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WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN'T EAT KOREAN FOOD?

 
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Tobacco Fiend



Joined: 22 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:25 am    Post subject: WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN'T EAT KOREAN FOOD? Reply with quote

My personal number-one living-in-Korea difficulty:

I can't eat the food! It's utterly delectable but ruthlessly vindictive on the gastrointestinal tract, damn my untermensch genes!

It took me several months here in Nam Joseon to discover why I was perpetually sick and bent over the toilet every day:

An allergy to red pepper!

Of all things!

Jesus!

Allergic to red pepper and living in Korea: What did I do in a previous life to incur such a fate?

Eating Western-style, as all of us residing here know, costs mucho dinero.

What's more, it's a hell of a time-consuming trip to get to the nearest Subway sandwich and/or other Euro-/American food emporium, at least from where I live and work.

My question to all and sundry:

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU CAN'T EAT KOREAN FOOD?

And CHRIST, I LOVE the stuff--honestly, I adore the taste of kimchee, budae jjigae, anything heavily spiced sends me out of this world in a frenzy of delight--but the chronic diarrhea brought on by a Korean-style diet forces me to look elsewhere for my daily bread.

So, fellow way-gook expats, Where do you eat???????????

Without going broke by daily visits to the Outback Steakhouse, that is.

Help me out, friends.

Peace,



Tobacco Fiend

the "anti-American American."
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How long have you been in Korea?

In my experience, I get the runs for about two weeks every time I come to Korea. Then my body adjusts and I'm fine. Same thing when I return home.
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itaewonguy



Joined: 25 Mar 2003

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dude heaps you can do..

eat rice.. eat noodles.. eat kalbi.. there are somethings you can eat..
just need to learn what you can eat and what you dont like..
BIBIMPBAB never meet a foreigner that doesnt like that,,
plenty of supermarkets that sell spaghetti and other things,,
dont sweat it man..
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VanIslander



Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 4:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, there's several Korean dishes without the spice, and many side dishes and streetside vendors.

For main meals, you can explore the food in the countless Japanese and Chinese restaurants. Westerners tend to order the same old things, but you're safe (and motivated) to wander through the menu: red pepper isn't commonly used. Just skip the side dish of kimchi they're compelled to provide the locals.

Many foreigners eat Korean food almost everyday; if you try, you could probably find just as much tasty stuff in the J/Cs.

I go sometimes but, well, I love red pepper. I never quite appreciated how much until I heard of your situation.

It's a hassle to have to manage your meals, but it's a kicked-in-the-pants opportunity to try some things new. I wish you well.
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little mixed girl



Joined: 11 Jun 2003
Location: shin hyesung's bed~

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

.....

Last edited by little mixed girl on Fri May 02, 2008 6:05 am; edited 1 time in total
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Son Deureo!



Joined: 30 Apr 2003

PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have plenty of choices for delicious Korean foods without red pepper. The following leap to mind:

gogi mandu ���⸸��-meat-filled dumplings. Make sure you're not getting kimchi mandu

samgyetang �����- ginseng chicken soup, basically a small whole chicken stuffed with rice, garlic and Chinese dates. About the blandest Korean food there is.

tweegeem Ƣ�� - deep fried battered squid, common at street stands

pajeon ���� - Korean pancakes, usually filled with veggies and seafood

jook �� - rice porridge. Comes in many flavors including pumpkin, tuna, bean, and beef. Mild and homey.

bulgogi �Ұ���, kalbi ����, samgyupsal ���� - All the grilled meats I'm sure you've already heard of. Just don't put ssamjang on it.

saengseon goo-ee �������� - broiled fish

ddeok gook ���� - rice cake soup, usually in a beef or fish broth.

ddeok mandu gook �����α� - see above, but with mandu added to it

omurice ���Ƕ��̽� - Omelette rice. Rice with egg, pits of ham, potato and onion. Pretty innocuous. Tastes like something your Dad might have made for you when you were a little kid and your mom was away.

kalbitang ������ - beef rib soup. 'nuff said! The red pepper is usually on the side, and I usually leave this out anyway

kimbap ��� - Korean-style sushi rolls

bulgogi ddook baegi �Ұ���ҹ�� - bulgogi stew in a hot bowl.

As a person who also suffers from food allergies (wheat and barley), I sympathize with your plight here. Here are a few useful phrases which you should learn, or write down in case you didn't already know them:

����(¯) �� �Ծ��. - I can't eat red pepper (paste).

���� ���߸� ������ ���Ŀ�. - If I eat red pepper I will be sick.

�̰��� ���� �־��? - Does this have red pepper in it?

����(¯) ���� �ּ���. - Please hold the red pepper (paste).

���� ����(¯) �˷����� �־��. I am allergic to red pepper (paste).

Finally, in case you haven't already made an effort to learn to read Korean script and speak some Korean, it is extra important that you do so now. You can't afford to eat any mystery dinners.

I hope this helps.
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hellofaniceguy



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!

PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you get hungry enough, you'll figure out right quick what to do!
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the_beaver



Joined: 15 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

itaewonguy wrote:
BIBIMPBAB never meet a foreigner that doesnt like that


Present. Don't like it. Conspicuously void of meat (well, there's some, but it really just amounts to a slap in the face).
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Catalina



Joined: 11 May 2003
Location: Bella Italia

PostPosted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 3:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Like Son Dureo said - Gim Pap

Gim Pap, Gim Pap, Gim Pap

Try these

Gim Pap - sushi-like roll with ham, egg, carrot, green (cuke or spinach), pollock, radish (usually 1000 Won)

Chap-chee gim pap (Tuna gim pap)

Gogi gim pap (beef gim pap)

Available everywhere!!
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