The Rice Thief, Gejang(게장)

I introduced Gejang(게장) a little bit in the post, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. I like Gejang very much, and my hometown, Yeosu, is famous for Gejang. Also many Koreans like to eat Gejang with rice, so Gejang is called ‘the rice thief’. Actually, this nickname is real! When I eat Gejang with rice, I can eat a bowl of rice with only two legs of crab. Because of this reason that people eat a bowl of rice quickly with Gejang, it is named with ‘the rice thief’. There are two types of Gejang: one is Ganjang Gejang(간장게장) the other one is Yangnyeom Gejang(양념게장).

←Yangnyeom gejang

Gejang is made by marinating fresh raw crabs either in ganjang (간장, soy sauce) or in a sauce based on chili pepper powder(양념, yangnyeom). The term consists of the two words; ge(게) means "a crab", and jang(장) means "soy sauce" in Korean. Although gejang originally referred only to crabs seasoned in soy sauce, it has begun to be called "ganjang gejang”. These days yangnyeom gejang (양념게장) is also appeared to Kroea. Yangnyeom gejang (양념게장) is relatively a new dish that emerged since the restaurant business of gejang began to thrive in Korea. "Yangnyeom" means "seasoning" or "seasoned" in Korean but refers to the spicy sauce made with chili pepper powder.

←The Rice Thief

My mother sometimes makes me Gejang, but it takes a long time and labor. It’s needed fresh crabs and it has to marinate in soy sauce for a long time, like three or four days. Therefore, I recommend that eat Gejang in restaurant instead of making Gejang. There are many restaurants of Gejang, but I recommend only one restaurant in my hometown, Yeosu. There is very famous restaurant of Gejang in Yeosu. That restaurant is popular to the people from another city. The restaurant’s name is “황소식당” (Hwang-so sikdang). There are always long lines in front of the restaurant, so you have to wait to eat. This is weak point of this restaurant, but this restaurant’s Gejang is wonderful! The reason that people wait a long time to eat is this restaurant’s Gejang. Also the price of menu items is very cheep. I really recommend you that come Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea and eat Gejang in 황소식당. It will be a wonderful trip to you.

Famous food in Korea, Kimbap

The weather is very nice these days. It is good weather to go on a picnic. Many people go on a picnic with sandwich or bread, but many Koreans bring Kimbap(김밥) for lunch. Whenever I go on a picnic, my mom makes Kimbap. Kimbap is a popular Korean dish made from rice (bap) and various other ingredients, rolled in Kim (김, sheets of dried laver seaweed) and served in bite-size slices. Kimbap is often eaten during picnics or outdoor events, or as a light lunch, served with Danmuji or Kimchi. The literal translation of the word Kimbap is edible seaweed and rice. From there, you can find many variations on the filling, including fish, meat, eggs, and vegetables, whether pickled, roasted, or fresh.

Todays, there are many types of Kimbap. The typical Kimbap is the black and long stick that rolled with ingredients, like vegetables. There are many different Kimbaps, such as tuna-kimbap, cheese-kimbap, kimchi-kimbap, and so on. Also there are different shapes of Kimbap, like triangle-kimbap(삼각김밥), kid-kimbap(꼬마김밥), and so on. Kimbap is popular food in Korea, so many different types of kimbap is made from people.

Traditionally, the rice is lightly seasoned with salt and sesame oil. Popular protein ingredients are fish cakes, imitation crab meat, eggs and seasoned beef rib eye. Vegetables usually include cucumbers, spinach, carrots and danmuji (단무지, pickled radish). After the Kimbap has been rolled and sliced, it is typically served with danmuji.

Let’s make a Kimbap!

