I wanted an interesting year of life and after being in Korea for less than three weeks I know that’s exactly what I am going to get. I could already write a book about all of the differences in culture I see just by walking down the street. I am going to dedicate this particular post to food and the overall dining experience in Korea.
Food was the least of my concern when I decided to move to Mokpo. I had already been told that I would find a cheeseburger, egg and ham sandwich, and chicken quesadilla. So naturally I thought that I had this eating in a foreign country stuff covered. What you cannot prepare yourself for is the difference in flavor that even the most American dishes will have. Egg and ham sandwich with coleslaw…and a chicken quesadilla loaded with mushrooms that look like octopus spawn. Even after you accept that these foods have a Korean twist you must eat everything with water. The food (all of it) is extremely spicy and I am going through Tums like a mad woman. As promised Mokpo is a port city and they love their seafood, as I walk to school its very typical to pass tanks of fish outside of restaurants as they await their fate. I am allergic to seafood so here’s to hoping Nemo doesn’t find its way into one of my dishes.
In Korea they do NOT eat cats. No, No, they much prefer dogs. Dog meat is difficult to find and I am working on forgiving Korean people for this gross cultural insanity. I could not help but confirm with my students that dogs are truly a meal and the response I received was something like “oh yes teacher, dog is very delicious”. Not kidding!! I have found some food that I do think tastes like home which gives me hope for the future. The chicken wings are great! I had spaghetti in a bread bowl and a chicken sandwich, I am sure I will have it again… and again. The much talked about Kimchi (fermented cabbage), is served with almost everything. It might be just a tiny side dish but it doesn’t matter what you order it comes to the table. It too, is pretty spicy and in some type of red sauce. If you don’t get Kimchi, your table will start out with pickles instead. They taste most like a pickle for your sandwich but every restaurant has their own tasting pickles. In addition to Kimchi or pickles you might be served yellow radishes, Mr. Lee called them “pickles brother” during my first Korean meal on my way to Mokpo. I have been to two restaurants that served eggs on a hot dish before you get your meal. You fry them up right there at your table and they are awesome! Eggs in Korea and eggs in the states taste the same, finally something normal.
Korean BBQ is well known within the world except there isn’t any BBQ sauce involved. This particular meal involves cooking pork at your table that is loaded with fat, adding some anchovies that still have eyes (I pass), rice, and wrapping it in lettuce. Kimchi will be available for your Korean lettuce wrap as well. Overall, Korean BBQ passes on my food radar. Dining with Korean people is a very drunken experience. Shots of Soju (Korean liquor) is the primary drink and if you take that shot you better believe it will be refilled. But DON’T refill the glass yourself! It is tradition to poor each other drinks at a table. So if your thirsty you start pouring everyone water, put the pitcher down and hope someone catches on to pour you some as well. Typically you really aren’t supposed to poor your own drink. While someone is pouring your drink I have learned you must hold the glass with two hands. This is the case with more than just drinks, the same tradition holds when you are having anything put into your hands (use two). When you are the “passer”, you have to pass with one hand and use the opposite hand to touch the upper arm of the one you are using to pass drinks or money or anything. It is difficult to remember but I am getting there.
There really is no breakfast food; my students usually have rice for breakfast with either Kimchi or a broth. So much for finding the pancake house in Korea. I did find bagels but the small tub of cream cheese will run you nearly 6 dollars because Koreans really don’t eat cheese so foreigners really have to cough up some money for the good stuff. Speaking of the good stuff, there are websites such as nicedeli.com and ezgokorea.com that offer up the food we foreigners miss so dearly. This is good to know in those times of desperation but it certainly is not cheap. Rice and broth it is!! I have attched a picure of some breakfast sushi which has egg and ham in it. I have also added pictures of the other food that has become part of my regular diet. Korean food is a daily learning experience, many meals I have had are very tasty. However, one really cannot escape the desire to just want food that tastes like home.
