FatManSeoul » Andong

Mad About Mammoth

fatmanseoul — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:31:18 +0000

Fatman has a whole post devoted to the foods of Andong (as well as posts here and here right at home) over at Hub of Sparkle, but one place deserves special mention.

It is not merely the best bakery in Andong, or Gyeongsang-do. It is the best bakery in Korea. Maybe the best bakery in the world. Or the UNIVERSE!

Dating all the way back to the 1970′s, Mammot has been around a while, and the European-trained bakers seem to have hit the sweet spot exactly between sophisticated European baking techniques and the local tastes.

Korean favorites like streudel bread and crispy tapioca balls (or “dragon eggs” as they call them at Mammoth) are executed with flair, while old-world favorites like sacher torte show up in all their stately glory.

Original creations often have a whimsical edge, such as these charming buns shaped to resemble blowfish.

The front part of the store is partitioned and devoted mostly to baked goods, including breads, cakes, and other deserts. A second section is set apart for wines and beverages, and a smaller display case holds some of their house-made chocolates. The rear section contains glassed in bakery-section where you can watch the staff at work baking and decorating. There’s a decent-sized dining area with tables and chairs for eating in, and a small outdoor garden area to use during good weather.

While the baked goods are the highlight, don’t miss out on some excellent sandwiches and very good espresso drinks. Like their bakery items, everything here is made with very high quality ingredients, including imported meats and cheeses.
But the real highlight are still the marvelous interpretations of European goods. The cream puffs and eclairs are standouts, with a crisp exterior, tender interior crumb, and an extraordinarily good cream filing both light and luxurious. Pair it with a nicely balanced cup of cappuchino, and you’ve got a perfect afternoon relaxation. Or, pair a thimbulful of deep espresso with one of their magnificent French-style macaroons.

Need something a bit more savory? Any of their breads will have a good crumb and a marvelous crisp crust. Many of them come packed with small luxuries, like this bacon and sundried tomato braid.

In the end, it’s hard to go wrong here. The bakery staff has worked hard to both please the local palate and stay true to the European tradition, and somehow managed to pull it off. When you stay in Andong, as odd as it sounds in the land of Confucian tradition, this may well be the best meal in town. Forget tradition for a bit and enjoy a little bit of another kind of tradition altogether.

Mammoth Bakery is just off the main square in downtown Andong, near the Pizza Hutt and Shinhan Bank. Baked goods start from 1,000 won, with cakes starting in the 15,000 range, sandwiches around 3,500 won, and espresso drinks are very reasonably priced at around 3,500 as well.

Read more about places to wine and dine in Andong over at our Hub of Sparkle write-up!

Smitten with Andong 안동 음식 사랑!

fatmanseoul — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:02:47 +0000

Fatman managed to do a bit of exploring at the Andong Mask Dance Festival this year . . . and being Fatman, of course we managed to take pictures of some delicious noshing!

How do you like them apples?

Mmmmm, ginseng!

and deep fried ginseng!

Salted mackerel – now in a tin!

Quail

And whale

Rice for fake rites: 헛재사밥

Check out more pictures on our flickr page!

Eat Like a Yangban in Andong! 안동에서 양반처럼!

fatmanseoul — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:06:26 +0000

This weekend is the beginning of the Andong International Mask Dance Festival, one of the biggest and most interesting festivals in the country. Now, if you’re looking for what to see and do, we suggest you check out their official website here (English link) and here (한국어). But if you’re looking for what to eat, then you’ve come to the right place!Andong has quite a reputation for food – most places boast of one or two distinctive foods, but this city has a plethora of only-in-Andong delights, so there’s bound to be something to suit your palate.
Of course the most famous food from Andong is Andong Jjimdalk: An entire chicken is chopped into bits and simmered together with chunks of potato, leek, peppers, and tangmyeon (glass noodles) in a rich, spicy soy-based sauce. The resulting dish is one of the most unique (and spicy) dishes in all Korea – utterly unlike the typical noodle dishes or soups you find in other places.

이번 주부터 한국의 대표적인 축제 중 하나인, 안동 국제 탈춤 페스티벌이 시작되었다. 페스티벌에 대해 좀 더 알고 싶다면 공식 웹사이트(Eng/Kor)를 방문해 보길 바란다. 그게 아니라 먹을 것에 대해 알고 싶어서 왔다면 정말 잘 온 것이다. 안동은 음식으로 꽤 유명한 곳이다. 대부분의 다른 지방은 그곳을 대표하는 한, 두 가지 음식이 있지만, 안동에는 이 지방 특유의 맛을 지닌 음식들이 아주 많다. 여러분 입맛에 맞는 음식을 분명히 찾을 수 있을 것이다.

image courtesy the 빛 http://shine.tistory.com/367

Look for a place serving a very dark-colored jjimdalk; it should be nearly black. Light brown and orange tints to the sauce are going to yield a chicken with a lot less depth. Although lots of places serve jjimdalk, the best place by far is the “Chicken Alley (dalkgolmok)” in Andong Market, downtown. The entire street is nothing but jjimdalk restaurants, and you simply can’t go wrong.