Prepare ingredients : Kim(김), sheets of dried laver seaweed), hams, spinach, carrots, danmuji(단무지), cucumbers, fried eggs, fish cakes

1.     Toast Kim(김), sheets of dried laver seaweed) and put this on a bamboo blind(대나무 발).

2.     Put the rice that seasoned with salt and sesame oil on the Kim(김)

3.     Slice the ingredients to fit the size of Kim, and put on the Kim.

4.     Roll the Kimbap carefully.

5.     Slice the Kimbap for good to eat.

EXPO 2012 YEOSU KOREA

                ‘The Living Ocean and Coast’

Expo 2012 Yeosu is started on May 12. This Expo is the first theme of ocean Expo in the world. Yeosu is my hometown so I will introduce the Yeosu Expo to you. The world’s first opening festival over the ocean was held with a theme of “the Dreaming Ocean.” Also all of exhibition centers are over the ocean. Visitors could preview the theme of the Yeosu Expo, the Living Ocean and Coast, while enjoying the beautiful night of Yeosu. There are some introductions on the official site.

“The Yeosu Expo will provide an opportunity to enhance the international community’s perception of the function and value of the ocean and coast, share knowledge on the proper use of the ocean and coast and recognize the need for cooperation in the marine sector. It will also serve as a venue to learn about the achievements of and future models for the marine sector and offer a valuable chance to promote state-of-the-art marine science and technology and marine industries.”

The Expo will be an opportunity for the international community to clearly understand the role of the ocean and coast as well as the challenge facing humanity caused by the reckless development of the ocean and coast. The Exposition will present a role model for transforming the declining port and its neighboring area into a new space for living. Participants will be able to experience cutting-edge marine science and technology for the future.

Next, I’ll give you some tips of traveling Yeosu. When you finished seeing exhibition centers of Expo, you will go to eat something. By the way, Yeosu-si is included in Jeollanam-do that is famous for delicious foods. There are many famous restaurants, but I will pick one restaurant. Yeosu’s famous food is Crab Marinated in Soy Sauce. (Seasoned raw crab, 간장게장) This food is my favorite foodJ I will introduce 황소식당(Hwang-so restaurant). There are two main dishes: 간장게장, 양념게장 These are just seven-thousand won. These are very delicious and large in quantity. You have to go 황소식당 when you go to Yeosu!

The Best Dish for Hot Summer, Naeng-Myeon

The summer is coming on! It’s just May, but the weather is hot today. It’s not easy to eat hot food in this weather, so I’ll recommend a ‘cool’ food. Many Koreans like to eat cold noodles in summer, especially Naeng-myeon(냉면). I found exact definition in Wikipedia.

“Naeng-Myeon is a long and thin hand-made noodles made from the flour and starch of various ingredients: buckwheat (메밀, memil), potatoes, sweet potatoes, 칡냉면, naengmyun made with the starch from arrowroot (darker color and chewier than buckwheat noodles), and kudzu (칡, chik). Varieties with ingredients such as seaweed and green tea are available.”

Actually, there are two main kinds of Naeng-Myeon: Mul-Naengmyeon(물냉면) and Bibim-Nangmyeon(비빔냉면). Mul-Naengmyeon(물냉면) is served as a cold soup with the noodles contained in soup made from beef(육수), or dongchimi(동치미). I like Mul-Naengmyeon more because the soup makes me cool and not spicy. Bibim-Naengmyeon(비빔냉면) is served with a spicy dressing made primarily from gochujang (red chili paste, 고추장) and eaten all mixed. Many Koreans are always stressing about choosing between two things because these two things are all delicious. If you can’t eat spicy foods, you have to choose Mul-naengmyeon.

→ Mul-Naengmyeon

→ Bibim-Naengmyeon

 Naengmyeon is served with iced meat broth, so it’s very cool. Also there are boiled egg, cucumbers, slices of boiled beef, slice of radish and so on. I’ll give you a hint with these ingredients. You have to eat boiled egg first, because it protects the stomach walls. Naeng-myeon’s noodles are made of buckwheat flour(메밀가루). This flour’s particles are rougher than rice, so it’s easy to injure the stomach walls. Also many people in Korea usually put spicy Mustard sauce (or Mustard oil) and vinegar.

  There are many Naeng-myeon restaurants in Korea. The restaurants give some meat with Naeng-myeon nowadays. 육쌈냉면 is popular restaurant of Naeng-myeon. This restaurant’s dishes are cheap and delicious. They also serve delicious charcoal-broiled pork. How about eat Naeng-myeon in lunch? J