The FooDorama Challenge: I Watch it, I Try it!

AjaAja~Fighting!! \(ｏ^-^)尸~”☆ミ☆ミ

Kdrama Inspiration: Full House

Based on a Korean comic novel (or manhwa), Full House is a very popular drama first aired from July to Sept. of 2004 on KBS2.  The 16 episode romance/drama starred Rain as Lee Young Jae and Song Hye Kyo as Han Ji Eun.  Both characters coming from different worlds somehow met, clash, and eventually agreed on a one-year contract marriage with terms and conditions that may benefit both.  The deal was that she (a down-on-her-luck aspiring writer) will get her house back while he (a famous actor) uses this marriage to spite the woman who had continued to ignore his affections. The story then unfolds as the two struggle to keep their deal (as well as their growing feelings for each other) a secret.

Full House is so far my most favorite Korean drama, though I don’t get to watch a lot of kdramas since I prefer jdoramas for their fast-paced, and shorter story lines.  There is something about Full House that gets to me – cheesy yet adorable; funny yet painful to watch especially those heart-tugging crying scenes of both Rain and Hye Kyo; and that rare unique chemistry and perfect casting of the two lead actors.  The beautiful beach house (where most of the story was shot) is said to be the third most important lead ‘character’ in the story and I agree.

The house (at left) was the “MacGuffin” (the defining aspect) in the story and that in itself made it come alive – quietly watching over the two characters – maybe even chuckling at their petty squabbles like a wizened grand patriarch.

There was a Pinoy version of Full House (it was terrible!) shown on GMA network last year.  One of its faults (among many) was that it failed to recognize the significance of the house (as a ‘character’) completely ignoring it, thereby our local version lacked charm and depth… it was – to be put it bluntly – ‘dumb-sized’ to fit the masses… hay naku. Don’t bother if you can’t deliver, will ya? Grr! .\/.

Kdrama Food: Bibimbap

Bibimbap is a well-known Korean dish that simply means “mixed rice.”  It is made with various sauteed and seasoned vegetables and chili pepper paste (gochujang) mixed together with warm white rice.  One can add an egg and meat if desired.  If curry rice is the dish frequently served in jdoramas, I think bibimbap (along with kimchi) is the most common dish being eaten (and with so much spicy gusto!) by characters in kdramas.

The FooD0rama Connection: In episode 7, Ji Eun (Hye Kyo) makes and eats bibimbap as Young Jae (Rain) looks at it with half- scorn and half-playfulness, calling it ‘dog food.’

But eventually… When his ‘cook’ (Ji Eun) wasn’t around, Young Jae mixes up left-overs from the fridge and makes himself some bibimbap, too. But Ji Eun arrives and catches him eating what he just derisively called dog food.

“Aigoo! Why are your arms so long?” 🙂 This cute scene is one of my faves: In his surprise and embarrassment at being caught by Ji Eun, he choked on his food, numbing his right side and so gets an arm massage from his young ‘wife.’

Ji Eun’s big bowl of Bibimbap: rice mixed with pickles, kimchi, beef, gochujang, etc. in a metal bowl.

The FooDorama Challenge: Finally my own Bibimbap!

I think I ordered bibimbap in a Korean resto before but I hardly remember how it tasted like.  I’ve seen it being served in other kdramas (the bibimbap scene in My Lovely Kim Sam-Soon was absolutely mouth-watering) many times so I promised myself that I will get to have something like that at home someday.

There are 2 ways to make bibimbap – the formal way when serving guests (sauteeing and presenting each ingredient before mixing) and the simple way (just throw in a bowl whatever’s in the fridge and mix them all up).  I decided to try out the formal way first.

One can choose any ingredient. I chopped up vegetables into strips or julienne style.

You also need chili pepper paste or gochujang which is available in SM supermarkets.

The ingredients were seasoned with salt, and separately sauteed in sesame oil.  Afterwards, I placed them on a tray so my lunch companions can get the ones they like for their bibimbap: shiitake mushrooms, carrots, cukes, and bean sprouts (not in picture: spinach and ground beef).

Bibimbap for FDC#11 is done!: You can present it like this for your guests (and for yourself).  In the center, I put a fried egg (sunny side-up) on top of white rice. The ingredients are placed around it so the colors are presented in a visually appealing manner. Garnished with sesame seeds and served with gochujang paste and sesame oil.

My bibimbap all mixed up: Dog food? Of course not! 🙂  But with all those carbs, I’m just wondering why they say this was the diet food of Gwyneth Paltrow. I placed a few amount of gochujang since I do not want it to be too spicy. Still, the smell of sesame oil and chili paste lingered in my breath hours after I ate. Nevertheless, it was good! I just wish I had a stone bowl so it can keep on warming the rice while I eat… Or a metallic bowl so I could make-believe I’m in a korean drama scene – lol!

Aja! Aja!… In the following days, I still made bibimbap but in the informal way – using leftover food.  The spiciness can really make you want to eat more though so I was careful not to over-eat.  It was still fun and delicious!!!

…Fighting!: How about you? What drama do you think has the best bibimbap scene? Click on this poll and vote!

P.S… Special thanks to my guest ‘chef’ for this FDC post – PawPaw! xoxo

~letssing! ♩♫♬（●￣(ェ）￣●）PapaBear ♡ (￣(エ)￣) MamaBear ♡ (ó㉨ò) BabyBear♩♫♬

My FooDorama Challenge Links:
Next: FDC#12 – Omuraisu (Jdorama Inspiration: Tumbling)
FDC#10: Agedashi Tofu (Jdorama Inspiration: JIN)
FDC#9: Sekihan (Jdorama Inspiration: Hotaru no Haka)

 

 

 

 

 

———————————- fodocha

Dish info source: wikipedia
Recipe source: foodnetwork
Kdrama info source: wikipedia
Full House photo credits: KBS2
Shooting location photo credit: visitkorea