It is the night of ridiculous quotes at our apartment. We have been watching the Serbia versus USA volleyball game and it's been going back and forth. Fantasia and I are both delirious because we have been working 14 hour days because it is summer session at our schools. The games have been going back and forth and I am drinking soju which Fantasia says looks like green pee. We have already eaten some fried chicken that we got at friend chicken in gyeongmidong. The sauce is awesome and she is going to mix it into her banana and lettuce shakes. Fantasia said that her school is sucking out all of her teacher juice. She believes that her school steals all of her teaching ability, "her teaching juice" and her boss is a teacher juice vampire that "wrings out all of the teaching juice of all new teachers." Apparently this is why her school has so much turnover. The USA basketball team has players that look like skinheads with named"Ball, Salmon, Millar," and...

Some of my fondest memories carousel around food. There is a remarkable understanding shared when one person hands a bit of food to another. Despite the various cultural differences and endless language barriers that people swimming in the international pool confront daily, food transcends time, distance and experience. It offers the here and now to whomever is caught with their guard down and momentarily susceptible to personal connection. In the blink of an eye your appreciation of where you are can gain momentum enough to carry you through the difficulties that living in another culture creates. Some of my fondest memories are food-based, yes, but standing steadfastly on this base are the real hearts and souls with whom I have connected through food. I have been living in Ulsan, S. Korea for ten months. I am a native New Yorker doing what most of you are probably doing-trying to eat my way into a writing career. Attempting this is easy in Korea because of the dynamic nature of it’s ...

I want to go to this on Sunday the 23rd around 1pm. Is anyone else interested in going? Here's some more info. Dan The 2008 Seoul Food Festival The annual Seoul Food Festival is coming from August 22nd to August 31st. Join people from around the world by experience Korea’s unique culinary heritage in venues throughout the city. The festival will feature tastings and events at venues throughout the center of the city. The food festivities will be centered on Cheonggye Plaza, starting on the 23rd and running for the entirety of the festival. Come on opening weekend for opportunities to sample traditional Korean fare, and signature dishes from around the world. The weekend will also feature eating and cooking competitions and provide a great set of opportunities to get out and try some new foods. On the 23rd and 24th come to Gyeonghui Palace (located between Seodaemun and Gwanghwamun stations) between 13:00 and 21:00 for the Royal Food Exhibition. Come and sample dishes from the table...

I love Bo-sam. I think it's the steamed pork with the fat that's like velvety icecream. I love the perilla leaves, with it's licorice flavor and the peppermint zing of the garlic. It feels like a icecream cone made for cavemen. There is just something rustic about theblend of pork, the smell of kimchi, and the spice of the peppers. It feels earthy and primordial. I think if Benjamin Franklin had ever tasted pork prepared this way, Thanksgiving would be an entirely different experience. Go eat some Bo-sam today. I believe that this will be the next food trend to come out of Korea. Dan

http://kitchentable.andrewzimmern.com/index.php?q=blog/andrew I really enjoyed meeting Andrew while he was in Seoul. He is knowledgeable, warm, quirky, and totally driven. I had the honor of spending the day with Andrew as he checked out a couple restaurants in Seoul. We went and ate turtle soup, blowfish, and eel together. The episode is going to come out sometime in November or December on his show! I'll write up more about the day someday, but you'll really have to wait for the show to come out to see the whole thing. It's been a crazy month for me. I'm working a ton of hours, and I had to get adjusted to my new set up (iMac and MSI-wind). I was going to retire my trusty old ibook, but I just can't I have too many sentimental attachments to it. Alrighty, Good Night! Dan

Recently, a reader asked me, "Where can I get a proper salad?" During the hot summer months, it's all a person craves. The reader went on to define what he meant, "I mean dark green, leafy lettuce- not iceberg with brown edges." I think this is reasonable, and I would like to further expound. A salad should not be thinly sliced coleslaw with Russian dressing and corn. A salad should have a dressing should be light and accentuate the leaves- not weigh it down in globs of mayonnaise. Oh, and the dressing should not, SHOULD NOT, be honey mustard or yogurt kiwi. And lastly, the salad should be of decent size. I went on my search and other than the chicken Caesar salad at the Wolfhound and the salad bar at Seven Springs, I've found the salads to be meager afterthoughts that didn't live up to my criterion. That was until I found Mignon. Mignon, up on the hill next to 3 Alley Pub in Itaewon, has big salads with dark leafy greens and playfully thoug...

Aza! I am using a new program called iPhoto2gmail and it lets me resize photos and upload them directly from iphoto to blogger. It's an awesome program and if you are a blogger with a mac, I recommend you upload it. here's the site http://iphoto2gmail.notoptimal.net/ Dan

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Time to taste Korea ! Place to feel Korean Flavor From August 22 nd to August 31 st , 2008 Various and sincerely made Korean traditional foods are now waiting for you in ‘ 2008 Seoul Food Festival ’ . The brilliant banquet of Korean food will be spread out – at Cheonggye plaza, Gyeonghuigung(palace), Namsangol Hanok Village , Seoul Museum of History, and N Seoul Tower. There will be various, exciting and fun performances such as the world famous chef food show and terrific Korean traditional performances. Also, you can enjoy and participate in the Stamp Rally along with exotic Seoul Food, and Slow Food Campaign for healthy eating habits. ‘ 2008 Seoul Food Festival ’ - The Festival of the world citizen with abundant sightseeing and delicious foods! We invite you into the dynamic charm of Korean food! The name of event: 2008 SEOUL FOOD FESTIVAL2008 The main subject: ‘ Taste of Seoul ’ (sub-subject : Unforgettable, Seoul ) Composition: Gyeonghuigun...

http://www.korea4expats.com/ Dan

Hahoe Village, located about 24km west of Andong, has become a very popular tourist destination, not only because of its beautiful location, but mostly because its residents preserve the ancient traditions of village life including the making of the wooden masks used in the local mask dance. The Hahoe Byeongsan Mask is reputedly the oldest type of mask in Korea. The Andong International Festival is held every year, for about 10 days, between the end of September and the beginning of October. Mask dances were a way for ordinary people to express their views of society and poke fun at the establishment. During the 10-day festival, diverse performances will be held every day to entertain visitors. The programs consist of domestic and international mask dance performances as well as modern performances, mime, and marionette performances. Dates: 26 September to 5 October Venue: inside Hahoe Village or at the Andong Gangbyeon Festival Grounds Getting The...

The Icheon Rice Culture Festival is a celebration of one of the staples of the Korean diet as well as its farming culture. The 4-day event offers visitors - Korean and foreign - a taste of Korea's traditional straw culture, the experience of harvesting rice, the opportunity to buy produce from a traditional market, cooking classes, entertainment, and much more. Many of the activities of either intended for foreign visitors or set up to be foreign friendly. Icheon is located just outside Seoul. To find out out to get there, by mass transit or by car, check out the festival website. The Icheon Rice Festivla website offers information in English, including directions, photos from previous festivals and the schedule of events. The festival will be held Seolbong Park in Icheon for four days from 23 to 26 October 2008. Please visit: http://www.ricefestival.or.kr/