| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:38 pm Post subject: Spicy food in Korea |
 |
|
Do you like spicy food but have a problem being served it in Korea?
I like spicy food so I learned how to say that in Korean because my dishes ordered here in Korea were often coming back not spicy, even though they were supposed to be spicy.
I am talking about Yuk gae jong and other dishes that are always supposed to be spicy and to some extent dishes that can be spicy or not spicy, like Sun Dubu in which case they should ask.
Now, in the case where I went to a restaurant where the first day they prepared it as usual, I am assuming the cook didn�t see me, and the next time the same dish was prepared non-spicy.
It was delicious the regular way and tasted like crap without spices.
I called the husband of the husband and wife team on it and pointed out that the first time it was spicy and delicious and this time it is not spicy and not delicious and showed him my dish that was very conspicuously missing the red peppers it had the first time.
He apologized, took a small amount of money off the bill and assured me it would not happen again.
Preconceived notions in my opinion. Yesterday besides being pointed out as a foreigner walking down the street by two ill-mannered kids, It was suggested that I must drink Budweiser beer, shouldn�t like the mok yok tang and its hot water and sauna, and that I wouldnt also like certain parts of the cow as is used in So Mori Guk Bap, my favorite beef soup dish.
"foreigners just dont do or like that"
How do you know?
Thats what the paper / tv said.
But how many foreigners have you actually talked to about this?
One. You.
But I like spicy food/saunas/cow's head so then shouldnt it be 100% of the foreigners you actually talked to like these things?
Well , I guess so.
So now all foreigners like these things?
Well , lets not say that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
jaganath69
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I like spicy, proper spicy. I also love food in Indonesia (where my wife is from) because they don't tone it down for whitey. Good Padang curry will leave your a$$hole looking like the Japanese flag the next day and burns in a way that most Korean food doesn't. Ditto Indian. I went for the buffet at Mogul on Saturday night and it was heaven. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| jaganath69 wrote: |
| I like spicy, proper spicy. I also love food in Indonesia (where my wife is from) because they don't tone it down for whitey. Good Padang curry will leave your a$$hole looking like the Japanese flag the next day and burns in a way that most Korean food doesn't. Ditto Indian. I went for the buffet at Mogul on Saturday night and it was heaven. |
Even the regular spicy version which I got the first time I was there and commented as to how good it was, was not that spicy. It had some red peppers mixed in some noodles and barely hurt to eat.
And it is this that they are afraid of us eating?
It is funny since I have been eating their food for over a decade, so that would mean about the same as a local in their late teens. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
normalcyispasse
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Yeosu until the end of February WOOOOOOOO
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Here they generally prepare food the same, irrespective of the client�le. I often ask for less-spicy food; I prefer to taste my food, not capsaicin. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Donkey Beer
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
| How do i tell them to make it so spicy that tears roll down my eyes? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| normalcyispasse wrote: |
| Here they generally prepare food the same, irrespective of the client�le. I often ask for less-spicy food; I prefer to taste my food, not capsaicin. |
That hasn't been the same for me. I have had my food toned down numerous times and have had clear conversation in Korean about that matter.
There have even been occasions where the cook insisted that I could not possible like it spicy as I am not Korean and he knows what we like. The others before me didn�t like it spicy and therefore, I also do not like it spicy.
I have been through this many times in the past 12 years. There are certain dishes such as Yuk Gae Jong that are spicy dishes period. You don�t order them unless you want a spicy meal and I would have hoped they would have given me credit for knowing that. But they usually don�t and I have to explain that I want the spicy dish spicy.
Never really thought about capsaicins:
Capsaicin /ˌk�pˈseˌɪ.sɪn/ (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the active component of chilli peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact. Capsaicin and several related compounds are called capsaicinoids and are produced as a secondary metabolite by chilli peppers, probably as deterrents against herbivores. Pure capsaicin is a hydrophobic, colorless, odorless, crystalline to waxy compound.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PGF
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Spicy food in Korea |
|
|
| regicide wrote: |
Do you like spicy food but have a problem being served it in Korea?
I like spicy food so I learned how to say that in Korean because my dishes ordered here in Korea were often coming back not spicy, even though they were supposed to be spicy.
I am talking about Yuk gae jong and other dishes that are always supposed to be spicy and to some extent dishes that can be spicy or not spicy, like Sun Dubu in which case they should ask.
Now, in the case where I went to a restaurant where the first day they prepared it as usual, I am assuming the cook didn�t see me, and the next time the same dish was prepared non-spicy.
It was delicious the regular way and tasted like crap without spices.
I called the husband of the husband and wife team on it and pointed out that the first time it was spicy and delicious and this time it is not spicy and not delicious and showed him my dish that was very conspicuously missing the red peppers it had the first time.
He apologized, took a small amount of money off the bill and assured me it would not happen again.
Preconceived notions in my opinion. Yesterday besides being pointed out as a foreigner walking down the street by two ill-mannered kids, It was suggested that I must drink Budweiser beer, shouldn�t like the mok yok tang and its hot water and sauna, and that I wouldnt also like certain parts of the cow as is used in So Mori Guk Bap, my favorite beef soup dish.
"foreigners just dont do or like that"
How do you know?
