I am fortunate enough to live in Coquitlam, which has a very large Korean population. I went to the local Korean supermarket, the Hanareum, to pick up some Korean food. Food is a universal language, and what better way for me start connecting with my roots than to eat some Korean food?
When I first walked in I was overwhelmed with the wide array of produce available. I didn't know many of the vegetables by name, so I played it safe with some Korean radish, bean spouts and some watermelon. I sampled some Korean White Peach, but decided against purchasing as they weren't ripe yet.
Next was the seafood section. Boy, do those koreans love their tiny, fermented shrimps/fish/brine. There were various types of fish balls, octupus, cuttlefish and about a million varieties of small fish. The live fish tanks were also full of some really ugly muck-suckers that might as well have been called 'Assfish' because that's where they looked like they came from. Needless to say, I didn't buy any seafood.
I picked up some good quality rice and some noodles, and a large jar of cabbage kimchi. They also had a special on deli-style vegetable and tofu salads, so I picked up some candied lotus, pickled hot pepper cucumber, and some chili marinated tofu.
The main difference I noticed at the Hanareum was that there were samples of nearly everything. Produce, frozen prepared foods, bakery items, deli items. And the sample ladies are enthusiastic salesppeople, pushing you to try their wares and buy their product. It was a very exciting and colorful experience.
I steered clear of the 'fishball' samples steamed in water however. Korean or not, those stinky little balls looks suspect to me.
I considered buying some Korean BBQ sauce and trying to make Korean BBQ, however I am eating vegetarian lately so I decided against it. I considered making Korean BBQ tofu, but reconsidered. If I do decide to eat some Korean style meat, I want it to be Korean BBQ that has been properly prepared in the traditional manner.
At the checkout, I was greeted by the cashier with a cheery "Anyun haseo!". I know that means "hello" in Korean, but I didn't know how to respond so I just smiled and said "Hi!". I felt as though everyone was looking at me, a traitor in their midst. The one Korean girl in the Hanareum that can't speak Korean. Ack!
Luckily the lady behind me in the lineup was white and was asking me where to find the 'noodles with the spicy sauce', so I didn't feel too out of place.
I will have to learn how to say "Fine thanks" in Korean, so I can converse with the cashier next time however.
When I first walked in I was overwhelmed with the wide array of produce available. I didn't know many of the vegetables by name, so I played it safe with some Korean radish, bean spouts and some watermelon. I sampled some Korean White Peach, but decided against purchasing as they weren't ripe yet.
Next was the seafood section. Boy, do those koreans love their tiny, fermented shrimps/fish/brine. There were various types of fish balls, octupus, cuttlefish and about a million varieties of small fish. The live fish tanks were also full of some really ugly muck-suckers that might as well have been called 'Assfish' because that's where they looked like they came from. Needless to say, I didn't buy any seafood.
I picked up some good quality rice and some noodles, and a large jar of cabbage kimchi. They also had a special on deli-style vegetable and tofu salads, so I picked up some candied lotus, pickled hot pepper cucumber, and some chili marinated tofu.
Kimchi: Spicy Pickled Cabbage
The main difference I noticed at the Hanareum was that there were samples of nearly everything. Produce, frozen prepared foods, bakery items, deli items. And the sample ladies are enthusiastic salesppeople, pushing you to try their wares and buy their product. It was a very exciting and colorful experience.
I steered clear of the 'fishball' samples steamed in water however. Korean or not, those stinky little balls looks suspect to me.
I considered buying some Korean BBQ sauce and trying to make Korean BBQ, however I am eating vegetarian lately so I decided against it. I considered making Korean BBQ tofu, but reconsidered. If I do decide to eat some Korean style meat, I want it to be Korean BBQ that has been properly prepared in the traditional manner.
At the checkout, I was greeted by the cashier with a cheery "Anyun haseo!". I know that means "hello" in Korean, but I didn't know how to respond so I just smiled and said "Hi!". I felt as though everyone was looking at me, a traitor in their midst. The one Korean girl in the Hanareum that can't speak Korean. Ack!
Luckily the lady behind me in the lineup was white and was asking me where to find the 'noodles with the spicy sauce', so I didn't feel too out of place.
I will have to learn how to say "Fine thanks" in Korean, so I can converse with the cashier next time however.
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