Mmmm Mmmmm GOOD!

WOW!  I am not sure that chicken in America was ever THIS exciting!  Actually, fried chicken is quite popular here, and is often called "Kentucky chicken" as in KFC, which is a favorite "hot spot," especially among the younger Koreans.  For this blog we thought we would show some of the foods on the advertisements that get taped to our door every week.  Some are from restaurants, like this one.  Most are from grocery stores and markets.  The prices are in won.  Right now $1.00 is worth about 1,160 won.

                                 

Beginning with a staple - kimchee - a spicy fermented vegetable concoction most commonly made with cabbage but radishes, onions, sprouts, seaweed also are used.  It is served with every meal, breakfast included.  Traditonally it is made in big clay pots that are buried for some magical length of time.  Should you not wish to go this route you can by it ready-made.  These two bags equal about 11 pounds of kimchee!

Red Pepper Paste.  No self-respecting Korean cook is ever without this seasoning, which is added to just about everything.

Of course, there is SPAM.  Wonderful SPAM.

This is an import from Japan - a soup mix with Udon noodles.  It is actually one of our favorite quick-fix meals - noodles, seasoning and little crunchy vegetable bits are included - we just add hot water.

Tasty and popular - mandu, which are little dumplings made with a variety of fillings.  Most common is pork and vegetables, or just vegetables.  They also come filled with kimchee.  These ones are jinmandu which are meant to be steamed, boiled, or put into soups.  They are a definite favorite. 

Another favorite of ours - citrus tea.  It looks like soupy marmalade.  It is made with honey and real citrus peels (and other things we can't decipher but who cares - it tastes great).  Put two generous tablespoons in a cup of hot water and you have a very delicious, vitamin-C rich tea.  We got a 2kg jar and thought it would last the winter.  Not so!  We soon will need more.

This is a radish.  Really.  These big yellow radishes get used in all sorts of dishes.  They are big - think turnip or small eggplant.

Mushrooms - all sorts, dried and fresh. 

Ginseng.  Korea is famous for ginseng, especially red ginseng.  It has many healthful benefits - think of anything and there will be a ginseng formulation of some sort that will cure, prevent, or strengthen it.

Fish fish fish.  Lots and lots of fish in many many varieties.  Often sold fresh or dried, but not too common to find it frozen.

                                              

Feeling more adventurous?  How about some fresh octopus?

Or you can get squidlets.  We don't know what they are are really called but they are little squid-looking things with the arms still tucked up in the body.  Common in soups.  Chewy.  And such a bargain!

Or, maybe dried squid is more your style.  A popular item.

                                             

 Since we began with chicken, we shall end with it.  Here is a lovely fresh whole roasting chicken.   So different than an American ad, where it would either be shown in its packaging, or already roasted a lovely golden brown.  But not pale and white and raw on a platter!

BON APETIT!