Reservations

Two years have brought many changes.

My interests are more focused,

More and more time is spent at home,

and I find myself wanting to become 

a part the world around me

and not just an observer.

No, I'm not "signing" off blogging.

I've just decided to branch out and turn

 The Expat Table 

into it's own thing.

My local community 

loves the food,

loves the recipes,

and loves the idea of sharing a table.

It's time the project stood on its own two feet. 

 In fact, since I have a private tutor right now,

I'm using the opportunity to become proficient

at explaining the culinary arts in Korean.

Last week I spent two hours explaining

the ins-and-outs of Spanish Korean Fusion food.

Funny how I can't explain the weather, 

but can easily discuss the details of curing fish.

So, in summery I'm NOT 

giving up blogging on Chasing Tales.

I'm just refining the conversation.

If you are interested in following my food adventure,

or reserving A Chair At The Table

just join me at the

The Expat Table

we always have room for one more.

A Game of Sardines

Salt Sit

During my search for the perfect fusion tapas 

made with Korean ingredients,

I realized I needed Spanish cured sardines.

Pear Vinegar Bath

I used this recipe from The Spanish Hipster:

http://www.spanishhipster.com/2011/04/cured-sardines-recipe/

but made a few changes.

I let them cure for 6 hours

(because I needed to go to work)

Experimented with lime juice 

(because I was out of lemon)

Used Korean Pear Vinegar

(because I don't like imports)

Oil Bed

The result was just delightful

and perfect for my toasts.

Perfection with fresh cheese.

 

NOTE: You might not want to let them sit in the salt for six hours if you are planning to eat them on their own.  I like the longer salt bed because they last longer and are great with other plane ingredients.

Cheesed Off

Goat Cheese

So, we have two traditionally made cheeses 

ready for their close-up.

Both cheeses were made 

in the same traditional Korean pot 

using the same lemon, herb and salt.

One is made with soy milk.

One is made with goat's milk.

Which will be preferred?

Well, it's hard to say.

Once they were on the tapas

It was impossible to tell which was which.

My Research Here:
http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/02/quick-homemade-cheese.html 

In the end, all I use of my cheese is:
Milk
Lemon
Herbs
Salt 
What you need to know is that the more lemon and vinegar you use the more tart or tangy it gets.  You can easily adjust the acidity to your taste.  Don't be afraid to change and modify things. 

In fact, I shortcut just about everything.  There is very little you have to do other than not boil the crap out of your milk.
Now get your butt in the kitchen and have an adventure.  

Soy Cheese

Holy Tahini Batman

Ready for the oven.

 Tahini, if you can find it,

is terribly expensive in Korea.

So, it seemed the right time to make my own.

As I have mentioned,

I'm interested in sustainable recipes.

So I adjust everything 

for affordable local ingredients.

There is nothing more affordable 

 - and available in Korea -

than sesame seeds. 

Thankfully, 

I know just where to turn for help

www.dedemed.com/.

You might make a little bit of a mess.

You can count on Dede for 

excellent videos recipes and advice.

It's good, old Mediterranean home cooking.

Which is what I am always looking for,

food that tastes like my family.

I used a small bullet mixer that you can find for 30,000w.  It took longer but it worked just fine.

Note, it's going to be dark when you mix it unless you add enough water and oil. Don't panic.

 Of course, you don't really know if it's good

until you put it in something.

So I made baba ganoush.

This is Korea 

so we have to make adjustments.

1) You roast it at 200 Celsius

2) You will have to use Japanese eggplant. 

3) You will want to use at least 4 small eggplants. 

4) You might have to use lemon from a bottle.

I buy mine at the market.  They are super affordable.

My little babies looking good.  I roasted them a bit too long.

The magic.

The result was easy to make perfection.

You don't have to live without in Korea,

and you don't have to have it shipped in.

Everything I used 

was from the local market.

You can make healthy, delicious, authentic

Mediterranean food with local ingredients.

