FOOD RANT

I’m getting so tired of soup, ramen, and grilled meat in Kdramas. The men are always shoving in large of pieces of grilled meat, and the women are always sipping soup, and both sexes are forever slurping noodles. And let’s not go into tea in impossibly fragile tea cups. Okay, okay, there is an occasional Subway sandwich, endless cups of coffee, fried chicken, maybe even a piece of popcorn or two, but mostly they’re just soup sipping and meat chewing and noodle slurping.

Traditional Korean Tofu Soup

I know Judy is going to disagree with me because she loves nothing better than food she doesn’t have to prepare herself, and most food in Korean dramas is fast food or restaurant food of some kind. I’m getting ready for her rebuttal.

The Kdrama I remember that had the most versatile menu was Something In the Rain. They were mostly eating out, but the food had a variety to it. Hey, I even saw some pasta that wasn’t ramen!

If nothing else, they all better learn the Heimlich maneuver, don’t you think? ~ Pat

Just this week I was reminded about how different palates are in Korea vs the USA. As sort of a test of 'Korean-ness' the leading lady in Hyena ordered an octopus dish where the octopus was cut up & still wiggling on the plate. The American-raised, Korean guest had to be coerced to eat the dish. In no way am I trying to criticize Korean cuisine, but there is absolutely no way that I will ever put anything squirming into my mouth. Even if it is prepared by someone else.

Our tour guide in October explained that food is held in the same regard as wishing for good health in Korea. When greeting people you ask, 'have you eaten' as a way of showing you care about the individual. Feeding family, friends, and guests shows how much you love them. ((Note to my children: I am American so this standard does not relate to our relationship. I truly cared when I served you macaroni and cheese out of the box... Mom aka Judy))