Mabang

♩♫♪It's Friday, it's Friday, it's Friday ♩♬♪.... 

Who doesn't look forward to a Friday... I sure do! 

I love that S.' all ours for the weekend. He helps out sooooo much... ♥ Having him around makes my weekends feel like I'm on vacation. : ) 

So, the day we went to Farmland (you could see the post here), we had lunch in another great traditional restaurant just outside Seoul. 

❊❊❊ Because the post is big, the images come out small on the post. If you want to see them better, click on them and they open up on a new window as a slide show.  

This Restaurant is called Mabang, or Mabang Jib... not 100% on this, the website HERE, is in Korean. It's located in Hanam, just outside Seoul... about a 40 minute drive on a Sunday with no traffic. 

On our drive, through the suburbs east of Seoul. 

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

At the entrance a big sign welcomes you... I'm guessing it says something like "Mabang Restaurant"... maybe "Welcome"! 

I like guessing... If I get it right, I can pretend I'm learning Korean. If I get it wrong... hey... I don't know Korean! : )

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

As I walked it, I had a "Time Slip Dr. Jin" moment... It's almost as being transported back in time. 

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

The waiters greet you at the entrance and walk you to the area where you will eat. 

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

It's divided into individual dining rooms...each party getting their own. 

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

While S. went to get ours, I wandered a bit to take pictures.

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

All the way in the back, they have the Kimchi pots...

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

I loved the traditional feel.

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

Like at most restaurants in Korea, you take your shoes off... 

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

You could also have the option of eating outside... 

We got a small room on the inside part. Since we have the baby, I'd rather be in a closed area so I could let her crawl around. : )

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, family friendly, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

& there is S. in our spot...

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, boricuas en Korea, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

& Marky was very exited...

Some complimentary barley water or rice tea...

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, boricuas en Korea, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

& we made our order. The menu is the picture frame S. is looking at. They had, kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae and Bulgogi, beef or pork.

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, boricuas en Korea, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

We got beef bulgogi and doengjang jjigae. As usual in Korean restaurants you get your good amount of little side dishes.... they are called banchan or panch'an.

mabang restaurant, Hanam, South Korea, Korea, korean food, boricuas en Korea, traditional korean food, Mabang, Bulgogi

At the end of the course they give you nurungji. 

If you are from PR, you will know what this is. It's basically pegao'... Here, they have it as a snack while on the crunchy state, or as a after meal rice tea adding hot water. 

As it turned out, this place was not far at all, we drove and ate in a matter of two hours. We were done so early, (it wasn't even noon) that we just decided to get creative and picked randomly what to do after.

That's how we ended up in Farmland. 

Another great meal, another great experience & another great day!

xoxo,

T. 

Vacation... Puerto Rico!

Hello,

 Puerto Rico!!!!! 

First, let me start by telling you something...

I came back from this vacation with 12 extra pounds!!!!

I mean, could you blame me?!?! 

I needed to eat as many tostones as I could, before heading back to Kimchi land. 

Back in Korea, they don't even know what Plantains are. Back when I was living in Puerto Rico, I didn't have them too often, (as they are fried) but when you can't get it, that's when you want it. 

Vacation!

We survived 2-15 hour flights with 2 kids under 2. If you may like to know, it wasn't bad at all.

 Olivia did amazingly. She did not cry, she also did not sleep... hmmm... I didn't mind that she didn't sleep because she was very happy the whole time + it worked out for us, cause with the time difference, it made her adjust right away. 

Marky, as always, was a great sport. He's so fascinated with planes and he's super curious with just about everything, that he keeps entertained pretty easily. It's just more how we handle tiredness and having to answer absolutely every question there is. He needs to know everything about everything. He's at that age, I guess... 

Dakgalbi

I forgot about this one!!!!
The other day we went to Coex, (Our Plaza Las Americas here)...
In PR we went to Plaza when it was just too hot to do anything else and here is the contrary. It's so cold! I don't mean to complain about it, because when I was In PR all I did was complain how hot it was. Now I get to be in the cold & not sweat, so no complaints!
I'm not particularly fond of the cold I got because of how cold it is, but if I have to choose, I prefer the cold weather rather than being hot 24-7. This weather just makes me crave hearty food, so for  lunch I was looking for a very Korean restaurant to have lunch. We randomly picked one and to my surprise it was Dakgalbi.... Yeaaayyy!!! I looooooove Dakgalbi!!! Then I realized I totally forgot the post I was supposed to do about it.

So here I share with you, a part of the very special weekend we had and us learning about what has become my favorite Korean dish...

       * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The weekend we went to Nami, we stayed over night around the same area,  I think Chuncheon...

I got a liiiittle scared of spending the night there. What would you think if the first thing you saw in the room when you went in was this...

ummmmhummm..... bug spray korea, hotel

How was I supposed to sleep after the thoughts this bug spray brought to my mind. Nothing I hate more than roaches. I am terrified,  horrified, disgusted with the idea of having bugs crawl over me. The movie Just Married came to mind...
Luckily nothing happened, the only thing I saw was a lady bug. After some sleep we woke up to the most beautiful misty, happy morning. : )

 In Chuncheon they are known for their Dakgalbi.

I found my favorite food heeeEEEeere... Oh my, was it good!

It's basically stir-fried chicken with vegetables. The first version we had of it, was barbecued on coal, so it had that yummy flavor.

It brought back very happy memories of my childhood. Times when we used to go on daytime trips to the beach and make barbecued chicken on an improvised grill.  It has always stayed in my memory as the best chicken, even if it had a bit of sand on it! I miss those days....

It also made me think of how the things we do now, are going to be a very important part of our kids life. When you have kids you get the chance to live a second childhood through them, I get to be part of a lot of first times again. Building their memories is so exiting and giving them a healthy & happy childhood, is our goal : )

So back to our dinner....  Yes, it was yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.... delicioso!

Grilled Dakgalbi

                 Our very first time having Dakgalbi.

Dakgalbi

The flavor the tteokbokki (rice cakes) gets from the grilling is just sooooo good!

I can remember what this dish was called. I really liked it. It's made out of potatoes, similar to a hash brown but less greasy, mashed and maybe mixed with some flour. 

I'm really starting to like the floor seating. Marky just runs around without knocking down chairs and I'm not afraid he might fall from one. He is to tall for a infant feeding chair and to small for a regular one. The floor is just perfect! 

The next day, we went to a ski resort (tons of fun)...

First time holding a sled...

A first time for us!!!

weeeeee..... lol

Another first time moment!

Before heading back to the city we stopped for some more Dakgalbi. This time it was done the more traditional way. 

Dakgalbi

Dakgalbi

Dakgalbi

You make it yourself...

The area is also known for their Buckwheat Cold Noddles. 

You add the Gochujang & mix it.

The potato pancakes again <3

Hurray for a great weekend filled with memories, first times, no bugs, new friends & Dakgalbi!

We ate so well! Now that I posted this, I can't stop thinking about Dakgalbi & the yummy potatoes! Can't wait to go back!

Till next,

xoxo 

Fail!

Today I was set on finally going to Dongdaemun... failed....
Feels like I'll never make it there!
I dropped Markus off at his School and set off to my adventure. I walked to the nearest subway station with the gigantic stroller "grrrr" should've taken the BabyBjorn. After walking through the biggest maze of walking down to the underground station.... stairs.... why, why so many!!! Half way up some nice haraboji helped me. I don't always get help so I was bowing like a good Korean would, Komapsumnida, komapsumnidaaaa...
When I was preggers with Olivia, at times I would be with Marky on one hand, the Mclaren stroller in another, the gigantic belly & groceries on whatever part of my arm I had left,  trying to go down to what seemed to me like the largest staircase ever, trying to get to the subway. You wouldn't believe, not one single person would offer to help. After the 1/2 hour that took me to get down, I stand in front of where you are supposed to, waiting for the train (after I missed like 4 that came by while I was trying to go down) People start cutting me off and sneaking in front of me... seriously!

In that sign pointing right at her must say; This B... just cut you off

In that sign pointing at her, must say; "This B.... just cut you off

                          Whatever lady, I'll let it slide...
              Meanwhile, why not enjoy the nice ads while I wait.

Sweeeeeet!

As soon as the door opens, nobody waits for the people inside to come out, everybody just fights it off, whomever gets in first gets the seats, no matter if you are preggers or not. There are signs that say this seat is for the preggers, this one for old people, etc... I mean, they even tell you how to sit & how you should hold your bag.

How to Seat...

None of that is gonna work if there are a gazillion people inside... ojo a ojo!


Another day I tried to take it during rush hour.... OMG..... The "Push-Men" exist!!! There are so many people during rush hour, that there are guys just pushing people in, so everybody fits. That's their job! Yes, they push pregnant ladies too... I'll just think he didn't really see my big pipa...

The same thing happens with elevators. There are electric stairs almost everywhere, but, for some reason,  they refuse to use them. They much rather stuff themselves in the elevator. It's not even "elbow rubbing" full, it's more like, "I can smell your breath" full. And if they can, they will push you in a little more. That, my friends, is not the worst. How would you feel inside an elevator that fits 10 at most, but it has 20 people inside, and suddenly.... Yes... it happened.... someone let one loose!!!  fooooooooo..... NOTHING worst than a kimchi fart... trust me!

