Just over a month ago, I stopped by The Chopping Block on my way to the Korean embassy in Chicago. Now, I'm writing from Deokso, South Korea, miles away from everyone and everything I knew.
I teach English at a small hagwon (an after school institute) on the east side of Seoul. My students are mostly elementary school kids, and they were quick to inform me of their favorite snack: ddeokbokki. Ddeokbokki is a rice cake, either boiled or fried, served with a sweet and spicy tomato-based sauce. This weekend, I had the best ddeokbokki I've had to date at a roadside stand in Bukchan, a neighborhood in Seoul filled with cafes and quaint, old houses. Fried ddeokbokki is crispy on the outside and a touch chewy on the inside. The sauce is what makes it so delicious, though. Ddeokbokki is sometimes served in small cups or dishes, but in Bukchan they were served on long skewers, so we could walk around as we ate.
Photo Credit Moe Sasaki
After that, my friends and I sat down for bingsu, a traditional summer dessert. It's still hot here – temperatures linger in the mid 70s to low 80s during the day – so the refreshing dish hit the spot for us. Bingsu is made from frozen sweetened milk shaved finely, almost like snow. Toppings for this ice bed vary from fruits to chocolate to red bean, the most traditional topping. Red bean is very common in Korean desserts. It took some getting used to for me – especially because many times I have bit into a bean-studded roll thinking it filled with chocolate chips – but now red bean desserts are some of my favorite sweet treat. Our bingsu had an additional treat on top: four cream puffs, filled with a red bean cream. The lightness of the milk shavings mixed with the cool sweet of the red bean was a perfect combination for an early fall day.
Photo Credit Moe Sasaki
I feel pretty lucky to have been able to travel as much as I already have in my life. One way for anyone to explore different cultures without leaving your city or your job is to try new foods. Check out The Chopping Block's calendar for diverse cooking class options, from Argentine cuisine to Parisian dishes to street food like Tamales. You can even give this Bulgogi Egg Roll recipe a try from home. It's filled with
