Korean food is one the most pleasant discoveries a neophyte traveler will make during his visit here. Korea’s unique cuisine is another aspect of the nation’s distinctively different culture. Neither its ingredients nor its seasonings resemble the dishes of any other country, near or far. Most Korean foods are boldly spiced, carrying the blended tang and savory goodness of red pepper that can range from hot to sweet, garlic, onions or leeks, sesame seeds and oil, and wop sauce. However, the flavoring can also be subtle in delicate soups, regal casseroles, fragrant white rice and all the other special dishes based on rice, including decorative rice cakes for special occasions. Among the most popular dishes, besides the ever present white rice, are the tangy barbecued beef strips known as bulgogi, “fire beef” and ribs, known as “galbi,”cooked at the table on charcoal braziers. There is also the beloved traditional dish known as “kimchee.” Korean kimchee is pickled in a pungent salt brine with red hot pepper, garlic, ginger, green onions, chives and fresh anchovies. Pears are often used to impart a special freshness. A variety of vegetables can be used in the pickling process, but the cabbage is the most familiar. Kimchee is thought be a health food because it is made from fresh, organic ingredients. lt is also thought to aid the digestion, speed the metabolism, and keep the body in balance. Korean kimchee is more flavorful than that made by the Japanese, who tried to copy the Korean style of kimchee, but their version is very different, and does not use the fermentation process that gives kimchee its special unique flavor. ln ancient times, kimchee was enjoyed not only by the common people, but also by kings. A legacy of the Korean royal kitchen is the “kujolpan,” a banquet in itself, in which intriguing fillings are mixed and rolled up in tiny pancakes like miniature tortillas. Not found everywhere, but a dish fit for a king. Korean foods range from the bland to the blistering Peppery kimchi, delicate stews and soups, and intriguingly seasoned side dishes of vegetables, fish or meat.
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