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Fear Factor Korea (Part II: Fresh foods)

Filed under Fear Factor Foods, Korea by Christine Ka'aloa on September 19, 2011 at 12:02 am {7 comments}

Fake plastic models of alternatively safe ‘Korean fast food‘ meals for purchase.

Warning: video links referred to in this post are not for sensitive viewers or animal lovers.

Last year, I wrote a post, Fear Factor Korea: Foods which may make you cringe. This is belated but is the extension that I accidentally forgot to post…

It’s all too easy for a foreigner like myself, to point a camera and say, Ewww to foreign foods I’m not culturally raised with nor understand. That’s why in this post, I’d like to applaud Korea for is its proud aspiration towards healthy and FRESH foods.

And …to say, Ewww.

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Kimbap restaurants: the healthy fast food joints in Korea

Filed under Korea, Vegetarian Life by Christine Ka'aloa on September 12, 2011 at 11:47 am {16 comments}

In Korea, it often feels like there are never any really fat Koreans (…okay, they are exceptions; but it’s rare)! Obesity is not a chronic problem in Korea, as it is in the west. One theory is owned to how Koreans eat healthy. Korea may have restaurant chains like McDonalds and Burger King, but they aren’t a ‘fast food’ kind of country.

Frozen or microwave foods ? Koreans like their food fresh.

Preservatives? The keyword is fermented.

Koreans do however, occasionally like their meals served simple, cheap and pali! pali (fast)!

Kimbap restaurants chains are the healthy equivalent to fast food joints.

The meals they sell are often thought of as “simple home foods”, which are made quickly and sold cheaply. Most of the dishes on the menu is under 5,000 won. Kimbap (sushi rolls), jigae (stews), ramen or udon (noodles dishes) and rice meals such as bibimbap are all standard platter of most kimbap shops (photo examples here). Order it as takeout or dine in; either way, your dish comes with a small plate of panjan (or side dishes).

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Tis the Season of Patbingsu!

Filed under Korea, Vegetarian Life by Christine Ka'aloa on August 28, 2011 at 1:31 pm {17 comments}

Patbingsu at Paris Baguette

On the topic of food…

It was my second day back in Korea for the summer, I passed a neighborhood Paris Baguette and da-ding! I realized I was back in time to celebrate my favorite Korean dessert. Yes, it’s patbingsu (밭빈수) season! Yowza!

Patbingsu (팥빙수) is a popular shaved ice dessert in South Korea sold during the sweltering months of May-September. In short, it’s red azuki beans and shaved ice, served with various sides of fruit, mochi balls and sometimes, corn flakes. But there are various modifications of this– from green tea ice cream, condensed sweetened milk, mochiko powder and fruits which tend to revolve around pineapple, banana, watermelon, mandarin oranges and grapes (what I’ve experienced so far). It’s all (more…)

Review: At last, Falafels in Korea! (Petra Palace, Seoul)

Filed under Cool/Veg Restaurants & Bars, Reviews by Christine Ka'aloa on April 11, 2011 at 11:36 am {no comments}

This post is for my expat homies in South Korea. I haven’t given you much love these days, but rest assured you’re still on my mind …

Some things are meant to be. Like second chances. They come around, staring you in the eye, even when you don’t know they’re there.

On my last food walkabout in Seoul, I reviewed a restaurant– Petra Palace (read my review)– that crafted falafels amongst other mediterranean dishes. My experience was not… so great– the owner was less than friendly and the falafels lacked character, flavor and spice. When I take a bite of a falafel, I feel like I’m inhaling the Middle East; my tastebuds on the other hand, still felt they were in Korea.

So the next time I hit Seoul, my quest was on again– find decent falafel sandwiches, the way I remember them! I strolled down Itaewon’s main street. Of all the middle eastern signs, there had to be a falafel somewhere — the whiff of roasting shwarmas was heavy perfume. But the handful of Middle Eastern joints I visited stocked only shwarma sandwiches… no falafels.

(Really? How can you have shwarmas but no falafels?) (more…)

6 Western-friendly stores in Korea

Filed under * Korea tips & stays, Korea by Christine Ka'aloa on February 24, 2011 at 9:19 am {2 comments}

Food samples anyone?

Okay, Korea expat newbies- this is my Welcome to Korea gift to you; Korea expat oldies– this might give you a good laugh!

Ever taken an American road trip? You’re passing through unfamiliar terrain and you’re hungry. You want food, supplies… maybe even, a last-minute bikini! Not a familiar store in sight– just a joint selling deep-fried chicken wings, a 24-hour gas station convenience store and a biker bar. Then down the stretch you see it– a giant glowing… Target! Angels sing; there’s a halo over the neon red bulls-eye… and it’s right next to a big blue and yellow sign (gasp!) …a Best Buy! Now as a traveler, you don’t want your exotic destinations littered with a bunch of Kmarts, Walmarts and Targets. They spoil your dreamy getaway and snap you back to the ugly U.S. of A. But when you live abroad for a year or so, it’s damn hard not to feel a slight whoop! when you see a one-stop shop chain store resemblance. Korea has one-stop shopping giants, similar to Target and Kmart… with one major difference– Korea knows how to make shopping an experience!

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Written by Christine Ka'aloa Cool/Veg Restaurants & Bars

Review: Is there a ‘Little India’ in Seoul?

Shahrukh khan.

He was the first person that greeted me when I walked through the door of our Indian restaurant. I let out a partial shriek…

February 1, 2011 3

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Cool/Veg Restaurants & Bars

Review: Middle Eastern eats at Petra, Itaewon, Seoul.

Within the past few months I’ve successfully satiated various comfort food cravings- from hummus, soy chicken nuggets and edamame; however, it’s the falafel that’s remained elusive. My deep-fried chickpea craving has become a delight gone unfulfilled. Thanks to Seoul Eats and their post, “Vegetarian restaurants in Seoul”, I finally got to cross falafels off my list (well, sorta…).

December 12, 2010 4

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Cool/Veg Restaurants & Bars

Review: Buy the Book Cafe’s Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner (Daegu)

I realize I’ve a bad habit of underestimating Daegu. These days, I’ve been discovering a small community and niche spots where I can get together with like-minded people for vegan food, art and yoga workouts.

Last night was another one of those nights of goodness at another Daegu dining spot which has me perked up to visiting more often. Nestled in one of the crazy offshoots of Daegu’s Bandwoldang dizzying maze, perched on the 4th floor of a building housing a Mr. Pizza, a restaurant (called New York) and a billiards room, sits Buy the Book Cafe.

November 27, 2010 5

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Korea

Hiking foods for Vegetarians in Korea

Finding veggie foods when I’m traveling Korea is always a bit of a challenge. What are my top go-to Korean foods? It’s all gotten a bit too obvious and predictable in the way of boring. So thanks to yoga Megan, who recently enlightened me to two fresh and healthy vegetarian hiking foods that I can add to my palette!