So stop bitch'n and get in the kitch'n. 

Here is the fantastic Dede 

showing you how it's done.

www.dedemed.com

"Yes"terday's Dinner

One of my all-time favorite shows is "Being Erica".

It helped give me the idea 

of moving to South Korea in the first place.

In the show there is a total tosser 

who writes a book called "The Power of Yes".

It was so ridiculous, but it got me thinking, 

"Why not?" 

Why not just say, "Yes" 

to everything I am offered?

So, for the last three years I've done just that.

This last weekend -

as I bit into some of the best 

meatballs, braciola, and Italian sausages

I've had in my life - 

I realized they tasted like, "Yes."

Each bite made you feel like life was 

easy, exciting, and rich.

Each mouthful made me want to say,

"Yes", to family.

"Yes", to friends.

"Yes", to adventure.

"Yes", to risk.

"Yes", to reward.

I know. I know.

That's a lot to read into a meal,

but when people cook you can taste who they are 

and/or who they want to be.

If they are afraid... you can taste it.

If they don't care... you can taste it.

If they are exhausted... you can taste it.

  

but at the same time

If they love... you can taste it.

If they dream... you can taste it.

If they live... you can taste it.

So, although I have only just met my lovely hosts,

I think they must be amazing people, because 

last night "yes" was rolled into every spicy 

meatball, braciola, sausage and rice ball.

Pretty, Tasty

Pyeongtaek Restaurants

Del Vino

 Sometimes one just wants to eat pretty things.

You want little bites that trigger memories

of days you loved to live.

It's not that you don't love

 every moment of today.

No, it's not that.

It's just that you want to remember.

Fresh, spicy tomato seafood pasta.

Homemade Lemon Sorbet

Perfectly pulled espresso.

Lovely open kitchen setting.

As a quick side note.

It has been discovered that Del Vino is run

by the super awesome former head of wine bar.

Which explains why it's so lovely and inviting.

This my new fav place.

5 out of 5 on the *hand heart* o'meter

If you want to get your Del Vino,

Do this:

Step 1

Look out from AK Plaza.  

Take the road that goes to the right of This phone shop.

Step 2

Turn right on the street before

system G.

Step 3

Take the soft left at Mr. Pizza.

It's at the intersection on the right.

CHEESE GROMIT!!!!!

First of all, you won't give a crap about this blog 

if you don't live in Korea.

However, if you do live in Korea,
Want to see something awesome? 

CHEESE!!!!!

This is what I look like when I browse the website.

That's right!

A brother and sister team 

have been working hard 

to make all kinds of awesome 

cheeses easily available in Korea.  

Here is the website:
www.wellbeingcheese.com 

Although it is a pretty penny,
it's also cheese lovers dream come true.

Cheat Sheet For Types of Cheese

우유 : Cow
양유 : Sheep

염소유 : Goat

물소유 : Water Buffalo

우유+양유+염소유 : Mixed

Once again, visit

for AMAZING CHEESE!!!

Sadly, there was no cheese eaten in the making of this blog.

UPDATE: Cheese is now everywhere in Korea,
however the blog remains in remembrance of the old days.

How To Justify An Addiction

A few ways your 

Gringos Korea Burritos 

can make your life better beyond the plate.

Here are three ways 

I recycle 

my shipping supplies

and add storage to my apartment.

End Table With Storage

Always looking for new ways to hoard delicious food stuffs.

Toss a scarf over it and it's a beautiful, hand little table.

Coffee Nook

The perfect home for my coconut sugar and Alaskan roasted beans.

The cubes allow me to add and take away from my kitchen storage as needed.

 Never Enough Tubs

There are never enough tubs in the house.

There is always something I need to store.

Since Kit just hand delivered 

new dry ingredients from the states 

I'm going to need more kitchen storage.  

Looks like I'll just have to order some burritos.  

Darn, my luck.