[HanCinema's Digest] Food Lovers' Lane

Published on 2018/04/22

Make your own 'water kimchi' with My Korean Kitchen, Korea's 'yogurt ladies' get a serious technological upgraded, gimbap is the perfect Korean picnic food, and comedian Lee Young-ja's restaurant picks go viral.

"EASY DONGCHIMI (RADISH WATER KIMCHI)"

"Water kimchi" is traditionally made from the late fall harvest, writes Sue on My Korean Kitchen. "Apparently, these radishes are more plump and sweeter". If you don't have time to wait for the normal fermentation process, don't worry because this dish requires just 48 to 72 hours to make. Sue's easy-to-follow recipe will ensure you don't go astray, and her stunning photographs will help you stay inspired. Homemade kimchi the Korean way? Yes, please!

...READ ON MY KOREAN KITCHEN

"South Korea's 'yogurt ladies' ride motorized fridges to bring your dairy fix"

America's ABC News has this feature (which includes a short video insert) about Korea's travelling "yogurt ladies". Yogurt ladies have been around in Korea for some time now, carting their refreshments around neighbourhoods and to regular customers, but now a new movable refrigerator by Korea Yakult called CoCo (short for Cold & Cool) is changing the game. The new units were introduced in 2014 and have now started to soar in popularity. The new technology has "dramatically reduced the time spent on delivery, yogurt ladies have begun delivering a bigger variety of products, including coffee, fruit and even ready-to-cook meal kits".

...READ ON ABC NEWS

"Gimbap, a seaweed rice roll, is South Korea's answer to perfect picnic food"

As the weather warms up locals are heading out and about to enjoy the fairer conditions. As Rumy Doo puts it in this feature on The Strait Times, "The season of outdoor picnics has dawned". While Westerners will perhaps reach for sandwiches, Koreans have their own favourite picnic dish that has long been a favourite for "dining alfresco". Gimbap consists of "white rice, carrots, spinach, fried egg, ham, cucumber and yellow pickled radish" rolled into a hotdog-sized snack that is popular with all ages. Unlike, say, hotdogs and sandwiches, gimbap is a relatively cheap and healthy dish; more premium versions of the dish can also be found at speciality food outlets.

...READ ON THE STRAIT TIMES

"[Trending] #LeeYoungja's favorite restaurants #YoungjaRoad"

In 2015, around 660,000 new restaurants opened up across Korea. With all those dining options, how does one decide where to eat? Thankfully, comedian Lee Young-ja is using her talents to help to cut through the saturation by selecting and sharing her favourite restaurants and dishes. Following her appearance on an episode of a variety show on MBC, in which Lee shared a special list of her favourite restaurants, the places she mentioned started trending online. One enthusiastic viewer subsequently created a Google map with the comedian's suggestions that has attracted over 180,000 views!

...READ ON THE KOREA HERALD