제대로 된 찜닭을 맛보려면 색깔이 매우 어두운 것을 선택하는 것이 좋다. 옅은 갈색이나 오렌지색에 가까워 보이는 것은 맛의 깊이가 그만큼 얕다. 여러 곳에서 찜닭을 맛 볼 수 있지만, 그 중 최고는 단연 안동 구시장 안에 위치한 찜닭골목이다. 골목 전체가 찜닭을 파는 가게만 있기 때문에 못 찾을 리가 없다.

Another famous product of the region is Andong Salted Mackeral (간고등어/gangeodeungeo). Before modern highways and railways, the Nakdong River (낙동강) was an important transit route for shipping goods, including fresh fish. The problem with mackerel is that it spoils quickly, so preservation techniques like packing the fish in salt for shipping evolved. By the time the fish reached inland areas like Andong, the fish had taken on a strong, distinct saltiness. The firm, white fleshed fish is usually served grilled or as part of a spicy soup. There are several restaurants specializing in it, both along the “Food Culture Street” downtown, and in the cluster of restaurants out by Andong Dam.

안동은 간고등어로도 유명하다. 지금의 현대식 고속도로나 철도가 발달하기 전에, 낙동강은 생선을 비롯한 다양한 물건을 실어 나르는 중요한 요충지였다. 그런데 고등어를 다룰 때 가장 문제가 되는 점은 바로 빨리 상한다는 것이었다. 그래서 상하지 않게 하기 위하여 미리 소금으로 절여서 운반하게 된 것이다. 흰살 생선은 보통 굽거나 매운 양념에 조리는 방법으로 요리한다. 간고등어를 전문적으로 하는 음식점은 안동 시내에 있는 ‘음식의 거리’나, 안동댐 근처에서 많이 찾아 볼 수 있다.

Another specialty peculiar to this Confucian outpost is “heotjesabap/헛제사밥” – literally, “rice for fake ancestral ceremonies”. Chesa, or memorial services for ones ancestors, are preformed on death date anniversaries and have their own special set of foods (한국어 링크) to be prepared and served. Well, who could be content waiting for a jesa to roll around? Some enterprising soul decided that he wanted some right then and there, and thus began heotjesabap. Another story says that the common folk of Andong created it to imitate the local yangban. Assorted jeon (fried foods) and banchan (sides) accompany a bowl of rice served with soy sauce instead of pepper paste for a milder, more sophisticated version of the familiar bibimbap. Look for the cluster of restaurants at Andong Dam, across from Wolyeong Bridge (월영교).

또 다른 음식으로는 헛제사밥을 들 수 있다. 헛제사밥이란 제사를 지내지 않고 먹는 제사음식이라는 뜻이다. 제사같이 조상을 위해 지내는 의식에는 특별하게 정해진 음식만 쓰여진다. 하지만 제사가 돌아 올 때까지 기다리고만 있을 것인가? 그래서 한 모험적인 정신을 가진 사람의 아이디어로 인해 헛제사밥이 시작되었다는 이야기가 있다. 그리고 안동 지방의 일반 민중들이 양반을 흉내내기 위해서 시작되었다는 이야기도 있다. 헛제사밥에는 여러 종류의 전과 반찬이 밥과 함께 나온다. 그리고 좀 더 순하고 특별한 비빔밥의 맛을 내기 위해 고추장 대신에 간장도 같이 나온다. 헛제사밥은 월영교 건너편의 안동댐 근처에서 맛 볼 수 있다.

After all that traveling around, you’ll surely want to quench your thirst. What better way to do it than with a big swig of Andong soju? Ok, maybe not a big swig; this local brew packs twice the alcohol of regular soju so be prepared for a powerful kick. Brewed by master distiller Cho Ok-hwa (조옥화), the traditional liquor has a much smoother feel than normal soju, and a very distinctive sour taste. It’s a little like drinking gym socks – but in a good way!

여기 저기 돌아다니다 보면 아마 굉장히 목이 마를 것이다. 안동소주를 한 병 쭉 들이키는 것보다 더 좋은 것이 어디있으랴! 한 병은 좀 무리인가?! 이 전통 소주의 알코올 함량은 일반 소주의 두 배나 된다. 하지만 무형문화재인 조옥화 선생님이 빚은 안동의 전통 술인 안동소주는 좀 더 부드럽고 독특한 맛을 느낄 수 있다. 아마 아주 톡 쏘는 맛을 느끼게 될 것이다. 물론 좋은 의미에서…

Check out their very informative website here (English) and here (한국어). Also check out the Andong Soju Museum, across the river from the main downtown area.

안동소주에 대한 정보는 여기(Eng / 한국어)에서 더 자세히 볼 수 있다. 아니면 강 근처에 있는 안동소주 박물관을 한번 찾아가 보는 것도 좋을 것이다.