[Food]

[Food] Osam Bulgogi (오삼불고기, Squid and Pork Belly Bulgogi)

Americans who usually live in Hawaii and the east and west coasts enjoy a dish called 'Surf and Turf' which is a combo of seafood and meat, cooked lobster and thick juicy steak.

In Korea, there is a combo dish of seafood and meat, too, though it's not as fancy as lobster and grilled steak. It's a very popular and liked common dish that you can enjoy in most Korean restaurants.

It's a combo of stir fried squid and pork belly in spicy chili sauce which Koreans call Osam Bulgogi (O for Ojing-uh - Squid in Korean, and Sam for Samgyeopsal - Pork belly). It means Bulgogi is made of squid and pork belly, but is spicy. Bulgogi usually means stir fried soy-sauce marinated meat but it can also mean spicy stir fried meat.

Osam bulgogi was first invented in a restaurant in Daegwallyeong Pass, Pyeongchang city, which is a gateway between the eastern and western regions of Gangwon. Fresh squid from the East Sea and pork, vegetables and mushroom from the western region of Gangwon were cooked into Osam Bulgogi with a spicy sauce that most Koreans love.

The chewy and savory taste of squid goes very well with juicy pork and fresh vegetables. It's one of the best side dishes for liquor and rice. Although I'm not a big fan of squid, I like to eat osam bulgogi for lunch :)

If you want to indulge in fresh seafood and juicy meat, how about osam bulgogi today?

Bon Appétit!

[Food] Samgyeopsal (삼겹살, Grilled Pork Belly)

[Food]

[Food] Samgyeopsal (삼겹살, Grilled Pork Belly)

Koreans (and most people around the world, except vegetarians) love eating meat. For a very long time, Koreans have eaten meat and differentiated parts of the meat (beef, pork and chicken) in detail. Missionaries who visited Korea in the early 20th century said, 'I have never met people who love meat as much as the Koreans do. They distinguish meat parts very specifically into many parts'. There are currently 40 special beef cuts and 15 special pork cuts in Korea.

Among the most common and well-known meat cuts (overseas included) is Samgyeopsal (삼겹살, Pork belly).

What would you think if someone asked you to have a BBQ for dinner?

People accustomed to western cuisine would think of a well-roasted juicy beef (Sirloin, rib-eye etc.), while most Koreans would consider a charcoal-roasted juicy pork belly.

Roasted pork belly with kimchi

'Samgyeopsal(삼겹살)' means 'Triple layered meat' because pork belly consists of outer fat, inner fat and flesh. Samgyeopsal is one of the cheapest and most common parts sold at any butcher's, used often in Korean meat dishes. (Sadly, it is more expensive than it was 10 years ago). It is very popular because Koreans love its chewy texture and oily flavor from these belly layers.

However, Koreans didn't usually eat samgyeopsal at the start; it became popular from the mid-1970's when Korea underwent a massive export of pork to Japan. The Japanese preferred tenderloins and loins for deep-fried cutlet, leaving pork belly, legs, internal organs, blood clots and the head to Koreans, which could be bought at a cheap price. (This is why Korea has so many dishes that use internal organs, legs and pork belly).

Koreans usually ate galbi over samgyeopsal, but samgyeopsal -which was cheaper - had gradually become popular in Korea. Most Koreans love eating roasted-samgyeopsal with vegetables, herbs, side dishes and liquor. Actually, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea recommends people eat samgyeopsal with fresh vegetables for a balanced diet.

Non-Korean style samgyeopsal with thick salsa sauce and coleslaw

It is very easy to cook over a hot grill or stainless net as a BBQ. Sliced pork belly had the thickness you want. Personally, I prefer to eat thickly sliced pork belly because it gives me a more chewy texture and juicy meat flavor. Bring some vegetables (lettuce, steamed cabbage, garlic, non-spicy green chili, onion, mushroom etc.), your favorite dipping and a hungry tummy :)

Bon Appétit!