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Cooking in Canada is such a joy

 
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:45 pm    Post subject: Cooking in Canada is such a joy Reply with quote

It's amazing how context can change the enjoyment level of certain activities. Consider the following:

- supermarkets 5-10 minutes away in every direction full of food I actually would like to eat; an endless supply of more than just galbi and bulgogi for cooking large meals at home. Imagine easily obtainig the semi-prepared supplies to make two or three side dishes your guests actually want to finish instead of labouring all day on ten that hardly anyone touches.

- counterspace - homes equiped with more than 3 sq. feet of counterspace on which to make various elenents of a multi-course meal. No more balancing a bread board over the sink to get that extra bit of room for chopping onions.

- spices and seasonings that offer you more choice than a little hot pepper sauce, a fair bit of hot pepper sauce, or a lot of hot pepper sauce.

- liquor stores that offer more choice in wines than W3,000 'house wine' (about the last thing you'd want to serve anyone visiting your house).

- dishwashers that not only to make clean-up easier but allow you to immediately make all those dirty dishes disappear.

- and ovens. Oh wonderful ovens. You can make your desert the night before and have it all ready, roast meat or fish and potatoes at the same time, and work on something else while your food is busy cooking. And what should be on top of the oven but four elements. No more debating which of your three greasy pans get the two coveted gas range spots.

Is it any wonder why Koreans eat out or order in so much?
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DRAMA OVERKILL



Joined: 12 Apr 2005

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That all sounds wonderful - makes me wish I was home to cook up a nice lasagna or something.

However, the "...in Canada" title - your just going to pis off some 'Merican ("WE invented the oven!!! Where would Canada be if.... blah... blah...).
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Ya-ta Boy



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

While I take your point about the convenience of cooking at home, I take exception (a bit) with the idea an expat has to do without here in Korea. Part of the fun of cooking here is overcoming the hassles.

The part of cooking that I miss are the easy meals in a can/box/freezer for when I don't have the time or energy to cook.

I wish the other poster hadn't mentioned lasagna. I've been fighting the urge to make up a big batch for a couple of weeks--don't want to fire up the oven till fall.

(PS: Yes, Americans did invent the oven. Someone had to invent things to put in the Canadian-invented kitchen which is a part of Canadian-invented homes.)
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Gopher



Joined: 04 Jun 2005

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya-ta Boy wrote:
...the Canadian-invented kitchen which is a part of Canadian-invented homes.


Have you not heard? Canadians domesticated plants and animals, too.

In any case, glad to hear that Yu_Bum_suk enjoys being home again.
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Adventurer



Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brother, I do look for some food with some spices on them rather than the kind that just has you call in the fire trucks... American, British, and Canadian, Australian, and Kiwi kitchens, you've got to love them with all their big counter spaces... Nothing beats being able to speak in English and feel really happy to be in a supermarket. Oh, the food I miss... I think if there was more variety when it comes to food I would enjoy my visits to the supermarket more. I also miss good beer on draft. I know many foreigners like Korean beer on draft, but it makes me feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. I feel like I am going to explode:)
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya-ta Boy wrote:
I wish the other poster hadn't mentioned lasagna.


On Tuesday I'm having my aunt, uncle, and cousin over for lasagna - and the oven-ready noodle stuff at that.

Today it was salmon, roasted potatoes, garlic bread, a raw vegie dish, salad, and brownies with ice cream for desert, along with three bottles of wine, and it was all a lot simpler than tyring to make bulgogi-bab with a few side-dishes on a gas range in Korea. It's fucking amazing how you can cook one or two meals a year - not even in your own kitchen - and be left with heaps and heaps of compliments from your stuffed, satisfied, amazed friends who think you're a culinary genius just because you have a real kitchen, are by a real supermarket, and know how to make the best of it.
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VanIslander



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

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I enjoy cooking in Korea a few times a month. It's surprising how much like home you can make it.

Though my enjoyment of hunting down ingredients in Korea is in inverse proportion to the level of heat and humidity.
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Jarome_Turner



Joined: 10 Sep 2004

PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought an oven are Carrefour for 400,000 won. Best purchase ever. Also has four burners on the top so one greasy pot doesn't get left out.

Wine is everywhere. Wine stores are popping up in every neighbourhood in Korea it seems. Not just cheap wine available either, most carry impor wine from France, Chile, and Italy priced from 8000-100,000 won.

Dishwashers are as much of a hassle as they are any good. Loading them, unloading them. Repeat. Easier just to wash in the sink I think.

American beef. Great in the oven, or on the 12,000 won BBQ I bought down the road.

I cooked a lasagna three weeks ago and had a few friends over to watch UFC and enjoy. Oven ready noodles. Found them at HomeEver (the first place I looked).

You're right about the spices and counter space tho.
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