Visit to Shilla shop in Auderghem this Saturday 24th

Shilla is the only Korean grocery shop in Brussels. I personally do not go there very often. I try to cook Korean food with local ingredients as much as possible. However there are some basic ingredients you cannot get in the store around the corner.

I plan to go to Shilla at 11 am this Saturday 24^th of October. If any of you want to join me, you are more than welcome. I have no connection with Shilla. I am just one of the customers as you are.

Chaussée de Wavre 1676, 1160 Auderghem
http://www.shillamarket.com/#!bruxelles/c1yaj

Bossam, some like it wrapped

When winter is approaching, Koreans prepare big portion of Kimchi, called Kimjang.

After the long day of hard work, the dinner is usually served with boiled pork to be served with cured cabbage and the stuffing of Kimchi. I don’t think it is tradition of all Korean families but it was at least for my family.

Therefore after the Kimchi preparation I thought of this dish, Bossam.

Ssam is a noun derived from a verb “to wrap”. Koreans like to wrap meat or fish with leafy vegetables. Pork meat is usually served with shrimp sauce and often wrapped with Kimchi.
 

Baek-Kimchi, white Kimchi not spicy.

Baek Kimchi is my favourite Kimchi. I like the pure taste of this Kimchi. It doesn’t contain fish sauce(Jeotgal 젓갈) nor chilli powder which are very important ingredients of most kinds of Kimchi. Just cabbage, salt, some garlic and ginger and the time make the great savour. “Where is it from? What makes this savour?” wonder I.

 

 

Kimchi

Kimchi is indispensable on Korean table. Kimch is an accompaniment, or side dish. Some people dislike Kimchi because of its pungent taste and the strong smell. However some are addicted to it. You can buy it in most of Asian grocery shops. Be careful, there are some copycats.

I like Kimchi when it is fresh and crunchy more than when it is mature and sour. I tried so many times to reduce the amount of salt and chilli pepper. So you may find it is not like the Kimchi you used to, meaning Kimchi from the shop or Kimchi from the south of Korea.
 

Bulgogi. Meaty? YES!

Bulgogi, also known as Korean barbecue, is the most famous traditional dish in Korea. The word “Bulgogi” literally means “meat (gogi) cooked directly on fire (bul)”. It is probably the easiest to prepare among any Korean dishes.

 

 

Gyeran-mari, roll it! roll!

Gyeran means egg and mari means roulade (same as Japanese word maki). Gyeran-mari must be most frequently seen in lunch box(Dosirak 도시락) menu. It is nothing but an omelet but you can make it little prettier and you can always make it with any left-over vegetables in the fridge.