One of the best things about travelling is the chance to appreciate and savor authentic cuisines from different places visited. I am not much of an adventurer in food but I do have a big appetite for delectable cuisines that have a delightful blend of flavors and spices that sure to excite my taste buds and just hit the right notes to summon my stomach to rumble for a new found craving!
Having visited several places, I had tried varieties of food and every experience was always a challenge for me. Different countries have different specialties; some are hot and spicy, oily or less oily, sweet, sour, bitter, you name all descriptive words your taste buds will tell you and you are sure to be confronted with a whole lot of food adventure when you travel to various places in the world.
I do not spoil my travel by just getting into any fast food restaurant. I always embolden myself to try out diverse flavors, even if my taste bud says no, only to get myself challenge and the bragging rights, of course! Asian cuisines are always a challenge to me. China offers food that are greasy, less appetizing to some extent, but tea is really abundant in this country in which you can enjoy a free flow when dining in any of their restaurants. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia on the other hand share almost the same blend of flavors, a mix of herbs and spices ranging from extra hot and spicy to moderately flavored ones, a variety which includes, steamed, stir-fried and deep-fried cuisines. Travelling to these countries is really a food adventure I will never forget!
Just recently, I visited Korea and my craving was up for a challenge once again and I could not help but be so thrilled about it! When we talk of Korea, what comes to our mind almost instantly? As for me, it is Kimchi. Indeed, it is and it seems that it has become Korea's trademark. And, honestly, I am not a fan of it. So this was where my character caved in. Kimchi just did not tickle my taste buds and I was really disappointed about it.
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| A picture of the side dishes |
Korean food stands out from other cuisines with many side dishes or 'banchan' in Korean term, that are served during meals. So when you eat at a Korean restaurant, your various banchan will be served in small bowls beforehand on the table and throughout your meal. Sad to say, my side dishes are always left uneaten. And, although the soups and stews are served hot during meals, the side dishes are served at a room temperature or cold on some occasions. Rice is the backbone of every meal, steam-cooked to really achieved a good-some experience of healthy dining.
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| Learning to make kimchi |
Kimchi is actually a fermented vegetable dish made with Nappa cabbage, daikon or sometimes cucumber, brine of ginger, garlic, scallions and chili pepper. It is a preserved cabbage in short. Koreans have perfected the art of preserving food for a thousand of years now, and kimchi along with other side dishes served during Korean meals are a range of pickled, salted, or fermented variety and many are spicy. Koreans traditionally make enough kimchi to last for winter season. I had the chance of learning how to make one during my visit to Korea. It seemed easy to make: Just spread the prepared seasoning onto each leaf and on both sides of Nappa cabbage, fold the entire bunch and tie it with one of the leaves, then it's good to go.
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| Enjoying my Korean BBQ in Jeju |
Koreans generally use less oil and more spices in their cooking. Korean barbecue is my favorite fare. It is called 'Bulgogi', a grilled Korean dish consists of marinated beef although chicken or pork may also be used. The thin slices of beef are marinated with a mixture of Korean soy sauce, sesami oil, garlic and other ingredients such as scallions or mushrooms.
Usually when dining out for a Korean barbecue buffet at any of Korea's restaurants, the rules of engagement are simple: Remove your shoes at the doorstep, take a place at one of the low communal tables, routinely poke the sizzling strips of marinated beef with the metal chopsticks and call to replenish your bowl with the marinated beef as much as you want and as many times as you desire. It's a really good-some affair you will certainly enjoy for the rest of your meal.
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| Bulgogi (beef) tried in one of Seoul's restaurant |
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| Bulgogi (pork) along with the various side dishes tried from Jeju |
At a traditional restaurant, meats are cooked at the center of the table over a charcoal grill surrounded by various banchan and individual rice bowls. The marinated meats are then grilled and wrapped with fresh lettuce leaves. You can add some rice, thinly sliced garlic and other seasonings found on the table and voila, your bulgogi is ready for a bite! Hmmm! Yum!
There are really so many things that travel can offer you. Aside from wandering around the marvelous places in a particular country and learning about its culture and traditions, you will also get to explore interesting food discovery and a whole lot of food adventure.
