Korean Job Discussion Forums

[augustine]

I've never bought any here and I've asked at a few supermarkets recently with obviously no luck. Where do they sell it in Itaewon? Italian restaurants in the area obviously use it in a few of their dishes but I have no idea where to buy it fresh. I googled a little and found a link that was about five years old that said there is/was a produce market in hannam-dong that sold it, wondering if that's still the case... I want to get my pesto back on...

[northway]

I used to get it at EMart in Sanbon, so I'd assume it's available at other locations, but it was always hit or miss as to whether they'd have it.

[Zyzyfer]

Foreign Food Market up where What the Book? used to be should have it. Walk to fire station from exit 1(?), turn right, walk about a block and a half up and it's on the left.

There were two stores in Hannam but the big one that was under the Volvo Building is no longer there, and the other big one is not all that convenient if you don't live in the general area to begin with.

[Ruthdes]

The department store supermarkets often have it. I found 3 seedlings in a pot for 4,000 won in my neighbourhood last week. Score! I had already ordered seeds online (for coriander too), but bought the plant when I found it. Can't seem to find coriander seedlings anywhere

[augustine]

Yeah, Zyzyfer, I live close to hannam-dong so I'm in the area... but What the Book... I guess I haven't noticed it recently, are you talking about the one that used to be semi-above the Nike store, next to the Home Base supermarket and the new Vatos Tacos/the post office? Isn't that where What the Book is? There's a place up there? I think I'm confused.

Otherwise, I know where the foreign food market is and was probably there a few weeks ago at the latest, but are you sure they have it? Their fresh produce area in back left is so small that I usually miss it, but I'll definitely give it a second look now.

And, Ruthdes, yep, I used to grow basil myself, it's such an amazing plant, shit cures cancer! I should grow it now since I have a decent spot to put some plants and the seasons' right, but eh, you know how it is. Thanks for the input.

I'll also be sure to check out the Yongsan E-Mart next time I go there which should be soon. (Best bagels in Korea can be found in the bakery section there btw, and they're only 1,000k a pop whereas Paris Baguette's bagels are tiny, nasty, and 1,400k per bagel-- just saying.

[Zyzyfer]

[augustine]

Thanks. I'll report backs since I'll probably end up there this weekend. I'm mostly just familiar with the main strip that leads down to the river in hannam do, not sure where the Haddon House is, but I'll see what I can do. I have an acquaintance that lives in the dong so I'll have to send them a text.

[augustine]

Affirmative on basil leaves at the yongsan emart, they sell little packages of it but all of them were expired; I bought some anyway since they didn't look that bad.

[augustine]

I just want to add that the basil leaves sold at the Yongsan E-mart are total shit. I made pesto last night and the ladyfriend loved it and it tasted pretty good; but basil is obviously not a very popular herb here since the locals probably don't know how to use it and stick to their medieval cooking methods that churn out what is, from my experience, the most disgusting food in the world. But I found all of these little bugs on it and when I washed the leaves I couldn't believe the amount of dirt that was on them, although that's not necessarily abnormal. But all the packages were expired and it's just not a place I'd recommend to buy basil. I asked two employees initially and they wrongly said that they didn't even sell fresh basil, so I was lucky I even found the little packages after further investigation. Yeah, so if you're looking for fresh basil, don't go to E-mart and if you have a suggestion for a decent produce market near Itaewon in the culinary black hole of a country, let me know.

[augustine]

I just want to add that the basil leaves sold at the Yongsan E-mart are total shit. I made pesto last night and the ladyfriend loved it and it tasted pretty good; but basil is obviously not a very popular herb here since the locals probably don't know how to use it and stick to their medieval cooking methods that churn out what is, from my experience, the most disgusting food in the world. But I found all of these little bugs on it and when I washed the leaves I couldn't believe the amount of dirt that was on them, although that's not necessarily abnormal. But all the packages were expired and it's just not a place I'd recommend to buy basil. I asked two employees initially and they wrongly said that they didn't even sell fresh basil, so I was lucky I even found the little packages after further investigation. Yeah, so if you're looking for fresh basil, don't go to E-mart and if you have a suggestion for a decent produce market near Itaewon in the culinary black hole of a country, let me know.

[HapKi]

I grow way more basil than I need every year, and don't mind giving it away to people that want it. Last year a put up a post here on Dave's offering it up, and I got zero response. If anyone wants some, let me know in a month or so when my bushes start to thicken. Or better yet, you can come out and pick your own. I'm in NE Seoul.

[augustine]

^ That's a good man.

[Zyzyfer]

[transmogrifier]

Dodge7 just asked me to tell you all that there is no basil because Koreans hate foreigners and basil is sometimes used as a Western male name, and so they are trying to phase it out because of that.

[Harpeau]

Jognro 5 ga has basil plants. There is a garden street there.