As surely as February 14th is Valentine’s Day, April 14th is Black Day in Korea, a day where singles wear black and gather to eat black food. Many people eat jjajangmyun on Black Day to soothe their lonely hearts and although I’m not sure how this tradition got started, I’m quite sure it’s a balm…
Galbi is actually not a single food, but rather a cut of meat that is tender and flavorful. Known as short rib in the states, galbi literally means ‘ribs’, and can be boiled in a soup, braised into jjim, or most famously grilled over charcoal. Most people think of beef when it comes to galbi…
What are Korean pears? Also known as Asian pears or apple pears, these large golden round pears are a superbly crisp, juicy and sweet fruit that is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. In Korea, Asian pears are just called pears or bae (배) because these are the only pears grown in Korea. They are…
What is Korean Fried Chicken? Many decades ago, Koreans came up with a uniquely addictive variety of fried chicken that people just can’t seem to get enough of. With a super crispy crust and a deliciously sweet savory spicy sauce, Korean Fried Chicken is affectionately known as the other KFC. Perhaps the most famous Korean…
One of my husband’s favorite dishes is Korean spinach soup with doenjang and clams. My mother-in-law made this dish regularly when my husband was growing up, and it always reminds him of simpler days back in Jersey. With high quality fresh clams sometimes hard to find, I wondered if canned clams might substitute. Turns out…
Surviving a pandemic means a lot of home cooked meals. Four months into lockdown and with restaurants starting to open up, I realized that cooking three meals a day, every day actually hasn’t been much of a burden at all. When I thought about why this might be, it came down to a handful of…
Our least expensive meal in Paris also turned out to be the best. Bulgogi jeongol is now one of our favorite things to make at home. Korean bulgogi jeongol might be the last thing you might expect to enjoy during your European vacation but hear me out. A Paris itinerary loaded with Michelin-starred restaurants may…
Galbi, or Korean short ribs, is one of the most loved and popular Korean dishes both inside and outside Korea. Since galbi literally means ribs in Korean, flank steak galbi is actually an oxymoron! But with short ribs hard to come by during the pandemic, and hungry boys dying for some old fashioned galbi, I…
Have you heard of Kongnamul bap? It’s not a common dish but it is a game changer if you have access to bean sprouts. My Korean husband was amazed that he had never tried this dish before and absolutely loved it. Plus it’s super easy and very adaptable to pantry cooking and vegetarian cooking. Kongnamul…