Korean Health Food: Chung Guk Jang (Part 2)

3 days later...

remove the gauze and the blanket on top of the beans,

and it should look like this:

It now has a rather brownish color than a vanilla color.

So the color is supposed to get darker during the 3 day fermentation process.

After taking out the straws, just stir them a little bit.

They should be REALLY sticky....

It was pretty hard to stir.

In this process, you can put some salt if you want.

If not, then you could just put some salt when you use this food to cook something.

You could stop here,
but if you want to make it better, here's what you do...

Put the beans in.

This Korean traditional grinder made of rock would be ideal,

but it's not easy to find these, so you can just put them in a bowl.

Then rather than grinding, just smash a part of them.

Dont' smash all because it tastes good in food when you can kind of just

taste the beans that are not smashed....

Smash maybe 30~40% of them...?

...and we're done! :)

If you made a large amount, and if you cannot finish this in a couple days,

then preserve it by putting them in a freezer.

Unfreeze as much as you would like to have that day, but keep the rest frozen to preserve!

Enjoy some healthy chung guk jang...! :)

Sukara, Korean Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant (Part 1)

This restaurant called Sukara is not only for vegetarians but also for vegans because

this place does not use butter or eggs to make their food.

But since there's no rush, I'll show you guys their interior first just to tease you!! :)

Pretty unique door color, eh?

I think it's turquoise...

Their interior's calm and spacious.

It was amazing how people were energetic but not loud in that place.

Good way to keep the atmosphere cool.

It's also cozy in this place, too.

I meant cozy atmosphere-wise, not temperature-wise.

... and it's also like a casual cafe.

One cafe, multiple atmosphere?

That's got to count as a talent!

Here's their introduction and drink menu:

As if being a healthy vegetarian/vegan restaurant isn't enough,

this place uses organic vegetables as well!

Now, here comes our next blog about their food...

Get excited!!!

Korean Health Food: Chung Guk Jang (Part 1)

Chung Guk Jang (Korean) and Natto (Japan) are very similar in a way that

they are made from the same beans in very similar ways.

They even have similar health benefits.

I know some people are really interested in making them,

so I decided to show you guys how to make them...

Boil it at night and let it stay in water till the morning.

It should be so soft you could smash it easily with your finger.

Stick some straws in there...

I don't really know why,

but I think it's to provide some oxygen for the ones under the surface,

so that the healthy bacteria could breatheeeeee.....(ew?)

**btw, there is some straws on the bottom, too.

Put some thin gauze on top of it,

and then a very thin futon.

OH WAIT

Don't use futon(blankets) that you would need when you sleep.

As the beans start getting fermented, it will start smelling,

and that smell isn't going to be all that pleasant for some people

espcially because chung guk jang and natto are food that usually requires "acquired taste"

which means you have to kind of learn to like it.

Wait for 3 days.....!
See you in our Korean Health Food: Chung Guk Jang (Part 2)

Korean Black Garlic Health Drink Is...

This is black garlic...

No, it's not a kind of a garlic.

It's basically ordinary garlic fermented and heated for 10 days.

It has a jelly-like texture, and it's less spicy and smelly than

just garlic but healthier than ordinary garlic.

These are basically good for everything, ranging from cancer, eczema, and heat disease

to diabetes and stress/fatigue.

Some people actually like this because it's chewy and sweet, kind of like dried fruits , of course good for health as well.

Because it has so many different health benefits, and has a better taste than the raw garlic,

someone invented this health drink that was 93% concentrated black garlic juice, and the rest

some ginseng juice.

As you may be guessing right now,

this thing is pretty expensive....

If you're wondering what to get your parents,

maybe you should get them this

although I have to admit that this little health drink right here

took me back and forth from hell and the Earth....

I know it's really going to be good for your parents though...

If you think ginseng is good,

this one has 10 times more health benefits than ginseng,

so go ahead!!!

Oh, that is, if you can find one outside Korea :)

HA! SASS!

Okay, sorry, please don't stop reading our blogs :'(

Korean Organic Vegan Cafe: Cook & Book

I don't really know why they named their cafe Cook & Book,

but it's probably because it sounds welcoming and cozy.

They cook out and you book out (I mean read...).

Anyway, it's a vegan bakery and a cafe.

If you're concerned for your health, you really should go to this place rather than millions of other

cafes you can find in Korea...

They offer some healthy drinks and baked products.

This was Ice Soy Latte

and some cookies and madeleine.

...and above is ice chocolate.

Creamy, yet not too think.

The cookie was dry and sandy, while the madeleine was soft and moist.

The madeleine and the cookies are also on sail in little plastic bags,

so you can buy some and bring them home if you like.

This is not exactly a vegan baked product,

but this brownie is really good....

It has white chocolate, and it has orange peels in them.

I thought it'd taste disgusting at first,

but I don't think I can eat just plain brownies anymore.

Definitely try this cafe!

I heard they've also been making food since this fall,

so go check it out and tell us how good/bad/okay they are.

Thanks!

Seoul-shi Mapo-gu Seokyo-dong 333-39 (서울시 마포구 서교동 333-39)

Tel: 02-325-1028

www.cookandbook.co.kr

Korean Organic Vegan Cafe: Cook & Book (Interior)

I remember doing this place's food,

but I don't remember doing an interior, which is a pretty big part of this place's popularity.

So here's the interior part of Cook and Book, a healthy, vegan cafe!!

It's written no butter, no egg used in this place!! :)

Dang... That's pretty amazing considering how good food are...

If you wondered why the name of this place has the word "Book",

it's because they really do have books you can settle down and read :)

Big tables for many people unlike most cafes

that have small cafe tables only as big as 4 people.

This table can fit 8 people!

It's actually pretty spacious,

but it still manages to be cozy and clean.

This is their kitchen.

Just like any healthy restaurants confident and proud in what they use to make their food,

it has open kitchen!

I see some of their tea materials to brew....

I promise, one day, I will have tried all those and post a blog about it!!!! >:D Ha!

I took a close-up shot for this one because the dolls were so cute...

Oh, wait.

The owner of the cafe made them.

Multi-talented!!!!

I also saw the owner's dog.

The owner doesn't bring this guy often, but I was lucky to see this cute puppy today.

Makes me miss my cat at home :'(

Definitely try out this place, if you're looking for a healthy cafe for some vegan snacks! :)

Korea's Mochi Shop in the Streets of Insa-dong

We decided to walk a little bit

since we drive around so much and never really walk anymore.

This was in Insa-dong.

While walking, we saw an interesting-looking Italian restaurant called Palazzo Due...

Looks like a place we could blog soon.... eh? *Hint hint!!!*

I saw some interesting-looking people walking around, too.

Hmm... Interesting city...

...and also an interesting place!!

It was called Bizeun, and it was a mochi shop.

It was cool that there was still a mochi shop in Korea.

I thought they were kind of out of fashion...

Anyway, their mochis were made of 100% Korean rice.

Ohhhhh, now I know why they still exist.
They don't just make mochi.
They make whooping CAKES out of mochi!
I didn't know that was even possible,
but they sure look really good...
There were tables for the guests just like a cafe...
Mochi cafe? Interesting...

There were also fist-sized mochi balls with some sweet red bean paste in them.

I was trying to avoid snacks that day,

but since these were 100% rice,

I thought I could get a piece of their sweet pumpkin rice cake.

I swear, if this company goes overseas,

it will grow so big.... SO big.

If you haven't tried this before,

you definitely should because this is a perfect combination of a cake and mochi.