Favorite food.

Now, Korean food isn't my favorite.  In fact, I avoid it most often.  The smells, the weird textures, and the fact that I'm never sure what I am eating just don't appeal to me.  Some dishes I definitely can enjoy, though I would not choose to eat it if I had the choice.  Overall, most of the soups are pretty good - especially on a cold fall day.  In all honesty though, I really thought that I would never see a day where I actually craved a Korean dish.

Well, I think that day has come. I know, I can't believe it, but I actually crave Dolsot Bibimbap.  It is basically a rice and veggie bowl with a fried egg on top.  In Korea, regular bibimbap is very popular and is not too bad.  It is is a cold dish and although it doesn't taste half bad, it kinda just tastes mushy after awhile.  Dolsot Bibimbap on the other hand, is steaming hot and the rice continues to cook in your "stone pot" (what they serve it in).  There is very thin layer of oil on the bottom of the bowl so the rice gets crispy and fried and delicious!  It is also served with a red hot pepper paste which gives it a kick - Koreans love their spicy food!  Basically it is the perfect Korean meal for me on a cold day!

Another thing I love about it, is that it always comes vegetarian.  I think historically it was known as a poor mans dish since it is just rice and veggies, but now has become popular and is served in all Korean restaurants.  Also, it costs a mere 4,500 won (a little less than $4.50!), which includes the yummy bibimbap, side dishes (which are nasty so I never touch them), and a tasty broth soup to start the meal.  Not bad for $4.50.

Here are some pictures taken at Kimbap Nara, a little Korean restaurant down the street from where we live.

  Here are the soup and those "delicious" side dishes.  The two on the left are kimchi (top) and yellow radishes or something (bottom).  I have no clue what the two on the right are.  My guess would be salted pork and fish....

 Dolsot bibimbap.  The red pepper paste is to the right.

Doug with his favorite dish.  It is beef served with glass noodles in a broth.  It comes with a side a rice that you eat the meat with.  This one has a really long Korean name!