My friend SY introduced me to a Korean rainy day tradition in my 1st year. When it is raining you should eat pajeon and drink makkeoli. It was my 1st time trying makkeoli and I enjoyed the whole experience.
We went to a place across from my apartment called Jae Yu Boen. That is supposed to translate to Free Woman and was the title of a popular Korean movie 30-40 years ago.
The makkeoli was ice cold. A sheen of persperation covered the copper kettle it came in. While wisps of mist came off the kettle as the cold met the warm humid air. We had kimchijeon and hameuljeon (seafood) with it. Between the sound of the rain falling, the flavour of the food and drink, and the company it was a good relaxing time.
After that it became a rainy day tradition to go for mekkeoli and pajeon. Good times.
One of my Korean friends also told me about the kimchijeon/makkeoli rainy day thing - problem is, I really hate makkeoli.
ReplyDeleteIt is an acquired taste. :) DdongDdongju is not as strong as makkeoli have you tried that?
ReplyDeleteI never got introduced to that as a rainy day thing, but I love all of those foods/drinks.
ReplyDeleteI remember a traditional restaurant in Kyoungju that served dongdongju, pajeon, and kalguksu, all with freshly made ingredients.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm drool.
I still remember the agujim place I ended up with Hilda and DongChim my 1st year. Old building ... no glass windows. Slat board that raised out. Good food, lots of soju, great atmosphere. It was a nice way to while away a very rainy afternoon.
ReplyDelete@Flint - no, I haven't tried it yet ... maybe I'll put it on my "to-drink" list.
ReplyDeleteThere was an ice makkeoli place that opened near my 1st apartment. Great food ... and the icy ddongddongju was great.
ReplyDeleteThey did up a GaranMari that looked weird but tasted great. It had fish flakes on it ... like thin chips ... and the heat of the egg loaf would make them move. Grossed out my vegetarian friend ... he wanted everything but that.
I love makkeoli. I hate soju though. A bottle of Makkeoli give you a nice buzz, and you can't beat the price. Dong Dong ju too. The last time I had DDJ I remember feeling optimistic about everything. I had a bottle of Makkeoli last Saturday. 1500 won and you get drunk, and it is refreshing also.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoyed all 3 of them ... not together though. ;)
ReplyDeleteStig and I started staying away from the foreign bars. We would go to the ice makkeoli place and spend maybe 10-15,000 Won each and leave full and happy. Just a rack of rum and cokes at the bar cost 15,000 won. Once a while was ok but I would rather go to the makkeoli place most of the time. Noise level was about the same and they had about the same ratio of normal person to mooks.
Makkeoli places and soju bangs were great.
A fine tradition.And yes, makkoli is the right price for the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteDongdongju is a little cloudier. I think. Steer clear of the flavoured ones though. Even the 'burnt rice' one isn't naturally flavoured.Makkoli is great, you can get sozzled cheaply and it's good for your digestion. I'd only drink soju with bbq.
ReplyDeleteI tended to stay away form the flavoured stuff.
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