FatManSeoul

Joe McPherson of Zen Kimchi has an insightful article in this week’s Korea edition of Newsweek. You can read the Korean language version here (한국어 링크) or dowload the orginal directly from Zen here.

image from zen kimchi

There’s nothing that makes Fatman angrier than being promised a “Death Burger” that will light our mouth on fire as if we’d just french kissed Satan and finding out that at best all we’re going to get is a “Mild Indegestion Burger” that’s more like a peck from a petulant djinn. Andrew Salmon and Zen Kimchi promised us PAIN!

from demotivateus.com

I am not one to sound the alarm unless disorider, destruction and death is imminent – but in this case I fear it is. As you will know, I am one damned tough cookie, but just one hour ago I was reduced to snivelling, mewling and weeping like a pouffe.

“What!” you cry. “What could possibly have been behind this demolition of your manhood?”

The culprit was a new product available at (ahem) Burger King: The “Angry Whopper.” This was advertized as spicey, but seriously – how spicey could an American fast food product be?

The answer is in: Murderously. A few seconds after biting into this innocuous looking snack, a hellish, sulphurous smoke began to curl up to the roof of my mouth. Then it detonated deep in my gut: Napalm.

No joke – this is THE hottest damned thing I have eaten in Korea. Ever.

Of course we had to try this delicious damnation for ourselves, and so off we jaunted to the nearest BK. Read the rest of this entry »

Apparently there’s a chef shortage . . . from the Korea Times:

A lack of chefs specializing in hansik, or Korean food, has sparked constant debate about establishing an integrated cooking program in efforts to globalize the cuisine. Now, the Korean government is taking action to address the issue.

Several local universities and hotels will start a chef-education program from next month. Under the project ― by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries ― students were selected last month, and participants will instruct them in advanced hansik cooking as well as restaurant operation, foreign culture and languages.

The project aims to train top hansik chefs to prepare high-quality dishes for foreigners, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, we have a hard time believing that you’ll actually find Kwon Sang-u as your barrista, despite what this Korea Herald article on the Korean Wave cash-in among restaurants shows.

pic from Korea Herald

Meanwhile, debate is heating up again on the interwebs (well, on the Marmot’s Hole and Zen Kimchi) about Korean dog meat consumption, thanks to a post on Ask a Korean. Debate the veracity of the article and dog meat eatin’ in general amongst yourselves. Any particular favorite places to pick up a peck of pooch? Or are we calling PETA? At any rate, enjoy the annual summer debate over Korea’s most controversial protein source.

Chef Kim of Star Chef will be on EBS!  Check it out:

Best Cook Recipe
10 Aug. – 15 Aug.
Mon.- Fri. 11:00 – 11:30 AM
Rebroadcast on Sat. 12:00 – 02:30 (5Programs)

http://home.ebs.co.kr/cook/index.html

*방 송일시*

*[EBS TV] *월~금 오전 11시 ~ 11시 30분 (30분)
토 낮 12시 ~ 2시 30분 (종합재방송)
*진 행*: 박수홍
최고의 요리비결
8월10일 – 8월15일

and Julie, too, we suppose.

But why must we wait until October?!? Sony Pictures, you make Fatman so sad. We do not (heart) you.

Seth’s Travelog has put up a post ranking coffee according to his experiences in Asia. Now, we know taste is highly subjective, but we have to say . . .

Seth, you really need to get out more! Leaving aside the fact that you spoke of Japan without mentioning the sacred Doutor Coffee Co. (Hallowed be thy reasonable costs!), you can’t be getting out much if you think Korea has nothing to offer the caffine addict! Basing your opinion of Korean coffee on the office’s powdered junk is like basing your opinion of the state of American coffee on the drip coffee maker in the break room (you know, the one where people keep forgetting to clean the filter?) It’s really hardly fair to compare the powdered stuff to fresh-roasted turkish-style coffee in Indonesia, after all! And to have you point to chains like Starbucks and Hollys as the best of a bad lot only proves the need to expand your horizons.
We have to say, there’s plenty of mighty-fine brew here in the land of morning caffine, and the situation is only getting better!
Every neighborhood has their own local java joint, many of which serve up some exquisite stuff. Koreans (and their island neighbors to the east) are mad for fresh roasting and hand drip and lucious espresso. Even Dunkin’ Donuts has started their own in-country roastery to provide the freshest coffee possible. And since freshness and roasting goes pretty far in determining flavor, you’re just as likely to get a marvelous cup of coffee from a good in-house roast in Korea as you are in Indonesia.
And just to prove this, Fatman is going to start posting a series on great places for coffee here in Seoul. We’d also like to invite everyone out there to send in recommendations of places worth checking out, and even your own reviews. Hope you like your coffee strong, Seth, because that’s whats brewing!

p.s. Seriously, India ranks above Korea? The place of which you write: “Your best bet: You’ll probably do better just sticking to the tasty chai here”?

Fatman is posting this on behalf of CJ Foodville and Cafe Sobahn ~ please reply to the email listed below!

Cafe Sobahn, part of CJ Foodville, is testing new concepts and needs expats’ opinions. Here are the requirements:

* foreign . . . and it  probably wouldn’t hurt to be of legal age to consume food on your own in public, without parental supervision.

WHEN AND WHERE:

* Date & Time: 8/15 (Saturday) at 18:00 (6:00PM)
* Location: Café Sobahn at Seoul National University
* Directions: Located within the Graduate School of
Natural Sciences building, 1F (large modern
looking building made predominately of red
brick).
The building is located about 300 meters
from the main front gate – best to take
a cab from the Number 2 Green Line subway
Seoul National University station.
Parking is available.

Address in Korean:
서울대학교 내 자연과학 대학원 교육 연구동
건물내 501동 1층 – 카페소반

CONTACT

Yong Tae Kim
yongtaekim_at_cj.net

Fatman is off at a conference talking about Korean food! We’ll be blogging more when we get back!

From the Korea Times:
Foreign Foodies Generate Strong Following

Our apologies for the light blogging, we’re slowly but surely returning to our usual posting propensities.

For you oenophiles out there, the new EU-Korea FTA is expected to lower the price of European wines by up to 15%. Drink up!
Also, great news for the Kiwis and denizens from down under who walk among us: Starbucks Korea is now selling lamington.