A visit to Korea wouldn’t be complete without a teahouse. We found this charming one on our travels. As the weather was hot we chose an iced green plum tea with pine nuts. To accompany our tea we ordered a traditional Korean confection called Gangjeong. Made of glutinous rice it is a deep-fried rice puff, extremely light,…… Continue reading Korean teahouse
Korean food shopping
In Korea, you can’t help but notice all the Lotte stores. There are Lotte Department Stores and even Lotte Duty Free at the airport but best of all are the supermarkets: Lotte Mart. The vast varieties of tofu could be confusing…… but the most fun for a non-Korean speaker are the snacks. Lotte have their…… Continue reading Korean food shopping
dolsot bibimbap
I think this might be my favourite Korean dish. Bibimbap literally means mixed rice and this variation is served in a very hot (dolsot) stone bowl. Usually made of granite, the bowl is so hot that anything that touches it sizzles for minutes. Before the rice is added, the bottom of the bowl is coated with sesame…… Continue reading dolsot bibimbap
bingsu
This Korean dessert of shaved ice was traditionally served with only a few ingredients such as red beans, condensed milk, fruit syrup and fresh fruit. Today bingsu is a popular dessert served in specialised restaurants with a myriad variety of ingredients. We enjoyed these two sophisticated versions in The Lounge at the Seoul Park Hyatt.…… Continue reading bingsu
gimbap
I like to travel with my tastebuds so while visiting Korea my food choices are local. Gimbap is Korea’s version of sushi. The toasted seaweed (gim) is sometimes brushed with sesame oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Instead of using vinegared rice as the Japanese do, steamed rice (bap) is mixed with sesame oil and…… Continue reading gimbap
Korean bbq
I’m making sure I try everything Korean while I’m visiting Seoul. Gogigui (Korean barbecue) refers to the method of cooking meat. The meal is prepared at the diner’s table on gas or charcoal grills. The most representative form is bulgogi which is made from thinly sliced marinated beef. Galbi (beef short ribs) are also popular. We decided to try…… Continue reading Korean bbq
salty-sweet orange and tahini pretzels
Another delight from Honey & Co The Baking Book by Sarit Packer & Itmar Srulovich and my first (rustic) attempt at pretzels. Mix together 200g (7 oz) of strong white flour, 150g (5⅓ oz) of plain flour, ½ a teaspoon of salt and 3 tablespoons of icing sugar. Warm 140ml (4¾ fl oz) of milk to blood temperature…… Continue reading salty-sweet orange and tahini pretzels
beef short rib stew
This Korean stew is deliciously sweet and salty. Cook it slowly or (if you’re short on time) in a pressure cooker. Sear 1.5kg (3 lbs) of beef short ribs in some vegetable oil over high heat then remove to a plate. Lower the heat and add 1 finely diced onion. Cook until soft before adding…… Continue reading beef short rib stew
kimchi
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish (banchan) made from salted and fermented vegetables.There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi but it is most commonly made with napa cabbage and Korean white radish (mu) and a variety of seasonings including Korean chilli flakes (gochugaru), garlic, ginger and often dried seafood. Traditionally kimchi was stored underground in jars but today…… Continue reading kimchi
flourless apple almond cake
Here’s a simple variant on that popular orange and almond cake. Just as moist as the original this one uses apple sauce instead of puréed oranges. Preheat your oven to 160ºC (325ºF). Oil and line a 23cm (9″) cake tin. In a bowl combine a jar of apple sauce, ½ a cup of sugar, 6 eggs, 340g (12…… Continue reading flourless apple almond cake
michelle picker cooks 