100 Things I Love About Korea # 31: Food - Kimchi

Kimchi is literally Korea's national food.  It's almost as important as the national flag.  It's combines the symbolic food power of apple pie, hot dogs, Thanksgiving turkey, and hamburgers & french fries.  According to Koreans, it will cure all that ails you (unless it's an ulcer that ails you).
When we came to Korea, Bill and Gail Patch said, "You need to learn to like Kimchi."  They were right, but it wasn't easy.  It's spicy (not a problem for me, but a problem for Sarah) and very sour.  Think hot pepper sauerkraut.
Honestly, for our first year or so, we had just one small piece of kimchi every time we ate out at a Korean restaurant - just because we "had" to, just because we knew that we needed to learn to like it.  It actually worked.  Slowly, we moved from hating kimchi ... to being able to tolerate kimchi ... to actually liking some kimchi ... to liking most kimchi's ... to finishing our kimchi dish and asking for refills at almost every Korean meal.
Oh Kimchi, how I will miss thee. 

100 Things I Love About Korea # 29: Food - Galbi

Grilled meat.
Grilled right there at the table.
Enough said.

Well, almost enough.  For the uninitiated, let me explain the wonders of Korean Galbi.  Think fajitas with a healthier twist.
The meat comes out in strips on a big plate.  The two most common kinds are raw basic beef strips and marinated pork.  Both have their own separate deliciousness.
Using tongs and scissors, you put the meat on the charcoal grill at the table, and watch it cook to perfection before your eyes.  Next grab a lettuce leaf, and hold it in your hand like a tortilla.
Then, pick up some meat with your chopsticks.  (Grilled meat makes learning how to use chopsticks so much more motivating!)  Dip it in some sauce and/or salt.  Add some rice and vegetables.

She knows how to do it!

Then comes the best part, roll up the lettuce wrap into one huge ball and shove the whole thing into your mouth.  DO NOT try to take a bite like a sissy!  The whole thing will fall to pieces all over your lap.  Just shove it in - even if you have to bring in the other hand for reinforcements.
Then, enjoy the heaven that is galbi.
... that and keep your wet washcloth handy to clean up your hand in between bites.

100 Things I Love About Korea # 27: Food - Chamchi DopBap

Somehow, I didn't discover this delectable dish until halfway through my stay in Korea, but now Chamchi Dopbap - or Tuna Over Rice - is my favorite fast Korean food.  It's a spicy mixture of tuna, kimchi, egg, and other vegetables - naturally served over rice.
Not all chamchi dopbap's are created equal though.  Some don't cook the kimchi long enough.  Some add dry tuna after the vegetables have been cooked.  The best combo is definitely well cooked kimchi, tuna, and vegetables - with a runny egg on top!
It's healthy, fast, delicious, and cheap.  What more can you ask for?!