Wordless Wednesday #99: Battle Kimchi Prix Fixe Dinner

Kimchi 3-ways: kimchi ssam; takoyaki with kimchi mayo; kimchi and tofu

Spicy seafood soup

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Battle Kimchi! at Yakitori Bar

I love kimchi. But that wasn’t always the case. I never used to be able to stand the stuff until a trip to Seoul in 2006 changed my perspective and I realized that I've been eating such crappy stuff, it didn't deserve to be called kimchi. In Seoul, I was introduced to “real” kimchi—the good stuff that Korean ahjummas lovingly make on a regular basis, secret recipes passed down from generations ago. I also had a chance to attend a kimchi-making class while there and came out with a greater appreciation for this wonderful food afterwards. From that moment, I was instantly converted into a kimchi-lover and have never looked back.

So when I received an invitation to check out a kimchi throwdown, I knew this event was calling my name. On Saturday, February 23, Sang Kim, owner and operator of Seoul Food Co. and Yakitori Bar hosted the first ever Battle Kimchi. Six contestants were culled from the vast Korean community to present their secret kimchi family recipes to an eager crowd and a panel of judges. The prize—the winner will have their kimchi available for sale at Seoul Food Co., alongside Sang’s own Kick Ass Kimchi, starting in March.

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Kimchi Naengmyeon / Kimchi Cold Noodles

There’s nothing like beating the heat than with a bowl of cold, refreshing noodles. I just love gobbling down a bowl of these in the dead of a summer heat wave. It takes minimal effort to make and doesn’t heat up your kitchen all that much, great for me as I don't have air conditioning at my place.

I’ve been craving kimchi a lot lately, and I thought what would be better than to add them to cold noodles? Minimum effort. Maximum flavour. And so, so good. (And good for you! It’s loaded with vitamins A, B, and C and contains “healthy bacteria”—lactobacilli—which helps with digestion.)

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Wordless Wednesday #31: It's Getting Hot in Here (Spicy Kimchi Jigae Noodles)