Don't get upset my K.ppls.... this is it with the worst. There are far more the things that I like about Korea than the ones I don't & the smelly oopsies... ; ) 


After these last experiences in the subway with the belly & Marky, I stopped taking it. The rest of the pregnancy I took cabs & now, I mostly walk.

So today trying to outsmart my iPhone app Jihachul (awesome app) I took a different route than the one the app told me, thinking; what's wrong with this app??... my way is way faster... NOT!... The way the app told me to take, I had to make 2 train changes...the way I chose, I had to make only one. Obviously, If I'm gonna choose, I'm gonna go for the one that has the least changes, since I'm with the stroller and all. I was trying to switch from line 9 to line 1, but to make the switch you had to exit the station, walk a little outside and then take the line 1.

When I went outside I was at the Fish Market, being unsure of which direction to go, I followed my instincts and I did find the line 1!...but guess what... Stairs!!! If it only was the stairs this time, but my lovely stroller's back wheels are to wide and it wont fit trough the ticket booth... Oh the stairs, the stroller, the cold, the STARES... you know, with me being all glow in the dark.  Forget it... Dongdaemun will be another day.

So back I go to the crazy Bus Terminal Station & have lunch in what has become my regular cafeteria, Yummmy, yummy bulgogi would make any day, a great day! 

I ❤ this place!

I had a Bulgogi set...

After my delicious lunch, I walk back to pick up Marky who was in the greatest mood TG, and it started snowing! yaeyyy..... I <3 random snowflakes, so pretty! Not such a bad day after all! 

Dongdaemun... I WILL find you next time! : )

xoxo,

T.

Our 1st Christmas here!

This was our first Christmas Here. It was different from other years, but in many ways the same.
Yes, we didn't get to eat my traditional food, made by my beautiful abuela, have any coquito.  We didn't get to go to one of the many party's there's just about anyplace you go... for sure, nothing like Christmas in PR!!!
Even though there are lights and decorations around, (which do give you a Holiday-ish kinda feeling), people here don't feel very festive at all.  Sean's cousin told me that for Koreans, Christmas, is more for couples.  New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) is when family gathers together.
On Chuseok; http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=811650

Christmas in Korea

All I saw was people just buying cakes. I think cake giving must be a must. There was an insane amount of cake boxes outside the bakery by our house. Imagine, if I was allowed to sell my cakes here!!!! Cakes here are really pretty, but mine taste 1,000 times better than any I've tried... and it's been a lot : ( ....

Digo yo, modestia aparte.... : )

Too bad I'm not allowed... : (

If Christmas is supposed to be a day where you are surrounded by your loved ones, kids laughter & good food.  I had it all.
I called my Mom very early on her morning, so was happy about that. Got to say hi to my sister in law and my nieces.  And even tough I did miss my family back home, I was surrounded by loved ones, my husband & my very own kids. Olivia even gave me her first giggle.



No one in the world is Merrier than my Markus, who sings and sings Jingle bells, over & over & over again some more.

The day is HERE!!!!

milk & cookies for Santa

Santa's here

Her first coat!

I actually feel I got some special extras. We had for once a semi-white Christmas, (since it snowed the night before). Olivia & I got to do a little girl time, while Marky & Sean got into their first snowball fight, (even if it was just the little bit of snow left piled up in the corners), the kid loved it... he loves "the wintering" (as he calls it).

And the food, well, we had Chinese dumplings for dinner.  Not very traditional for sure, but was very, very good. 

steamed pork dumplings

                            

Ending our day at a Chinese restaurant makes me feel like we had our own"A Christmas Story" moment...  minus the duck. 


          

Something I really wanted to do, was go to Church. I don't consider myself very religious, but I grew up believing in God & I want my kids to grow up having a Christian base. I didn't get to go though, I have yet to find a English service one. I know there are, just have to find them.  

Since I am from PR, and the party goes on for us until Three Kings Day on January 6. I'm keeping my festive mood & my tree until then. Also we will not stay this Holiday season without having some PR food. After some sofrito, I made an asopao'/ sancocho. The only thing I couldn't find is malanga or platanos, but the rest they have.  So that's what we're having today!

to make sofrito

missing half the ingredients but it'll have to do...

sofrito

http://www.elboricua.com/sofrito.html

My Mami & Abuela will be proud! 

sancocho

sancocho

Taraaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Perfect for the cold weather!