For lunch today we're having one of my favorite foods in all of Korea - Hamuel Pa Jeon.
Jeon is a kind of Korean pancake.
It's actually the very first meal I ever had when I came to Seoul many years ago, so this
is an old familiar favorite.
So this is the kind of meal that you eat as an appetizer before a really big feast or
you can have it as an anju, which means you eat it as a side dish when you're having drinks.
Background noise in the restaurant.
So it appears we've got some kind of a rice tea or drink before our meals comes.
We're just dishing it up.
Let's see what it tastes like.
Are you going to take a sip?
Yeah, it's a kind of refreshing hot rice drink.
Hot rice tea.
Background noise in the restaurant.
Music playing in the background.
So it looks like we have a little soup here with some soy beans and healthy greens.
Let's get some broth in here.
So in my hands here is something called Makeoli.
It's a Korean rice wine and it is something that can be made with both rice and wheat.
Fermented rice and wheat.
It is traditionally a popular drink with Korean farmers but now everyone loves it.
So it comes in these cute little bowls.
I'm going to show you what it pours like.
It kind of has a white murky milky substance and it is the perfect drink pairing for what
we've order - the Korean pizza - Pa jeon.
They go together.
So Makgeoli isn't too strong.
It's typically 6 to 8 percent alcohol, so it's a nice social drink where you can have
several cups.
They've rolled the kimchi up nice and neat and cute.
In fact, I think it's almost too cute to eat.
Can you imagine?
Kimchi too cute to eat?
Okay, so here is.
Cheers.
Gumbai as they say in Korea.
That's nice.
Is it nice?
Yeah, it is.
Okay, time for a Korean cheers.
Gumbai.
Oh wow, that's massive.
Gamsahamnida.
Speaking in Korean Here is our Pa Jeon and it is a generous looking
size.
It's massive.
We've got the tongs and the sissors to cut it up.
You have expert hands.
Background music playing.
So it's just been lovingly cut up into nice little bite sized bits.
And we are going to try it.
Yes, I am.
Once I'm able to pick it up.
I'm going to dip it into the sauce, which is soy sauce.
I know I'm not supposed to be using my hands but I want to make this happen.
There we go.
Mmmmmm That sauce is good.
So Pa Jeon is the perfect meal to enjoy with a friend.
It's often typically eaten during bad weather days.
For example when it is raining or when I'm hiking together.
It's a very social meal.
If you look down here you can see the Pa is actually the green onion, the scallions.
This here is what is called the Pa and because we have seafood and other objects like this.
This is actually Hamul Pa Jeon.
This is shrimp.
There is a whole bunch of different vegetables and seafood.
It's made with a salty pancake like dough.
Are you feeling a little buzzed from the Makgeoli?
No, I've hardly had any.
Okay, what is your verdict for this meal?
I really like it.
I thought it was a great jeon.
It was very tasty, the seafood was pretty fresh.
Do you want to know when something has turned out to be a good meal?
What?
When you look down and there is not even a morsel left.
I'll take the last one.
There you go.
Hahahaha.
Some happy customers.
Well, I love this meal.
We took care of the Pa jeon here completely.
And I probably knocked off 85 percent of the Magkeoli.
I've got a nice little buzz going on right now.
Oh yeah!
I'm in a happy place.