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By Way of Korea

South Korea   |   New York

A Korean food blog and travelogue inspired by

an epicurious New Yorker's journey around South Korea

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Yonggol Persimmon Tree House - Gangneung, South Korea

Off the main road, through a dark tunnel, up a winding road between the bare trees, lies an old house that only those who know about it know. A dimly lit yard overlaid by the shadows of persimmon trees in the moonlight feels uninviting at first sight, but you feel differently once you smell what’s cooking inside. The unmistakable smell of samgyupsal leads you inside to a small room with wood-fired, stone grills built into red clay.

You have actually walked into a well-hidden restaurant with only Jeju black pig on its menu.

Thinly-sliced, but wide strips of samgyupsal and mukeunji are brought out by the charming lady of the house, who will insist that the secret to making her delicious mukeunji is using “7일 동안 안 씻은 손”/ “hands that haven’t been washed for seven days” (역시 #손맛 😂).

Leave some room for her aromatic fried rice seasoned with liberal amounts of perilla oil and seaweed flakes. If you trek out here to visit me, I might let you know where it is.😬

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"If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel - as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them - wherever you go."

Anthony Bourdain's unmatched relish for adventure and humble approach to food, cultures, and humanity left an indelible impression on my younger self. Imparting on me the courage to veer into the unknown, he inspired me to embrace my vulnerabilities and seek adventures and growth beyond the comforts of home.

 

In July of 2017, I boarded a one-way flight to Seoul, South Korea. Within the first week of arrival, I signed a lease for an apartment and by the end of August, I had accepted a job offer that relocated me to Pyeongchang and Gangneung, where the Winter Olympics were soon to be held. From there, I had the rare opportunity to explore much of the greater Gangwon Province's beautiful mountainous and coastal regions and their distinctive foods. Once or twice a month, I'd return to Seoul or travel to an unfamiliar region to poke around alleyways, markets, and mountains in search of more good eats and adventures.

 

By Way of Korea is a storytelling project inspired by the food, places, and faces I encountered throughout Korea. By sharing my fondest memories, notes, and images of Korea, I simply hope to play a small part in piquing greater curiosity about Korean food and culture in my readers.  My content will heavily spotlight, but not be limited to Korean food and culture. 

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