Cycle 13 – Item 185
9 (Sat) July 2022
Naeng Memil Guksu
2.5
at Gwanghwamun Mijin
-Cheongjin, Jongro, Seoul, Republic of Korea-
with WHO colleagues
An afternoon gathering of Korean WHO staff members, both current and former, whether based here or passing through for the weekend. The roster included RDE, whom I hadn’t seen in nearly 2 years (see most recently 11.262 Garlicpeno Pasta).
Pimatgol was a series of side streets in old Seoul. Running parallel to and hidden behind the larger storefronts along Jongro (the main thoroughfare leading to Gyeongbok Palace), pimatgol was home to cheap restaurants and shops frequented by commoners looking to avoid scrutiny from aristocrats and government officials, presumably on horseback – the name means “avoid (pi) horse (ma) alley (gol).” When the neighborhood underwent renovation during the 2000s, the original buildings were demolished but a short portion of the old path was set aside in homage.
Gwanghwamun Mijin is a Korean restaurant. Landmark, established 1954. Specializes in naeng memil guksu, served in the Japanese style of zaru soba – apparently, they were famous for bringing the dish to the masses in the wake of the Korean War (although I’m wondering if Korean people really felt like eating Japanese food less than a decade after emancipation). The rest of the menu offers traditional Korean fare.
The food was okay. Tasted like standard zaru soba. Not worth the wait. Not worth 11,000 won.
After lunch, we went to the WHO office across the street and hung out in the conference room for coffee and conversation – that was the important bit.
(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)
(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)