Korean Job Discussion Forums

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

I've just finished some spiffy Old El' Paso Tacos, now even improvising heavily they still knock the socks off of all the food i've had in restaurants here.

Now I'm not ripping on Korean food, I love Samgyupsal as much as the next carnivore. I'm just curious, HOW does a small 3rd world country create such a wide range of consistently awesome food. I mean even the most basic of dishes (Nachos with salsa) are divine!

Its crazy!

tomato · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:32 am Post subject:

I don't know, Blunder 1983.
Maybe that question will someday be answered by a person who reads this thread:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=43094&highlight=

and decides to explore the field of cultural geography.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

One reason Mexican food is so good is that they have access to a wide range of spices and herbs due to their climate and location.

One reason they used to use a variety of spices was to hide the smell/taste of spoiled meat(pre-refridgeration days).

Another is that spicy food promotes persperation and in a hot climate it has a cooling effect.

Also Mexico is a relatively poor nation and they made sure that whatever food they had tasted good...food to be savoured makes you feel fuller?

thats my theory on it anyways

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

Yes, Mexican food es muy buena!! When I was in Mexico, the best food was at the little hole-in-the-wall joints. My host mother in Mexico always gave me jalepenos for breakfast. Mmmmmm...

I can't wait to get home and feast on mi madre's Corona-marinated Carne Asada.

desultude · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:04 am Post subject:

Food is an expression of culture. Do you ever hear anyone rave about Swiss food? I suspect that it is very efficiently made and quite nutritious. Confused

Korean food for me can best be described as earthy, sincere, healthy (well, mostly) and unpretentious.

Mexican food is passionate, earthy and spicey. I adore Mexican food as I adore Mexico. If only I could really make a living there. Crying or Very sad

Oh well, while I am over generalizing, I might as well add that American food is omnipresent and fattening. Cool

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I think some questions are not meant to be answered; some mysteries not meant to be solved; and some foods just to be enjoyed.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Another question: Why are you making me so DAMN hungry? Wink

keithinkorea · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

Quality Mexican food is great stuff indeed and I love it but Indian-British curry is even better.

I love to eat a variety of different foods from many places, Korean food does bore me a bit as a lot of it really does taste the same and often has that weird bland but spicy quality. Bland and spicy are two words that shouldn't go together but it seems to describe how I personally feel about most Korean food, the non spicy stuff is often just bland.

I love Morrocan, Spanish, Malay, Mexican, British, Indian, Greek, Turkish, French, Chinese, Indonesian, (some) German, (some) American food especially Cajun style stuff. But Mexican is certainly up in the top 2 or 3 of the most delicious food types as long as it's cooked properly with quality ingredients.

Quality ingredients, top notch prep and attention to detail in the cooking process makes any food great. Have any Korean shikdang won a michelin star? Probably not, but I wouldn't be very suprised if a good mexican has won one or even two.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Since there's only Mexican food as one makes it themselves here I appreciate it like God. Burrito god, Taco god, Guacamole god. Washed down with Corona god.

Back in Canada Taco Time is better than it used to be. The paper placemats picture the owner and his fact/recipe finding trips to regions of Mexico to help improve the food at Taco Time. Make it even more righteous, justifiably worship-worthy.

keithinkorea · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

La Salsa Loca...

I haven't been yet, but it comes highly recommended by my boss. I'll be dropping in on my next trip to Seoul.

Wow... this thread really makes me hungry. I grew up with lots of Mexicans and their real Mexican food (none of this Taco Bell nonsense!). My favorite thing about going to school in Utah was the cheap drive-up Mexican places.

OOOOOoooooohhhh... I wanna go home!!

vixen nomad · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Location: Korea

Not sure if any of you have actually been to Mexico. And I don't mean plopping your ass on a resort somewhere. I mean actually seeing Mexico. If you have you will know that the food is terrible. It was some of the worst I had ever had in my life. Dry and tasteless.
The Mexican food that we all know and love is not actually Mexican. It is a Western version of it.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Spent 24 hours in Mexico once and agree that the food I had was unappetising. But I do enjoy Mexican food.

Use of the word spicy is intereting. Koreans will say that their food is spicy, but in fact the only spices they seem to use are salt and chilli powder (and very weak chilli powder at that). By spicy they seem to mean hot and I would differ there too, I do not find it hot. And with only one spice it can hardly be called spicy. Rolling Eyes

Give me hot AND spicy food ... yes, British-Indian curry, Mexican, Thai, Rijstafel etc etc ...

desultude · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:06 pm Post subject:

EFLtrainer · Joined: 04 May 2005

Best dish I ever had: I was in high school. This lady I worked with ahd spent a few years in Mexico working with inegenas in teh mountains. Brough back this dish called Sal Picon (spelling?).

VERY marinated shredded beef, several kinds of onions, sliced tomatos, avocado and who knows what else..... OH MY GOD!!!!!!

EFLtrainer
www.geocities.com/killiankob