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image (not mine unfortunately)
If you know anything about Korean cuisine, you will know that kimchi is a huuuuuuuge part of the eating experience. What is it? Essentially, it’s like a reeeeeally spicy chilli cabbage that is often fermented or pickled in some way. This is often a side dish (the Koreans are amazing for side dishes – you will never starve) that will turn up with just about every meal.
I have spent most of my life avoiding it. While I’d dabbled in the enjoyment of various Korean foods (after one fateful day when my family with the help of Mr Unprepared literally shoved me so far into the doorway of a Korean restaurant in Melbourne that I couldn’t turn back), I had managed to protest that spicy cabbage was not exactly high on my to-eat list. Ever. Especially because I do not do ‘spicy’ very well and because, well…it’s just cabbage. What’s so special about cabbage that’s been made super spicy? Yes, I am a terrible Korean – I am sure I just committed blasphemy.
In the months leading up to our trip to Korea, I had been psyching myself up to try it. It felt like something I had to try at least once in my life. It would probably seem wrong to go to Korea and not even try it. I had to take the challenge at some point and I wanted to be able to say I knew what it tasted like. To know what it’s like to experience it. I just wouldn’t feel like I was taking Korean food seriously if I avoided it the whole trip. And you know how I take my food seriously. No joke. Seriously.
On the first night we were in Seoul, we stumbled across a gorgeous little restaurant in Insadong (a gorgeous arty area in the city). We had NO idea what we were doing, but we jumped on in headfirst and before we knew it we were seated in a cute little alcove ordering Bulgogi (a really awesome beef dish) and other various delicacies. This involved a lot of pointing at the menu and gesturing. We had no idea what was about to arrive at our table or where to place our chopsticks or spoons. The lady who served us spoke little to no English and we all had a laugh at our awkward ‘conversation’. She was really helpful and even told my brother that he was using the wrong spoon for everything which we found highly amusing. Later in the evening, she even brought the Little Mister some candy to amuse him (he wasn’t a fan but the gesture was so sweet – excuse the pun).
We quickly realised that there is no need to think you’ll go hungry after ordering very few dishes in a Korean restaurant. Unlike the Aussie way, you do not have to order each and every side separately to your main dish (and pay through the nose for it). The kimchi and the other various pickled delicacies, tofus or leaves etc come with it included. The Korean people believe that pickled or fermented foods are essential to having a balanced meal and they are supposed to be good for your gut. Before you know it, your dinner table will be FULL of new things to try. Also, food is very affordable there. Our family of 6 (including the Little Mister) could eat for around $60 (Aussie) a night and feel full to bloated by the end of it! Awesome!! That’s around $10 a head – including some beer or other soft drinks!
I think we look back fondly on this night as our favourite Korean meal, perhaps because it was such a great introduction to our food experience in Korea. We were full of excitement and ready to start this leg of the adventure – the country my brother and I had been born in. This was what we had been waiting for. The Little Mister wasn’t so sure about all of the foods on offer, but he loved the little rice tubes that came with the Bulgogi and he also ate lots of white rice (to really make it a varied meal haha). We had to keep his hands out of the kimchi, always moving it further away when it was served throughout the holiday. I had visions of him rubbing his eyes with super strong chilli after touching it so we were always trying to avoid such a situation!
So, the thing you’ve been waiting for. Did I try kimchi? Or did I run away screaming? Or both?
*drum roll*
Luckily, I have photographic proof…
Yep. It was very spicy. I know my threshold for tolerance of spicy things is probably lower than the average person, but man, my mouth. I felt the burn. Right after the ‘after’ face I pulled, I shoved in some rice and then some cider (what they call your regular store bought fizzy lemonade). All was well again and I had triumphed! Woohoo! As you can see, I totally live on the edge. So wild. You never know what I’m going to do next. OK, so that’s a lie. Shut up.
Can you believe that this was not the only time I willingly and voluntarily ate kimchi? I surprised myself on several other occasions, by reaching for some because I wanted to balance out the other flavours of our meals with a bit of spice. Who am I??? Of course, I always had to ‘chase’ it with something non spicy (and maybe some beer) in order to survive it, but trust me – I’ve come a long way.
When is the last time you tried a new food? Did it scare you? What do you think of kimchi? Have you tried it?
More about our trip to Korea and Japan:
I have no idea where to start.
7 Comments
frockandroll
HAHA those photos are awesome! Absolutely loving all your overseas anecdotes, even if my baby brain renders me too useless most days to comment on them! (Seriously, did that happen to you, too? I’ll start typing and suddenly think ”guuuh, what’s a sentence again?!” UGH!)
I’ve never tried kimchi before, but being a lover of all things spicy AND cabbage, I’d definitely be game! 🙂
KezUnprepared
Haha baby brain was my specialty, my lovely! Add the fatigue that comes with it towards the end does not help!! Don’t worry, it’s very normal!! Did I mention it stays after the baby comes too? Because it does haha. Once that baby is out, I expect to hear about your own kimchi attempt at some point haha.
Ness Oldfield
Kimchi can really be a bit hit and miss. I had some fabulous Kimchi when I was over there and I think the best was on the last day and it was fresh and beautiful.
I also had a guidebook about different foods to eat and it graded them on whether they were an entry-level Korean meal right through to foods that not even some Korean people will dare to eat. I actually was quite surprised that I tried a wide range and my favourite was probably the Ginseng Chicken which is mainly eaten in summer to kind of regulate your body temperature when it’s ridiculously hot.
🙂
KezUnprepared
I agree with the hit and miss thing. Some were definitely better than others. I really liked the very fresh ones and I don’t think I could stomach the really old fermented for years ones – that would be asking a bit much haha. One night my brother tried a ‘spicy’ chicken at a beer and chicken place. He didn’t take them seriously about their blurb on the menu about whether you’re ‘daring’ enough to try. He suffered all night LOL. I think the Aussie version of spicy has nothing on Korea’s!
derekthezenchef
What a harrowing experience! I am just finishing a visit to
Korea and this time my food novelty was MOOK, a tofu-like block made of acorns, or that is what I was told. Not at all spice, you would be fine with it!
You could try making kimchi with less piquant taste – I just posted a recipe for it. Good for you confronting your kimchi fears!
D
KezUnprepared
Thanks for reading! Maybe one day I will make my own kimchi – stranger things have happened! MOOK sounds very interesting! I’m sure I would have tried it if I’d stumbled across it!
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