{"id":11327,"date":"2018-02-12T17:54:53","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T17:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=11327"},"modified":"2018-02-12T17:54:53","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T17:54:53","slug":"a-look-at-pyeongchangs-heartwarming-cuisine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/a-look-at-pyeongchangs-heartwarming-cuisine\/","title":{"rendered":"A look at Pyeongchang’s heartwarming cuisine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soo Kang<\/a>, Colorado State University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As a middle schooler growing up in South Korea, I still vividly remember the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. At the time, the country was a burgeoning democracy<\/a>, and South Koreans were proud of hosting an international mega event. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve since become a hospitality professor and researcher in the U.S. And thanks to the growing popularity of Korean culture (dubbed the \u201cHallyu<\/a>\u201d or \u201cKorean Wave<\/a>\u201d), I tend to get asked a lot about Korean food. <\/p>\n

Now, 30 years later, South Korea\u2019s second Olympic Games \u2013 and its first Winter Games \u2013 are being held in Pyeongchang in Gangwon province (or Gangwon-do). Coincidentally, I recently received a message from a former student who was planning to visit Pyeongchang because her cousin, Jacqueline Wiles, will be competing for the U.S. alpine ski team. <\/p>\n

She wanted to know more about the foods she should try. <\/p>\n

\u201cLucky you,\u201d I thought, \u201cbecause there are almost too many to name.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ingredients of \u2018the potato valley\u2019<\/h2>\n

With its beautiful landscapes and relaxed beach towns, Gangwon-do is known as one of the best and most convenient winter escapes<\/a> for many Seoulites. <\/p>\n

Located along the eastern coast of the peninsula in northeast South Korea, the region faces the East Sea. But about three-quarters of the province is covered by mountainous forest, which means there\u2019s very little farmland. The province is divided into two regions: Yeongseo in the west and Yeongdong in the east, where Pyeongchang is located.<\/p>\n

Such an environment \u2013 surrounded by mountains but bordering the sea \u2013 creates the conditions for cuisine that\u2019s unique to the region<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dishes tend to include some combination of potato, corn, buckwheat or seafood. (In Korea, people from Gangwon-do are actually called \u201cfolks from Potato Valley.\u201d) <\/p>\n

In the Yeongdong region, seafood is a main fare. At the Jumunjin Fish Market, the largest fish market on South Korea\u2019s east coast, vendors sell red snow crab, octopus, mackerel, sole, flounder and a whole medley of sashimi. Nearby restaurants will cook seafood by request<\/a>, either steaming, boiling, grilling, frying, or even including it in a soup or stew.<\/p>\n

In the Yeongseo region \u2013 with its rocky terrain \u2013 potato, millet, corn, buckwheat and mountain vegetables are the main ingredients in most dishes. Potatoes will be used<\/a> for pastas, pancakes, dumplings or snacks. <\/p>\n

Overall, the province\u2019s food is simple, healthy, and can appeal to a global palate. The cooking method \u2013 which accentuates the natural flavors and aromas of the ingredients \u2013 is also rather uncomplicated. <\/p>\n

Simple, heartwarming fare<\/h2>\n

The following are a sampling of several delicious dishes that are typical of the region.<\/p>\n

Gamja ongsimi<\/a> \u2013 a potato dumpling soup \u2013 is a vegetarian option. The potatoes are grated, drained, squeezed, and mixed with potato starch. Then it\u2019s boiled in a broth with vegetables. This is a popular winter dish.<\/p>\n

\n \"\"
\n Gamja-ongsimi is a potato dumpling soup that\u2019s popular during the winter months.<\/span>
\n Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, CC BY<\/a><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A soft tofu called Chodang sundubu<\/a> is another vegetarian option. During the congealing process \u2013 which goes through several steps \u2013 salt water from the East Sea is used. This is a soft, light version of tofu, perfect for a soup or stew. But my favorite way of eating it is eating fresh \u2013 after steaming it with a bit of soy sauce and sesame oil. It\u2019s so light and soft that it\u2019s almost like eating ice cream. <\/p>\n

Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken with vegetables) and makguksu (buckwheat noodle) are two dishes \u2013 usually served together<\/a> \u2013 that are popular in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon-do. The dakgalbi is seasoned and deboned chicken stir-fried with sliced rice cake, sweet potato, perilla leaves and cabbage. In restaurants, the spicy, sweet and meaty dish is usually served on the same tableside hot grill that it\u2019s been cooked on. Its companion, makguksu, is a buckwheat noodle served either in a chilled broth or with a sauce. The harmony of heat and coldness showcase the yin and yang of this frugal but filling meal. <\/p>\n

Finally, there\u2019s osam bulgogi<\/a>, which is spicy stir-fried squid and pork bulgogi. Bulgogi \u2013 pork marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce \u2013 is one of the most well-known Korean dishes, and popular with many foreigners. But the Gangwon-do version mixes squid with the pork. Freshly caught from the East Sea, the squid transforms the dish into a surf and turf. <\/p>\n

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee has built a \u201cK-Food Dome<\/a>\u201d near the Olympic Plaza, where tourists will have the opportunity to sample the local fare.<\/p>\n

\"TheNo matter what they choose, they\u2019ll be able to enjoy warm, hearty food \u2013 the perfect end to a day spent in the frigid mountains.<\/p>\n

Soo Kang<\/a>, Associate Professor of Hospitality Management, Colorado State University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This article was originally published on The Conversation<\/a>. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soo Kang, Colorado State University As a middle schooler growing up in South Korea, I still vividly remember the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. At the time, the country was a burgeoning democracy, and South Koreans were proud of hosting an international mega event. I\u2019ve since become a hospitality professor and researcher in the U.S. And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":11328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[293],"tags":[4021,582,143,3999,2248,2300],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11327"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11327"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11329,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11327\/revisions\/11329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}