Cycle 4 – Item 355

26 (Thu) December 2013

Samgyeopsal & Kimchi

3.5

by me

at home

-Oksu, Seongdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

solo

The trio of pan-fried samgyeopsal, paired with kimchi, washed down with a shot of ice cold soju is the ultimate Korean flavor/texture/food/beverage combination.  The silky/sultry decadence of the pork belly, a touch of salt and pepper for seasoning, cooked to a slight crisp on the edges + the tangy/spicy freshness of the fermented cabbage, literally alive with teeming lactobacilli + the cutting/sobering austerity of the liquor = all synergized to balanced perfection.  While Koreans do exist who don’t like samgyeopsal (20%), or kimchi (1%), or soju (50%) – in the same way that some Americans don’t like burgers, or fries, or Coke – they would be hard put to deny that the combination, for better or for worse, represents the national cuisine.

(See also BOOZE)

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)