East Asia Blog Round-Up : 21/11/2010

Here is this week’s edition of the Eye on East Asia Blog Round-Up :

• Aeri’s Kitchen – Aeri shares a mouthwatering recipe for minari sukju namul (미나리숙주나물), a Korean watercress and bean sprout side dish.
• China Hope Live - Joel’s illustrated guide to edible northern Chinese insects (not for the faint-hearted!)
• Contemporary Japanese Literature - Kathryn reviews Otsuichi’s book Summer, Fireworks and My Corpse.
• Japan : Life and Religion - Doug talks about the influential roles of priestesses throughout Japanese history.
• Just Hungry - Maki visits the Obana (尾花) restaurant to try some traditional Edo-style eel.
• Konnichiwa - Bartman posts photos and videos of some of the many taiko performances he has seen during his time in Tokyo.
• Maangchi - Maangchi shares her recipe for a warming ox bone soup, or seolleongtang (설렁탕).
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn posts a list of novels and autobiographies which feature Western women in relationships with Chinese men.
• The China Beat – An excerpt from the first chapter of Karl Gerth’s new book, As China Goes, So Goes the World.
• The View from Over Here - The author visits the Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을) in Jeju.
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen visit an incense shop in Lugang (鹿港) to learn more about the methods used to make traditional handmade joss sticks.

That’s all for this week. The next East Asia Blog Round-Up will be posted on Wednesday 24th November 2010.

The Beauty of Korean Food

Korean food lovers, take note : the Korea Tourism Organization website has a wonderful section devoted to Korean cuisine and food culture.

The Food in Korea pages are packed with information on traditional Korean food culture, recommended restaurants and recipes. Those of you who enjoy cooking should take a look at the recipes page, where you can find out how to prepare any one of the dozens of dishes and side dishes listed on the site.

The main dishes have been divided into 4 main categories : bap (cooked rice dishes), guk (porridges), guksu (noodle soups), and mandu (dumplings). Recipes for gimbap, bibimbap and mul naengmyeon can all be found here along with recipes for lesser-known (but equally delicious) dishes.

If you’re looking for banchan (side dish) recipes, you can find dozens of them listed here. The banchan dishes have been divided into 19 different categories, including jjigae (stews), jjim (steamed dishes), hoe (raw fish and meat dishes), and, of course, kimchi. Recipes for 8 different types of kimchi can be found here for those who cannot get enough of Korea’s famous pickles.

Those with a sweet tooth can find recipes for various Korean desserts and fruity beverages over here. Desserts have been divided into 3 main categories : tteok (rice cakes), hangwa (cookies), and eumcheongryu (beverages).

You can also find general information on Korean cuisine and handy cooking tips on the Basics of Cooking Korean Food page. Here you will find out what measuring tools you will need, learn more about the various cutting techniques employed in Korean cooking, and learn how to prepare some basic ingredients, seasonings and garnishes.

For those who aren’t quite ready to try their hand at cooking Korean dishes or who are simply looking for information on Korean food culture and food festivals, you’ll find what you’re looking for over here.

Do check out the website as it’s jam-packed with interesting information on Korean cuisine and culinary traditions. Just make sure not to do so on an empty stomach!

East Asia Blog Round-Up : 7/11/2010

Here is this week’s Sunday edition of the Eye on East Asia Blog Round-Up :

• Asia Shock - Patrick reviews Misumi Kenji’s (三隅 研次) samurai drama Destiny’s Son(斬る).
• Carl Gene - Carl talks about some of the challenging words and phrases he has encountered in his translation work this week.
• China Hope Live - Joel talks about his surreal first experience with acupuncture.
• Fili’s World – Fili explores the treasures tucked away in the alleys of Jiufen (九份) in Taipei County (台北縣).
• Haikugirl - Alison talks about the seasonal foods and dishes that are traditionally eaten in Japan in the autumn months.
• Hiroyuki’s Blog - Hiroyuki attends the 6th Minami-Uonuma Ichiba Matsuri (南魚沼市場まつり) in Niigata Prefecture (新潟県).
• Just Hungry - Maki visits the delightful Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館).
• Ken Lee Writes - Ken shares his tips for finding cheap sashimi in Japanese supermarkets.
• Kyoto Foodie – The Foodie samples some of the culinary delights on offer at the Mamezen (豆禅) restaurant in Kyoto (京都).
• Maangchi – Maangchi shares her recipe for ojingeojeot (오징어젓), a fermented squid side dish.
• Sake, Kimono and Tabi - The author talks about traditional sake warmers.
• Shanghai Scrap - Adam asks Deborah Fallows about her book Dreaming in Chinese : Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language.
• Speaking of China - Find out how Jocelyn learnt to read (and love) Chinese characters by checking out her article on Matador.
• The View from Over Here – The author visits Seongsan Ilchulbong (성산일출봉), or “Sunrise Peak”, on Jeju Island (제주도).
• Tsukublog - Avi explains some of the rituals and traditions of Japan’s Shichi-Go-San (七五三) festival.
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen visit a noodle store in Lugang (鹿港) to learn more about the Lin family’s traditional noodle-making techniques.

That’s all for this week. I will be away until Monday 16th November so the next edition of the East Asia Blog Round-Up will be on Sunday 21st November 2010.