The Best of Asian Drama Moms (aka Happy Mother's Day from MDL)
The best of us drama addicts eat on-the-go. When approximately 4-8 hours of your day is devoted to a computer screen, meals are things for which we have to make time. In fact, the dramas we watch can even influence the things we eat. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or your third-midnight snack, any combo of Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese or Chinese delicacies seem appetizing when you've spent years watching actors make and eat them.
So why is it that half the time I see something really mouth-watering, the unfortunate reality is that I’m not eating a freshly brewed pot of hot, steaming kimchi jjigae? Why is it that I’m munching on cheese puffs instead?!…Can life get any more depressing? (No offense to the cheese puffs.)
In my household, TV show marathons and movie nights used to be accompanied with popcorn and candy. Nowadays, I prefer rice snacks, Japanese gummy candies or even a bowl of hot, steaming ramyeon with egg, lots of green onions and kimchi. I sense a lot of mouths watering. :p
Speaking of kimchi, I kimchi was disgusting. I used to think, "What? Fermented cabbage? So spicy red that gloves are required to handle it?" And let’s not forget how you need to remove your new two-gallon grocery store brand from the car ASAP, or it will explode on you (and yes, I am speaking from experience).
Accidents aside, kimchi and other staple Korean ingredients like gochujang, spicy red pepper paste, and the jumbo pack of spicy ramen are a permanent fixture in my fridge and pantry.
Why? Let’s go to the dramas themselves to find out!
Ramen (Ramyeon)
Caution: Bloating to the face (and noodles!) may occur. Don’t eat if you’re due to appear on TV within the next 24 hours!
Not just the stuff of poor college kids’ bellies – This is soul food, especially when it’s made from the heart (in which case, life-preserving qualities have been noted). Cook it in a pot, drop in the egg (don’t break it! – advice from many a ramyeon-featuring drama), then top it with cut green onions, and kimchi. Bowls not required: You can just eat it right out of the pot, or off the lid. The messier the better!
Caution: Bloating to the face (and noodles!) may occur. Don’t eat if you’re due to appear on TV within the next 24 hours!
Kimchi Fried Rice
Don’t know what to eat? Do you have rice, an onion, some garlic, and kimchi? Done! Kimchi Fried Rice it is! Even works with microwavable rice. For extra spice, throw in gobs of gochujang, and stir it up like you’re making the icing on the cake! Top with a fried egg. (Adding bacon to the mix is also pretty yummy, as anything with bacon usually is.)
Note to Cooks: Always seems like there will be too much, but that’s a lie. Kimchi Fried Rice is something that’s easily devoured… Make enough to last. Good luck eating it with chopsticks. Fighting!
As Seen In: Coffee Prince, My Name is Kim Sam Soon
Jjajangmyun (Black Bean Noodles)
Ever wanted something that looks like a slurpy form of black spaghetti? Maybe there’s an easier way to make this, but I always end up covered in goop. This Korean version of Chinese fast food (how weird is that?) seems to be another yummy staple.
Warning: The messiest of the messiest, especially during eating contests. Also, smells weird. Just don’t inhale, and you should be good.
Special Features: Coffee Prince, Couple or Trouble
Seaweed Soup (Birthday Soup)
This soup is ridiculously healthy (so they say). It’s also easy to make if you can get your hands on dried seaweed and a little bit of beef. It’s slimy and chewy, but if you’re Korean and you haven’t eaten this on your birthday, chances are you are alone or unloved. The rumor goes, mothers eat this after giving birth, therefore every birthday, you are supposed to have some.
Special Advisory: If you live in Busan, you just might find a fish head staring up at you instead of beef. Hope you like holding a meaningful staring contest with your breakfast.
Shown In: Reply 1997; 49 Days; Any drama where somebody has a birthday, unless of course the character forgets to tell people, and then they just look sad.
Street Food
Now, there's also Korean "street food". I laugh... because I've never once been on the streets of Seoul, or any other place in the world that sells the equivalent. At best, my 3-hour drive to the nearest big city with an authentic (and huge!) Korean market may give me a sampling of these precious delicacies:
Kimbab - Just try making a non-drama lover believe you when you say it doesn't have any raw fish. "It's not sushi! I promise! Everything is cooked!" By the way, has anyone tried making this on your own yet? If you're new to the technique, prepare to be in your kitchen for a few hours prepping all the insides, and to have every available counter space overflowing with food and sesame oil. The best part though is getting to eat all your "mistakes" before anyone has to see.
Ddeokbokki - Spicy rice cakes, on a stick! Though, eating it with chopsticks can be a fun little adventure. I think I've actually perfected my own recipe of this one. Not that I've ever had any real ddeokbokki to compare...
Sundae - No, not the ice cream with bananas and cherries. This is 'blood sausage'. I haven't had it yet, but it looks delicious. Also, a little suspicious. Any takers?
Seafood Pancake - I'd eat this before a regular pancake any day. Oozing with flavor, crispy and soft, dipped in a mouth-watering soy sauce dressing. I admit though that this recipe eludes me, so many kitchen flops have occurred because of this little treat. Any suggestions? Good thing I can drive 45 minutes away and get some at a Korean restaurant, or else I'd go mad!
Of course, not all Korean Drama Food can be found on a stick or in the one-pot-wonder. In fact, what makes me really jealous is when I'm sitting at home feeling awesome and authentic, chugging away on my bowl of ramyeon, and the characters in front of me have just been served, not 2, not 4, not even 10, but closer to 20 small dishes! *eyes explode* How? Why? When can I get my own Korean housekeeper/cook? Of all the things I envy about cultural life in another world, this feast of plenty, the side-dishes known collectively as banchan, beats them all.
Have I ever even come close to getting something as obviously delicious? No… In fact, I’m happy if I get to come across a meal that even has 5 of these pictured treats. Sadly, there is no Jewel in the Palace feasts for me anytime soon. Pity me. Instead, I’ll probably just be sitting around munching on my cheese puffs, perhaps a couple bars of chocolate, and if I start to feel really motivated, maybe I'll cook some rice. *checks the fridge for green onions* Yup, I see a meal in my future. Life is good.
I think I'll sit back, throw off the shoes, and start a new dramathon while sipping on my instant Korean coffee (gotta love the powdered chemical goodness). Make sure to add two packets to your itty bitty cup of hot water. That's how the City Hunter takes his coffee!
So what foods do you snack on during your Dramathons? Do any of these ever sound appetizing, or have you tried to make them? Don’t like Korean food, but prefer Japanese or Chinese food? Want to write about them?
