KoreanClass101.com Blog

반찬- Side dishes.

It’s all about presentation.

I should mention that rice is like the daddy mac and kimchi is the mac daddy (that reference just happened. you heard it here first). Where one is the other is, too. They are expected at all main dishes (save noodle-based dishes like 짜장면 or 비빕국수). I mentioned rice before but I’m afraid that I missed a crucial cultural point. Rice is just about the only “side dish” that really should be finished. It’s not overtly rude to leave some rice in one’s bowl, but make it a point to finish your meal off by making that rice bowl empty. If you find yourself getting full fast, put the brakes on the 잡채 and finish your rice.

If you’re feeling particularly hungry or if your eyes perk up at the sight of your favorite side dish, dig in. All good servers will notice that you favor a particular side dish and will usually promptly replenish it when it becomes empty. Such service is typical (and absolutely awesome). Don’t feel like a big’un just because you dig on 두부 - it’s good for you - eat up.

Speaking of favorites, here’s a decent list of side dishes that should serve as a starting place for everyone to point and say oh! that’s what that is called! Also, A great breakdown of a decent-sized table full of 반찬 can be found over at FatManSeoul’s neck of the woods.

Here’s the thing. Every culture has something taboo about food. In America, slurping food is generally considered to be rude while it’s a common sound at a Korean table. In the same vein, eating all the food on the table is generally considered to be polite in America; while this is mostly true in Korea, separate rules exist for the side dishes. Most generally “Take all that you want but eat all that you take” doesn’t apply in Korea.

For example, when one orders a main dish at a Korean restaurant, you will see several of these happy little white dishes ducktailing along for the ride. Count on at least one of them to be 김치 in some form - be it 오이김치 (Cucumber), 깍두기 (Radish), or just good ole 김치(Happiness). I also seem to notice that almost all side dishes are vegetable-based although it’s fair to point out that there are a number that contain fish. It’s not exactly because the restaurant wants to accommodate vegetarians but more like that at this point it’s expected. Side dishes complement the main meal by offsetting a high meat content or to help cleanse the palette in between bites. In my case, I like side dishes simply because it gives me variety at every meal.

Speaking of variety, each and every restaurant, home, and ideal spouse has a mini-menu of side dishes that are enough to get people talking. Some restaurants are known for having the best 전 while another might make their own in-house 두부. Also, even if you visit the same little place everyday, you might not get the same side dishes. The photo above was taken at the best little 분식집 near 이대 and they pretty much gave me something different everyday. I repaid them by grinning like an idiot and making questionable noises whilst eating. You’re welcome.

So, when it all comes down to it, these side dishes are essential, infinitely replenished, vary in quantity, free, and are downright beautiful in terms of art. Think about it: the contrast, the texture, the luster - the freakin kimchiness of it all - it just works. That’s all. So, enjoy your main dish, eat some kimchi, finish your rice, and rinse it down with your thimble of 보리차 at the end. Pay and repeat a few hours later.

So, what are your favorite side dishes?

Thoughts?

Korean nursery rhymes

First and foremost, unless you teach kindergarten or have small children, listening to nursery rhymes (regardless of language) is like dragging nails on a chalkboard. Even then, it can be a cruel form of punishment. For only the brave, continue reading.

The first one that comes to mind for me is 곰 세 마리가 (Three Bears). Here’s a blog entry that seems to dissect the song entirely. I’m sure anyone who watched 풀하우스 remembers it fondly.

내 동생 is made from pure sugar and should be considered mandatory for all kids. Here’s a great flash animation.

동, 동, 동대문 is a twist on London Bridge is Falling Down.

At 3:52 there’s a cute game known in English as the “Rose of Sharon” (no relation to the epic song from everyone’s favorite metal band). The game is more like Red Light Green Light.

And, for the dog days of summer, straight from the forum, here’s one with snowmen. Not so much appreciated now but maybe in a few months.

Rooraa, a fellow KC101 student, started this thread in the forum about a bunch of different children’s song that is a pretty good starting point for the Korean Happy Birthday song, Catch the Mouse, and Polliwag.

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes is pretty much directly translated into Korean. Proof. Note: the gaudy singing is fairly standard for these types of songs.

And who could leave out the Telephone Song? Whether it was intentional or not, this video will make you laugh.

I gotta say that I’m a bit jealous. I mean, the majority of songs from my childhood consisted of church songs, motown, and Elvis Presley eight tracks. I think the only nursery rhyme game that I played was probably Duck Duck Goose.

As far as the quality of the tapes/CDs/mp3s of typical Korean children’s music - it’s abysmal. I don’t know, maybe I just have run into some several hundred bad recordings but it’s usually a guy going one-man-army on the keyboard and the same way-too-cute-for-their-own-good-yet-can’t-carry-a-tune kid singing all songs in the same dentist drill-like voice. These sweet little shrill voices will haunt your dreams.

If you don’t listen to any other Korean children’s song, you owe it to yourself to hear….no, see this song. It’s a little ditty about carrots.

For more on the subject (kid music, not carrots), here’s a nice site with a few songs with English/Korean lyrics.

Thoughts?