March 16, 2009

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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sarah

http://grillsblog.com

written by  Sarah on March 18, 2009

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Oh, Allison.

Dog meat?

It's funny because our generation has been subjugated to so many stupid, irrational, mildly racist stereotypes since we were kids by influential people like Steven Spielberg (why yes, they **are** eating chilled monkey's brains right out of the decapitated heads of monkeys, Indiana Jones) . . . And we **know** that those stereotypes are wrong . . . And we consider ourselves an intelligent, well-read, and well-spoken generation . . . But when something like that happens, we can't help but go "Oh-no-shit?!"

Curse you, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!"

written by  Ryan on March 22, 2009

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