Comments on: I Smell a Rat http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/ Korea... in Blog Format Fri, 16 May 2008 02:19:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: dda http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143553 dda Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:40:32 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143553 Indonesian food is slightly boring, but tasty enough. However, I eat mostly Chinese there, because my clients are Chinese-Indonesian, so my knowledge of Indonesian food is limited. Likewise for Malaysian food -- same reason... But Sonagi is right about Singapore: the diversity is great -- and food safety way above what one can find on the streets of Jakarta or even KL... Then again, if you want diversity while staying within one country, go to Shenzhen: the variety of Chinese cuisines is stunning. And you can't beat the price! Indonesian food is slightly boring, but tasty enough. However, I eat mostly Chinese there, because my clients are Chinese-Indonesian, so my knowledge of Indonesian food is limited. Likewise for Malaysian food — same reason… But Sonagi is right about Singapore: the diversity is great — and food safety way above what one can find on the streets of Jakarta or even KL…

Then again, if you want diversity while staying within one country, go to Shenzhen: the variety of Chinese cuisines is stunning. And you can’t beat the price!

]]> By: Zonath http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143466 Zonath Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:28:04 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143466 <blockquote>As a small country, Korea doesn’t have the diversity of produce, livestock, and herbs and spices that make Chinese and Indian food so popular</blockquote> Does anyone know why that is? I know certain crops just won't grow in the Korean climate, but that still leaves plenty of herbs, spices, and whatnot that could easily have been adopted... They certainly embraced things like the chili pepper, potatoes, and napa cabbage with great gusto.

As a small country, Korea doesn’t have the diversity of produce, livestock, and herbs and spices that make Chinese and Indian food so popular

Does anyone know why that is? I know certain crops just won’t grow in the Korean climate, but that still leaves plenty of herbs, spices, and whatnot that could easily have been adopted… They certainly embraced things like the chili pepper, potatoes, and napa cabbage with great gusto.

]]> By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143461 Sonagi Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:13:29 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143461 I spent so many vacations in Malaysia and Singapore I practically lived there. The food scene in Malaysia is better than in Indonesia simply because of the greater choices between Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Peranakan fusion cuisines. Is there a better place to meet for lunch than a hawkers' center? I traveled for nearly a month on Java and while the food was good, it lacked the variety found on the Malay peninsula. Curries are delicious, but I'd give them up before I'd give up Korean namul. I wonder if Aaron's rants reflect a outside-the-bubble Korean culture shock. My friends and I used to do the same thing when we'd take a vacation. "Look at these dishes," we'd exclaim. "They're actually different colors, not all red." "Every other car on the street isn't a Hyundai." After awhile, though, what's novel is no longer new, and we were always glad to come home to Korea. I spent so many vacations in Malaysia and Singapore I practically lived there. The food scene in Malaysia is better than in Indonesia simply because of the greater choices between Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Peranakan fusion cuisines. Is there a better place to meet for lunch than a hawkers’ center? I traveled for nearly a month on Java and while the food was good, it lacked the variety found on the Malay peninsula. Curries are delicious, but I’d give them up before I’d give up Korean namul.

I wonder if Aaron’s rants reflect a outside-the-bubble Korean culture shock. My friends and I used to do the same thing when we’d take a vacation. “Look at these dishes,” we’d exclaim. “They’re actually different colors, not all red.” “Every other car on the street isn’t a Hyundai.” After awhile, though, what’s novel is no longer new, and we were always glad to come home to Korea.

]]> By: Linkd http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143460 Linkd Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:59:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143460 Mmm...but he lives in Indonesia now. I moved to Seoul after living for over a year in Singapore/KL. It was hard leaving the Malay curries behind. I eat Korean almost every day, but I'd give it up before I'd give up fish head curry. Mmm…but he lives in Indonesia now. I moved to Seoul after living for over a year in Singapore/KL. It was hard leaving the Malay curries behind. I eat Korean almost every day, but I’d give it up before I’d give up fish head curry.

]]> By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143459 Sonagi Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:25:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143459 <blockquote>I have forsaken my LG phone for a nokia, my Hyundai for a Toyota and pretty much every banal Korean food option for something edible.</blockquote> Excuse me, but did you call Korean food banal? As a small country, Korea doesn't have the diversity of produce, livestock, and herbs and spices that make Chinese and Indian food so popular, but Korean cuisine is a creative and delicious assortment of dishes using nearly every edible thing on the peninsula. My absolute favorite meal is hanjungshik. You are the rare waegook who doesn't like Korean food. There's no accounting for taste.

I have forsaken my LG phone for a nokia, my Hyundai for a Toyota and pretty much every banal Korean food option for something edible.

Excuse me, but did you call Korean food banal? As a small country, Korea doesn’t have the diversity of produce, livestock, and herbs and spices that make Chinese and Indian food so popular, but Korean cuisine is a creative and delicious assortment of dishes using nearly every edible thing on the peninsula. My absolute favorite meal is hanjungshik.

You are the rare waegook who doesn’t like Korean food. There’s no accounting for taste.

]]> By: aaronm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143453 aaronm Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:29:09 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143453 Pawi, Back in the real world I have a choice. I have forsaken my LG phone for a nokia, my Hyundai for a Toyota and pretty much every banal Korean food option for something edible. Pawi,

Back in the real world I have a choice. I have forsaken my LG phone for a nokia, my Hyundai for a Toyota and pretty much every banal Korean food option for something edible.

]]> By: colontos http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143329 colontos Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:30:52 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143329 It's when people around here start talking about Korean food that we really plumb the depths of ignorance and bigotry. It’s when people around here start talking about Korean food that we really plumb the depths of ignorance and bigotry.

]]> By: pawikirogi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143325 pawikirogi Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:59:05 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143325 'Yep, I bet all those people in countries with advanced culinary tastes like France, Singapore and the US can’t wait to sample their 38 different varieties of gochujang-flavoured ramyen.' yep, just like hyundai, kia, lg, samsung, ect. lol. you must do a lot of pretending when it comes to koreans. the french? who says they're high class? you? lol! just look at ya. lol! ‘Yep, I bet all those people in countries with advanced culinary tastes like France, Singapore and the US can’t wait to sample their 38 different varieties of gochujang-flavoured ramyen.’

yep, just like hyundai, kia, lg, samsung, ect. lol. you must do a lot of pretending when it comes to koreans. the french? who says they’re high class? you? lol! just look at ya. lol!

]]> By: aaronm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143310 aaronm Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:07:11 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143310 Pawi, Yep, I bet all those people in countries with advanced culinary tastes like France, Singapore and the US can't wait to sample their 38 different varieties of gochujang-flavoured ramyen. Pawi,

Yep, I bet all those people in countries with advanced culinary tastes like France, Singapore and the US can’t wait to sample their 38 different varieties of gochujang-flavoured ramyen.

]]> By: Johnson http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143225 Johnson Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:58:38 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/03/20/i-smell-a-rat/#comment-143225 Poll question: Today, was someone at Nongshim fired, or was someone shouted at for 3 hours, or was someone transferred to Jindo? I'd bet on the shouting. Poll question: Today, was someone at Nongshim fired, or was someone shouted at for 3 hours, or was someone transferred to Jindo?

I’d bet on the shouting.

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