Thats what the paper / tv said.
But how many foreigners have you actually talked to about this?
One. You.
But I like spicy food/saunas/cow's head so then shouldnt it be 100% of the foreigners you actually talked to like these things?
Well , I guess so.
So now all foreigners like these things?
Well , lets not say that. |
I've been out with Koreans and we've ordered "as hot as you can make it" cause I love spicy- used to grow habeneros-----and it still fails to burn me, even though the koreans are crying ......Korean food is just not that spicy. period. If you are a true fan of spice, this place has very little to offer. Every now and then I get a batch of peppers that are kind of hot, but nothing that really makes my nose run and my head sweat.
I don't know about eating cow head or cow knees or any of that sh8ut, but when I have been in a restaurant and tthe waitress second guesses me, I just pick up one of those wimpy korean green peppers and eat it whole and they bring me the spiciest they have. It's never enough to get the endorphines going.
Honestly, I do not think Koreans like HOT Spicy, kick your As7s food. Thai peppers and cambodian peppers are more suited to that in the Asia place.....
happy cow brain eating, BTW. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Donkey Beer wrote: |
| How do i tell them to make it so spicy that tears roll down my eyes? |
Today my order was not prepared the same as the Koreans in the restaurant. They substituted a delicious side dish of spicy tofu with a salad. I thought the fork they gave me was for the salad, but it was actually to eat the meat in the Kalbi Tang. Anyone here ever seen Kalbi tang served with a fork?
When I called them on the tofu substitution they offered it now and I declined. They also said we won�t forget next time.
I said, there won't be a next time.
Why? The Kalbi was terrible, the worst I ever had and that is the main reason. But I want them to think about the substitution and giving me a fork like I am some retard who can�t use chopsticks.
All they had to do was treat me the same. Would that have been so hard to do?
Last edited by regicide on Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Boodleheimer
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Location: working undercover for the Man
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| i've only had one truly spicy thing here-- it was hot green pepper gimbap. i was shocked! i don't know where my students got it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| regicide wrote: |
| ...and giving me a fork like I am some retard who can�t use chopsticks... All they had to do was treat me the same. Would that have been so hard to do? |
Now, I am the first to roll my eyes when I get attention for using chopsticks or asked if I even can, but perhaps this is an instance where they thought they were being courteous to you. They probably assumed that the Asian foods that we eat in the West are eaten with cutlery.
It might have been better had they offered you both and let you chosen for yourself, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they thought you couldn't handle the chopsticks. They likely thought you'd be naturally comfortable with your culture's most common eating tools.
...or, not.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
regicide
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Location: United States
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| whatever wrote: |
| regicide wrote: |
| ...and giving me a fork like I am some retard who can�t use chopsticks... All they had to do was treat me the same. Would that have been so hard to do? |
Now, I am the first to roll my eyes when I get attention for using chopsticks or asked if I even can, but perhaps this is an instance where they thought they were being courteous to you. They probably assumed that the Asian foods that we eat in the West are eaten with cutlery.
It might have been better had they offered you both and let you chosen for yourself, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they thought you couldn't handle the chopsticks. They likely thought you'd be naturally comfortable with your culture's most common eating tools.
...or, not. |
I think you are absolutely right in that they thought that they were being courteous to me. That is why it is difficult to act unhappy when they do things like this.
But I have to live here and I am only, in this case, seeking a decent meal to eat.
And I like Korean food. Prepared and served just like it is for the locals.
It is funny in this case because they gave me a lettuce salad with some kind of dressing. I do not like vinegar based foods and never eat salad dressing, ketchup and some other typical western condiments and dishes.
So clearly, they thought that is what I eat and they were helping me.
Would have rather had that spicy tofu dish though.
[/i] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Donkey Beer wrote: |
| How do i tell them to make it so spicy that tears roll down my eyes? |
That's how I like it and that's what I call spicy. No tears, no sweat=not spicy. So, Korean food is not spicy for me... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Donkey Beer
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| princess wrote: |
| Donkey Beer wrote: |
| How do i tell them to make it so spicy that tears roll down my eyes? |
That's how I like it and that's what I call spicy. No tears, no sweat=not spicy. So, Korean food is not spicy for me... |
Exactly. I've been accused of being a masochist before for loving my food so spicy but it really enhances the dining the experience. I would seriously appreciate knowing how to tell the ajumma to make it as spicy as she possibly can.
The only spicy food i've eaten in this country was homemade or the booldak. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| princess wrote: |
| Donkey Beer wrote: |
| How do i tell them to make it so spicy that tears roll down my eyes? |
That's how I like it and that's what I call spicy. No tears, no sweat=not spicy. So, Korean food is not spicy for me... |
lol, that's not the kind of comment I'd've expected from Princess. Princess? Sweaty? Surely not!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
|
| Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| butlerian wrote: |
| princess wrote: |
| Donkey Beer wrote: |
| How do i tell them to make it so spicy that tears roll down my eyes? |
That's how I like it and that's what I call spicy. No tears, no sweat=not spicy. So, Korean food is not spicy for me... |
lol, that's not the kind of comment I'd've expected from Princess. Princess? Sweaty? Surely not! |
hehehe...Sweaty in a good way is OK though....hehehe |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
