Happycall Fish Pan

I wonder what Happycall actually means?

If the Colonel falls asleep in the stroller while I am trundling around the supermarket, I sometimes try to kill a bit more time wandering the aisles to let her sleep.  It was on just such an occasion that I stumbled across a piece of kitchenware I have only ever encountered in Korea, the Happycall fish pan.

Keeping warm in Korea

Seoul is a populous city and it's really really cold (sure, there are colder places, but I'm Australian... -15 is ridiculous!) so there is a huge push to encourage people to turn down their heaters. If you're going to keep your ondol down low, then you need another way to keep warm on the cold, clear nights. 

제육볶음 (Korean Spicy Stir-fried Pork)

It would be a significant challenge for those required to eat halal or kosher in Korea.  Not impossible, but I suspect that there is actually a certain amount of pork particulate in the air due to the sheer abundance of pork being stir-fried, barbequed and generally loved by Koreans.  This dish is one of our favourites and I have been working on improvements with every attempt at cooking it.

So this is 제육볶음 (cheuk bok-um)...

Changdeokgung in Autumn

Changdeokgung (Prospering Virtue Palace) is one of the five grand palaces of Seoul build during the Josean Dynasty.  It is one of the smaller palaces, and only about a third of the structures still exist following the destruction of many of Korea's places of historical significance during the Japanese occupation.

On top of spaghet-teeeee....

I have been tinkering with a recipe for meatballs for over a year now.  It's a very simple 'mix everything together and throw into slow cooker' type of recipe.  Which suits me as I am no master chef.  Due to the Colonel eating solids, I also recently purchased a food processor, so am now experimenting to see how much I can get away with using it, rather than using my hands like a chump!

So here we go...

World's worst gardener has success!

I have a not entirely undeserved reputation for being something of a mediocre gardener. 

I happily admit to being enthusiastic, but totally lacking in skill when it comes to horticulture of any kind.  This rosemary plant is a more typical example of what happens when I attempt to grow my dream apartment garden.

The Hangang

The Hangang (Han River) runs all the way through the centre of Seoul and on both sides can be found kilometre after kilometre of well maintained bike path, walking track, exercise areas, playgrounds and picnic spots.  Not to mention a 7-11 every few kilometres in case you run out of beer or soju*.

Election Day!

 

A short post today.  If any of you aren't in the 13 million odd who have already watched this video, here it is.  In honour of both today's US Presidential Election and our adopted home!

Gangnam Style is well worthy of a post in itself.  There is much more going on behind that song and video than just the horse dance.  For those who are interested, I would recommend taking a look at this article from the Atlantic.

Rate my Parma!

After spending a week in a rather uncomfortable place (not the back of a Volkswagen, for those who remember Mall Rats) I offered Husband the dinner of his choice upon his return.  Without hesitation the response came, "Parma!".  I'm not a big parma eater myself, and I don't think it has ever been served in Seoul, there being a lack of Bowls clubs around here (or for the Canberra readership, the Dickson Tradies). 

High Chair Quest 2012

In Korea there are no large baby stores like we are accustomed to in Australia.  There are a few stores around that stock a handful of car seats and strollers at extraordinarily inflated prices, but nothing huge where you can get everything at once.  Koreans buy most of these things online I believe, which is challenging for a foreigner for bureaucratic reasons, plus the obvious language barrier.  So, instead they have a baby fair about twice a year.  A few months ago Husband, the Colonel and I (along with every Korean couple who had a baby or had become pregnant within the previous six months) dutifully trotted off to COEX (when it's not hosting the Nuclear Security Summit) to see what we could find.

This is not my picture but gives you an idea of the line!

 To say it was busy would be an understatement bordering on the ridiculous. 

Galbi Jjim (beef short ribs)

Korean cooking adventures!  A handful of times, Husband and I have made the trek to the south of the river to a restaurant in Apgujeong that only serves Korean braised beef ribs called galbi jjim.  Apparently this dish is prepared mainly for special occasions (given the cost of beef ribs, this is hardly surprising).  This perhaps explains why the restaurant is frequently filled with extended families looking a little more dressed up than Koreans generally are in restaurants.  That could also just because it's Gangnam (it's a place, not a silly horse dance).

안녕하세요 (Hello)

Gyeongbokgung, Central Seoul

And so, my first blog entry.  Don't expect witty, don't expect insightful and definitely don't expect my spelling to be much beyond the grade 3 level.

I have started this blog at the encouragement of a friend for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, it is something that requires me to actually use my brain occasionally.  Secondly, it will provide impetus to explore further into Korea, its culture and its food so that I can then write about it.  Most importantly, it provides an easy way for people close to me (who are, sadly, the people furthest from me geographically) to get a taste of what my life is like here in Seoul.  Not the "how are you really doing" kind of stuff that goes into email, but rather a collection of things that I like about living in Korea, some things I like less about living in Korea, cooking adventures (and failures), the wonders and hilarity involved with having a small baby and the occasional rant about the apparent invisibility to others of my own personality that comes when you have a baby.

I also reserve the right to make ill informed comment about various geopolitical issues.

A little about me.  A 30-something professional Australian woman living for a few years in Seoul due to Husband's work, and thus an enforced break from my own job.  Happily, our first child (the Colonel, now 5 months) came along fairly promptly to keep me off the streets and out of trouble.

I hope that perhaps one or two people (it's two if both Mum and Dad read it) get a smile out of seeing what I'm getting up to these days.

Thanks.