고추튀김: Deep fried stuffed hot peppers

 Today school lunch contained a little surprise - much better than the usual surprises (unidentified hairs). Deep fried stuffed hot peppers! And you know the food's good when every classroom has a little sign above the lunch trays saying "you can only take ONE hot pepper".

I can't wait to find this stuff in the market so I can eat it all the time!

You can see the full process to make 고추튀김 here, on the webiste I stole this picture from.

Whale... it's what's for dinner.

Today's JoonAng Daily discusses the nominally illegal trade in whale meat in Korea. The focus is on Ulsan, a traditional whaling city. Although I am Australian (and our people and government are well known for their strong anti-whaling stance), I don't really have a problem with whaling or people eating whale.

If you do want to taste the biggest creature in the ocean, there in this post by Brian in Jeollanam-do on how to find it in Ulsan. In Busan, lonely planet (and greenpeace) affirm that it is available at Jalgachi Fish Market, although I don't recall seeing it there myself. Might have to read the labels more closely.

Apparently, "It’s an open secret among restaurant owners that environmental activists from Greenpeace send undercover investigators to Ulsan every year. They come to check the origins of the pricey whale meat served in local diners. A news report last week revealed that local police had raided two unlicensed warehouses in the city’s main port, Jangsaengpo. The cops found 60 tons of minke whale meat" So it would appear there is some enforcement of the anti-whaling rules in Korea. Try dobbing in a whale-meat smuggler in Japan and you might find yourself in gaol, as two Japanese greenpeace activists recently discovered.

 

Kamustahan Filipino Restaurant, Busan Station area

Venturing into the seedy area around Texas street is not our favourite pastime, but we managed to find perhaps the only non-sleazy place around, Kamustahan, a friendly Filipino place.

We had the Chicken Adobo as recommended by the staff, which was absolutely delicious. It was cooked to perfection with a mouthwatering sauce.

However, I have to say that this place is pretty overpriced. Dishes are modest in size; the chicken was quite scrawny for 10,000 won; and 4,000 for the small bottles of local beer is pushing it in anyone's book. Hopefully we will discover a more reasonably priced alternative
soon enough, but for now, this is it.

Prices: Mains 10,000won, Beers: 4,000 won 

Some English is spoken by some of the staff.

Vegetarian option: Sorry, I didn't see anything on the menu without meat except white rice.

Directions: Just behind Texas Street (Choryang Shopping Area for Foreigners), near Busan Station.

The Weekly Chosun interviewed 3 foreigners with chopstick skills in Seoul recently.

Welcome Pho, PNU

PNU is by and far the epicentre of foreign food in Busan. Basically, if you want some non-Korean fare, this is where you will find it, be it Burgers, Kebabs, Indian Curry, you name it.

So its no surprise that PNU is also a great place to enjoy some Vietnamese style dishes. Welcome Pho is a very stylish and clean restaurant with a great view for people watching. The service is good and prices reasonable.

Most important, of course, is the food - and it is quite good. The spring rolls are perfect and come with a delicious peanut sauce. The pho is not quite up to the standard found in Vietnam itself, but is authentic enough to evoke memories of the gasoline stench from the motorcycle-filled streets of Ho Chi Min City; the sound of boats putt-putting down the Mekong delta, the colours of silk and vegetables in the crowded market...

As usual with Vietnamese food, you'll find more than enough here to sate your appetite. The usual assortment of sauces, spices and sprouts are provided for you to season your own meal. The only real downside to this place is there is no lime to flavour the dishes with, only lemon. For the moment, lime remains out of reach in Korea - even in Vietnamese cusine. Also, some Vietnamese beers would be nice - 333 or Saigon - but Korean beer is a pretty similar style anyway. In any case, they serve Vietnamese style coffee, the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing afternoon.

Prices: Pho/Fried Rice: 6,000+
English Menu: Yes
Vegetarian options: Yes
Directions: It's next door to Kebabistan, on the corner, 2nd floor.