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By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The unbearably hot days of summer are here once again. As temperatures rise, everyone is scrambling to find ways to escape the heat and cool off. One of the easiest ways to forget about the weather and stay cool is trying out some of the summer's most popular and delicious food that Korea has to offer. Sizzling Hot What do you eat when you're trying to stay cool? In many countries, the obvious answer would be ice cream, frozen yogurt and other ice-cold treats. It's always a surprise for many foreigners to find out one of the most popular dishes during summer is a piping hot bowl of samgyetang or chicken ginseng soup. ``Fighting fire with fire'' may be the philosophy behind eating this hot soup during summer. Back in historical times, it was customary to eat samgyetang, a soup with chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng and jujubes, during the three hottest days of summer or ``sambok.'' Eating samgyetang, which is rich in protein and vitamins, is supposed to help keep one healthy to fight off fatigue in the hot summer. ``Consuming this spicy soup on a hot summer day caused one to perspire heavily, much like a sand sauna, but also served to bolster the bodily constitution and ward off illness,'' David E. Shaffer wrote in ``Seasonal Customs of Korea.'' Jung Sung-hoon, To Sok Chon's owner, said the restaurant has been operating for 25 years and is a favorite among politicians because of its proximity to Cheong Wa Dae. ``We serve thousands of bowls of samgyetang every day during summer. There are always twice as many customers during summer,'' Jung told The Korea Times. Due to its popularity, you might find yourself lining up under the sun for around 10 to 15 minutes before you can get a table during lunch and dinner times. However, most customers say it is well worth the wait. Jung said the samgyetang's distinctive taste comes from the combination of herbs, jujube dates, ginseng, glutinous rice, gingko, pumpkin seeds, grains and special secret ingredients. The chicken itself is tender and flavorful. It costs 12,000 won. To get to To Sok Chon, get off at Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3, Exit 2) and walk 120 meters, turn left at the GS 25 convenience store and you'll find the restaurant on the left. You won't miss the line of people waiting for a table at the restaurant. Spicy Cold Noodles Another distinctly Korean summer dish is naengmyeon or cold noodles. Eating naengmyeon on a sultry humid day is always a refreshing treat. Naengmyeon originated in North Korea, hence the popular dishes Pyeongyang naengmyeon and Hamheung naengmyeon are named after two cities. Pyeongyang naengmyeon, also known as mul (water) naengmyeon, features an icy, watery broth and uses buckwheat flour for its noodles. Hamheung naengmyeon, or bibim naengmyeon, is not served with broth, but is spiced with red-pepper paste. It also uses noodles made of sweet potato starch. Both dishes are served with sliced beef, boiled egg, cucumbers and pears. While you can find naengmyeon almost anywhere in the city, Ojang-dong is known for its so-called naengmyeon street, with some of the oldest restaurants in the city. Heungnam House has a decidedly low-key and unpretentious atmosphere that has kept a steady stream of customers coming through its doors for more than 50 years. Its naengmyeon dishes use thin, soft noodles, and its bibim naengmyeon, 7,000 won, is not too spicy. Other well-known restaurants in Ojang-dong are Hamheung Naengmyeon, which opened in 1955; and Shingchang Myeonok, which opened in 1981. To find Ojang-dong naengmyeon Street, get off at Euljiro 4-ga (Subway Line 2, Exit 8) and go straight to the direction of the Jung-gu Office. At the intersection, turn left and go straight for 50 meters and you'll find the naengmyeon restaurants. If you go during lunchtime, just follow the people lining up at the restaurants. Ice-cold Sweets In Korea, summer is almost synonymous with patbingsu, or shaved ice served with sweet red beans and fresh fruits. It is so popular that even fast-food chains like Lotteria and Burger King came with their version of patbingsu. One of the famous patbingsu restaurants is Mealtop, located at the fifth floor of Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong. While some may initially balk at paying 6,000 won for a bowl of shaved ice and red beans, its patbingsu has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best in the city. Mealtop's patbingsu features snowy shaved ice with milk and is topped with creamy, sweet red beans and fresh fruits. It also offers variations with strawberry ice, coffee ice and even one for dieters. With the well-being craze, there are several places serving healthier versions of patbingsu. O'Sulloc Tea House serves green tea patbingsu. It may seem like an odd combination _ shaved ice with red beans and green tea ice cream, but it is surprisingly tasty. Scream for Ice Cream Cold Stone Creamery is relatively new to Korea, having opened only in June 2006, but it is rapidly expanding throughout Seoul. Here, you can choose your favorite ice cream flavor to be mixed with a variety of fruits, nuts, chocolate bits, brownies and candy on a frozen granite stone counter. This is one place where you can have your ice cream treat exactly the way you want it. The ice cream chain is fast becoming popular for its signature creations with enticing names such as Cheesecake Fantasy, Strawberry Shortcake Serenade and Strawberry Banana Rendezvous. Kwon Yu-mi, in charge of marketing and public relations at Cold Stone Creamery Korea, said the company makes sure the ice cream it serves in Korea is exactly the same in the U.S. All the ice cream bases, mix-ins and waffle mixes are imported from the U.S. However, Cold Stone Creamery is adapting to the tastes of Koreans by introducing "well-being" flavors such as Yogurt and Green Tea. Baskin Robbins is also popular, with branches almost everywhere in Seoul. Baskin Robbins introduced fruity flavors perfect for the summer, such as Aloe Pineapple Yogurt. Their ice cream fondue, featuring scoops of ice cream to be dipped in hot chocolate, is popular among groups of friends. Health buffs flock to Red Mango for its low-fat yogurt topped with an assortment of fruits and cereals, and fruity yogurt drinks. American chain Smoothie King also offers nutritious, creamy smoothies that combine fruits, natural juices and vitamins as a healthy alternative. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
Sunday, August 19, 2007
summer treats
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Wow, parang ang sarap!
ReplyDeletehey weng... yeah sarap yan... although parang pareho din ng Pinoy food :P
ReplyDeleteDid you try all that Katie?
ReplyDelete