Beesket: Naturally Expressive Juices

Located nearby Cheongye stream, Beesket is one of the places that will surely amaze your taste buds and excitement when you visit Seoul!

Bee +Basket= Beesket

         The name Beesket is a combination of the words bee and basket. So why combine these words in the first place?   

Making Your Own Menu
Whenever you visit coffee shops, sometimes you don't have certain drinks in your mind. You spend some time reading the menu and there are times when you wanted several flavors for your drinks too. So, why not create your own drink? 

The moment you get in to this store, you will be given a bee shaped small basket and you put the fruit or vegetable flavors you want for your drinks. Now you can also customize your own drink! .

 A Form of Expression
Giving you the freedom to choose which flavor you want for your drinks is metaphorically a form of freedom of expression. Hahaha. This is something that you never really enjoyed before but now it's more than possible.

Wellbeing

The slogan of the store, “Naturally Expressive Juices,” aside from being a form of expression, it also explains that everything they serve is natural. Surely a mixture of fruits and vegetables in your drink will keep the doctor away! On the other hand, my girlfriend personally likes the cute design of the store. When you visit, try to observe the drawings on the wall. It has an amazing story.  
Menu
The store serves different drinks like smoothie, ade, yogurt, juice and coffee. It also serves , sandwiches, salad and really tasty and healthy cookies

Location

-It's beside Cheongyecheon. It's across Mirae Asset's very big glass building.

-You can also take Euljiru Ipgu Station exit 3.

Like its Facebook Page Beesket

http://www.beesket.com

'NK soldiers thank Kim Jong-il for bulgogi'

I found another interesting news today about North Korea. The article says North Korean soldiers were very thankful to Kim Jong-il for the bulgogi he offered to them. In case you're not familiar with bulgogi, it's a Korean dish that usually consists of marinated barbecued beef, although chicken or pork may also be used* and this dish is VERY common here in South Korea. Meaning, you can find and eat it anywhere here and it's not even expensive. Anyway, so, probably many people in South Korea will find this news a bit "interesting" or should I say "shocking."

Here's the article:

Haejangguk (해장국)

Last night one of my friends uploaded a picture of haejangguk on his Facebook wall. Then the caption says "during rainy days, nothing beats eating haejangguk." I couldn't stop staring at the picture and after 5 minutes I just found myself waiting for a bus going to the nearest Haejangguk restaurant from my dorm, even if it was already almost midnight. hahaha. So why the h*ll did I go out late at night just to eat haejangguk?

What is Haejangguk?
 

Haejangguk is usually eaten to "cure" hangovers. It means "soup to chase a hangover"^[citation] Knowing Korean culture of drinking, it's not a surprise why food specifically made to cure hangover was made in the first place.As far as I know, there are more hangover dishes besides haejangguk probably I'll write something about it next time. I understand why my friend ate haejangguk even if he wasn't drunk. For one reason it's really tasty. That's why just seeing the picture made me crave for it.

Brief History

It is assumed that haejangguk's origin is seongjutang (醒酒湯) which means "soup to get sober" during the   Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). According to the record, the soup consists of thinly sliced meat, noodles, scallions, and powder of cheoncho (천초) in a broth which are also the same basic recipe of a present day haejangguk^[citation] It's not written on any cookbooks during Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) but relevant contents can be seen in paintings and documents of the late Joseon Dynasty. The food was not only for the common people even high ranking officials loved it.

Types

According to sources, haejangguk's taste is different depending on the region of origin and how it is cooked. In general, there are three different kinds -- "sunji (cow-blood) haejangguk,’’"kongnamul (bean sprout) haejangguk,’’ and "puko (dried Pollack) haejangguks. 

For more information just visit the links I attached below. 

How is it different from kamjatang?

There's another dish called kamjatang (감자탕) , also one of my favorites, which is "exactly" the same as pyeo haejangguk. But Koreans always make a distinction between them. I can only think of 2 differences one is the quantity. Kamjatang's serving is usually good for 2 or more people but haejangguk is in a small bowl good for one serving. The second difference is the potato on the kamjatang. There's no potato in haejangguk. Although potato in Korean is kamja, the kamja in kamjatang is not the potato. I'll tell you next time what it is when I write about kamjatang. hehe
Before, when my Korean was still very basic, every time I go to a haejangguk-kamjatang restaurant I always say kamjatang to the ajumoni. I didn't know that all the time she was serving me haejangguk. Since I'm alone, I think she kept on assuming I meant pyeo haejangguk. That's why every time I go with my friends even if I wanna eat haejangguk since it's way cheaper, I always tell them we eat kamjatang. hahaha.

