For all those who missed it, yesterday was 초복 (chobok), the first of the three 삼복 (sambok). Supposedly the hottest days of the year according to the lunar calendar, these are the times that try men’s air conditioners and call for special nutritious foods like 삼계탕 (samgyetang: whole boiled spring chickens stuffed with jujube, glutenous rice, chestnuts, ginseng, and whathaveyou), 장어 (jangeo: broiled eel), 보신탕 (boshintang: you-know-what) and a host of other foods that fight fire with fire. The next one this year will be 중복 (jungbok) on the 24th, and the last one is 말복 (malbok) on the 13th of August. For a more complete discussion of 삼복, go visit an acorn in the dog’s food. Eat well!

samgyetang