My husband always talks fondly of his time abroad in London during his college years. He studied for a year at the London School of Economics. And while there, he played “varsity” college ball for a season. I feel bad for putting quotes on varsity. But I don’t think college basketball was all that popular over a decade ago in London. And he played in a team with “bookish, basketball misfits.” Even he (reluctantly) admits to that. I guess they were the Bad News Bears of the European college league – without the miraculous come-from-behind win at the end. But no matter; he is a huge sports fan, and that’s his claim to fame.
Tteok Manduguk (Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup)
My grandmother used to tell me that I couldn’t ring in the New Year without having some Tteok Manduguk (Korean Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup) according to Korean tradition. Who am I to argue with this long-standing tradition?
I’ve been eating Tteok Manduguk on New Year’s Day as far back as I can remember. When I was young, my grandmother made EVERYTHING from scratch: the filling, the mandu skin, and the broth. I don’t have the luxury of my grandmother’s cooking anymore – haven’t for a few years now. But I still consume tons of the soup come every New Year’s Day, usually at a restaurant.
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Dubu Jjigae (Tofu Soup)
Seriously. I can eat tofu everyday for the entire month. It’s such a versatile ingredient. There are so many possibilities that I know my palate won’t get bored. Alas. Anything taken to an excess can’t be good for you. Everything in moderation right?
BUT one more day of tofu won’t hurt, no?
Hobakjuk (Pumpkin Porridge with Rice Dumplings)
I have a habit I need to break.
I buy way too much of foods that I love – unreasonably too much. I love kabocha pumpkins. And the last time I went to Whole Foods, organic kabochas were on sale. I can’t pass that up right? So I bought the biggest kabocha they had in stock and a smaller one – 12+ pounds in total. When I bought them I felt so good that I whistled all they way home despite the pain in my shoulder from lugging the heavy load. Not too much, I figured. It’s just the two of us, but half of it will be seeds that I will discard right?
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Ddukbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) – The Ultimate Street Food
Ddukbokki is hands down my favorite street food. That’s saying a lot, considering the number of street foods available just in Korea.
When I was in fifth grade, my parents sent me and my brother to Korea to visit my grandparents. That was the last time I had totally authentic Korean street food. But I remember the taste of ddukbokki like it was yesterday. Since then, I had ddukbokki at many (some fancy) restaurants, but none compares to the simple, street-vendor-style ddukbokki I enjoyed so much as a little girl.
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