Cycle 15 – Item 95
9 (Tue) April 2024
Ssal Eomuk + (Cup) Ddeokbokki
2.5
-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-
solo
AUTHOR VISIT
We are supporting author Jessica Kim’s tour of Korea this week, including stops at SFS, YISS, and KISS.
Dan’s kids go to YISS.
At the book signing this afternoon, I saw Zoe waiting in line with a copy of The One and Only Ivan (see generally 11.265 French Fries and a Strawberry Shake), which is not by Jessica, and which she declined to sign. But Zoe didn’t have any money to buy a copy of Stand Up, Yumi Chung!, so I comped her one. She got back in line and secured the autograph.
Afterwards, Jessica came back with me to the warehouse to look around and sign more books that we will use for the launching of her webpage in a couple months. We were joined by Susan Lee, an author that I’d met at Graci Kim’s event last month (see generally 15.076 New Zealand Salmon in Butter Curry Sauce).
Turns out that they’re all friends, being Korean diaspora, writers of junior/YA fiction.
Once we’ve successfully launched their webpages, I’m hoping that they’ll connect me to more of their author friends, and I can really build this network.
DINNER
Ssal Eomuk Gongbang is a Korean restaurant. Specializes in street food – another example of street food gone indoors (see also 12.148 Ggoma Gimbab). Part of a franchise chain, currently 8 locations.
When we’d first moved to Wirye in the summer of 2020, before starting school in the fall, the boys attended various hagwons (learning centers) in the neighborhood, and so they had accounts at certain snack shops, including this place, where we’d pay a given amount in advance and they go in between classes and order something and give their name and the amount would be deducted and we’d be notified when the credit dipped below a certain level and we’d top up.
Dropping in for a snack prior to grocery shopping (always a good idea), I gave them DJ’s number – happy to learn that we still had 4,200 won on the account.
The fish cakes are 1,800 won each, more than 1,500 won at Samgeori Bunsik (see generally 12.148 Ggoma Gimbab), and 500 won at Kim Jonggu Busan Eomuk (12.304 Busan Eomuk) (no longer in business).
The food was good. Made with rice (ssal), the fish cakes are denser/chewier than those made with flour, very clean flavor. The ddeokbokki are sweet, not too spicy, just right for little kids. Not bad for 3,800 won.
I still have 400 won remaining.
(See also HANSIK)
(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)