^Links:

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haejangguk}

^{http://english.donga.com/srv/srv.php3?biid=2001012678930&bicode=04t}

^{http://kissmykimchi.com/2010/08/kmk-haejangguk.html/}

삼겹살 스캔들 Samgyeopsal Scandal

Let me share a project I made for my Korean class last year. Our topic is about Samgyeopsal, one of Korea's most popular dish and also one of my favorites here since it's meat!!! I guess many foreigners in Korea would agree with me. The video is all in Korean since it was made for my Korean class but it will give you something you don't know about the food Samgyeopsal 삼겹살. hehe. I'll try to make another entry about the food next time in English. Although my Korean accent is not good my partner in the video (Shaki) has a really good command in her Korean, which made it easier to listen. There are some errors here but still I'm proud to show this to all my friends out there. haha By the way, this video won first prize during the Video Project Festival, only in our class. hahaha It's quite long but enjoy!

Coreal Nights: Miss Lee Cafe (별다방 미스리)

More and more Korean dramas, movies and shows attract tourists to visit Korea. Many site locations of these famous dramas are being made as tourist spots since some tourists visit them. Whether it's in a remote location like that of Fullhouse or in a crowded streets of Seoul like Coffee Prince in Hongdae. 

My group Coreal visited another famous location site in one of Korea's popular shows, We Got Married (우리 결혼했어요). The show pairs up Korean celebrities to show what life would be like if they were married. Each week, couples are assigned missions to complete, with candid interviews of the participants to reveal their thoughts and feelings. Currently the show is airing three couples, Jo Kwon & Gain, Nichkhun & Victoria and Jung Yong Hwa & Seohyun. (For more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Got_Married).

Miss Lee Cafe is one of the site locations of Yong Hwa and Seohyun's episode. I don't know why it's called Miss Lee Cafe because the Korean name does not say the same. Basically the cafe runs in a unique marketing strategy. It serves a bit pricey Korean lunch boxes and desserts. as how I see it, the cafe tends to appeal to young couples. Some mushiness like writing a message on a piece of paper and hang it on the walls. There are also many cute decorations plus the retro concept. As far as I know there are 2 branches, the one in Daehangno and the other one is in Insadong.

 Directions:

Coreal Nights: Omoni Saengson (어머니 생선)

 Aside from samgyeopsal, kalbi and all kinds meat Korean dishes, Korean cusine has its own version of fish dishes. I've been craving for fish dishes since I've been eating meat everytime I go out with friends here in Korea.  So to be different  we went to this restaurant called Omoni Saengson (어머니 생선) in Sinchon. I met my friends in front of their school, Ewha. Then we attacked the restaurant!

To be honest I didn't know what we ordered but  just pointed at the pictures. Probably I'll get used to the names if I eat fish many times.lol Maybe you can just read the menu. My expertise is on meat dishes. lol. It was really good and the prices were reasonable. Comparable to any "normal" Korean restaurant. The place was very clean which gives pleasure because the ambiance was good.

Directions:

Sinchon Station: probably 10 minute walk from Exit 3. Walk straight and turn right of you see Nature Republic. 

How to Make Bulgogi

Bulgogi is one of the must taste cuisine in Korea. Aside from Kimchi, which is virtually present in all kinds of meals in Korea, Bulgogi also occupies a very high position when it comes to importance and popularity in Korean cuisine and to a certain extent about Korea.

Bulgogi is believed to have originated during the Goguryeo era (37 BC–668 AD). It was originally called neobiani (너비아니) and was prepared especially for the king during the Joseon Dynasty

Bulgogi is made from thin slices of sirloin or other prime cuts of beef. The meat is marinated with a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic and other ingredients such as scallions, or mushrooms, especially white button mushrooms or shiitake. Sometimes, cellophane noodles are added to the dish, which varies by region and specific recipe. Before cooking, the meat is marinated to enhance its flavor and tenderness.

My class went to Rinnai, a cooking school near Hongdae Station, for our Korean cultural experience. The Language Education Institute of Seoul National University has designated different cultural activities for every level. So aside from an everyday 4 hour intensive Korean class, one day is assigned for a cultural experience. Based on my observation, the activities get interesting as your level improves...lol So cooking Bulgogi is Level 3's cultural activity.

불고기 마드는 법

1. 쇠고기를 등심으로 준비한다. Prepare slices of sirloin.

2. 마늘 을 다지고 파는 잘게 썬다. Press the garlic and cut the green onions into small pieces.

3. 파, 마늘, 간장, 설탕, 깨소금, 참기름, 후추를 큰 그릇에 넣고 잘 섞는다. Put the cut green onion, pressed garlic, soy sauce, sugar, salt, sesame oil and black pepper in one bowl and mix it.

4. 양념에 쇠고기를 넣고 잘 주무른다. Then mix the sirloin too.

5.쇠고기를 30분 이상 양념에 재운다. Marinate it for at least 30 minutes.

6. 고기를 프라이팬에 굽다. Then fry it on a fry pan.

Notes:

*양파 썰어서 넣으면 더 맛있다. You can also put onion to make it more delicious

*술을 조금 넣어도 좋다. You can also put some wine/liquor on it.

*구운 고기를 상추와 깻잎과 같이 먹으면 더 맛있다. You can also eat the fried meat with the sesame leaf or lettuce.

Some information about Bulgogi:

http://recipes.epicurean.com/recipe/13817/bul-go-gi-(korean-barbecued-beef).html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgogi