Guess I Can't be a Picky Eater Anymore...

Since I got here I have tried so many new things... my motto has been just eat, don't ask. ;) Some of the things I've tried so far are: anchovies (yep whole little baby fish - bones, eyes, scales and all...) May different types of kimchi (fermented cabbage) its quite good in soup! Different cuts of beef and pork on the grill - cook it yourself at you table, tofu if often used in soups and served as a side, its one of my favs, bibimbap - dish with rice and veggies, kimbap - rice and veggies wrapped in seaweed like sushi, dried fish with sauce, dumpling soup, Jajangmyun - udan noodles with black bean paste (tasty but super fattening), pollock soup - which is a spicy fish broth with tofu, veggies and pollock fish in it (the fish is not cleaned like it would be in the states, its simply chopped into thick pieces and served with the scales and bones still intact). Shrimp that stare at you with their eyes and lots of mussels. Most of the dishes are spicy. They use a lot of chili's and this stuff called Hot and Spicy Paste. I have bought some of the spicy paste to cook with at home. When you eat at a restaurant you will get rice and many side dishes with whatever you order. Also, all long the streets are street vendors, which will sever different types of rice cakes, pancakes, meat on a stick, corn dogs, chips that are shaped like fish, and other finger foods. I've tried some of the rice cakes - quite good, they were shaped like little logs or baby sausage and in spicy sauce, similar in consistency as thin pasta sauce. 

<-- bibimbap Kimchi -->

<--Pollock Soup - Jajangmyun-->     

<- Dried squid --- Kimbap -->

<--Tofu soup  --  Korean BBQ-->

Beverage choices differ a bit from the states.. the only "diet" drink they have is Coke Zero, they do not have diet coke. Their coffee is very tasty, most Koreans drink this instant coffee thats served in individual packets and pre-mixed with sugars - it is very sweet and full of fat! Good thing they have black coffee available too. Coffee shops are very popular here, they will offer drip coffee served as an americano, cappuccinos, lattes... the downside to the tasty coffees is that they only use whole milk, not a chance you will be able to order a "Skinny" latte here. Also, most the coffee shops will offer some food: waffles with sweet toppings, bagels (or as they seem to spell it "bagles"), soft pretzels, and bread - not just any bread Honey Bread this is topped with whipped cream and a bit of chocolate or caramel syrup. Presentation is HUGE here, so even your latte with look pretty. Anseong has an array of coffee shops to choose from, they are very popular hangouts for both foreigners and Koreans.