Satisfying the Gustatory Perception Part 4

"Satisfying the Gustatory Perception Part 4"

Last November 3, 2014, we celebrated the birth of my brother and because he is an avid fan of Korean cuisine, we decided to go for a Korean restaurant. We visited a restaurant called K-Chicken Hauz located in City Time Square near Parkmall, Mantawe Avenue, Mandaue City, Cebu. The staff were very accommodating and even refilled our side dishes for us. On their menu, they had Korean food as well as Filipino food. So here are the following food we the pleasure of eating.

Sizzling Gambas (Php 195)

 I've never really been a fan of seafoods so I won't be able to compare theirs with others. Though there is one thing I noticed, they were very generous on the amount of shrimp and their shrimp didn't taste disgusting like those that are preserved and frozen in supermarkets

Chopsuey (Php 165)

There were actually a lot of vegetables

We decided to order Chopsuey because it was a healthy choice composed of vegetables like cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, bell pepper, cauliflower, and a bit of meat. I really liked the taste of the sauce in the Chopsuey, it had a sort of buttery aftertaste and has just the right amount of saltiness. Actually, it has a similar taste of the soup Bouillabaise which I am crazy for.

Bibimbap (Php 230)

I am a forever lover of this special dish especially if the pepper paste has a great taste. So I was not really impressed with their theirs since I've tasted Bibimbaps far more delicious than theirs. But on the brighter side, their serving is really big and filled with a lot of veggies.

Jeyuk Bokkeum (Php 250)

This is a stir-fried pork dish mixed with pepper paste to add a flavorful surprise to the taste buds. In addition to that, the dish is a very healthy choice for it is mixed with veggies such as cabbage and carrots as well as spices.

Ojingo Bokkeum (Php 300)

This dish is actually the same with the previous one but instead of pork, they use squid. We had 2 servings for this because my family enjoyed this. Like with the previous, it has a lot of spices and vegetables like cabbage and carrots.

Galbijjim (Medium: Php 599  Large: Php 899)

Medium-sized Galbijjim

 
 This dish is made from beef spareribs and this is so far the most expensive among the bunch. This is  because it is big enough to feed five people. You can also choose the level of spiciness. In this dish, you can taste a hint of pepper paste and just like other dishes, this contains a lot of vegetables.







If asked to go back there, I would actually have second thoughts because in my opinion, it was not really impressive and is a bit pricey for a serving. But a part of me would actually want to go back there because we failed to taste their chicken which I assume as their specialty. Well, they did not recommend it so much to us so we did not order it. Anyway, I just want to try it but other than that reason, I won't think of coming back, I would probably explore other restaurants.

Rating: 3.5/5

Korean Drama Review: "It's Ok, This is Love"

Korean Drama Review:

"It's Okay, This is Love"

"Free yourself from the cage you've created. Live in the present and break off the chains of the past."
 

Sometimes life gives you painful memories and experiences that makes it hard for you to form relationships and bonds with other people. Those memories make you scared and doubtful of the people who are trying to bring down your walls. For those scared people who are like this, just remember that don't chase away the good times that were supposedly to come into your life just because you were so caught up and locked up with the painful memories. Someday, somewhere out there you are going to find someone whose past wouldn't matter to you and who you are determined to bring down his or her walls because no matter who or what his/her past is, for you, it's okay because that is love.

Plot:

 Jang Jae-Yeol is a mystery writer and radio DJ. He suffers from a obsession. Ji Hae-Soo is going through her first year fellowship in psychiatry at a University Hospital. She chose psychiatry because she doesn't want to perform surgeries. After she meets Jang Jae-Yeol, her life goes through big changes. 

Review:

When this drama was not airing yet, I thought that this would be a boring one but I realized that I was definitely wrong about my previous thought when I viewed the first episode which to my surprise was definitely worth my time to watch. First and foremost, I love this drama because of the casts who showcased their great acting skills that really captures your attention and makes you appreciate or sympathize with their character. 

In addition to that, I love the "vibe" of this drama, it gives off a warm, playful and easy-going vibe but tells a story much deeper than that. It's like telling the viewers that despite the sadness and traumatic experiences that traps the characters, it's okay because someone out there will help you heal those wounds, it may be a family member, a friend, a lover, a doctor or it may simply be forgiveness itself. 

Every episode of this drama makes you really crazy and you know that you just need to watch more of it and uncover the mysteries. This drama has great cliff hangers that would bug you for the rest of the week, making you curious that you can't get it off your mind - that was an exaggeration. This drama also has a great plot twist, one that you would not expect but of course, I will avoid spoiling you just know that Jang Jae-Yeol has a deeper wound than you can imagine and that you shouldn't be too sure of who killed the stepfather. If you're really curious, then you should watch it.

The chemistry between the two lead actors are just so undeniable and they look so good and so sweet together. Every time they bring their walls down to each other, exposing their weaknesses, sparks just appear around them. Lastly, in this drama you certainly can learn a lot especially about valuing the people around you like your family and learning to let go of the painful experiences that seems to trap you in a cage so that you will stop giving yourself a hard time by holding on to harmful emotions like anger, hurt and regret.

My Top 3 Most Loved K-Dramas of 2014

My Top 3 Most Loved K-Dramas of 2014

Annyeong haseyo yoreobun! Let me give you a list of the K-dramas I thoroughly enjoyed this year. Let's start off with number...

3. Doctor Stranger

Plot:

 As a child, Park Hoon (Lee Jong-Suk) and his father were kidnapped by North Korea. In North Korea, Park Hoon was trained to become a doctor by his father who was already a doctor. Park Hoon became a genius like chest surgeon. He then flees to South Korea.

Park Hoon begins to work as a doctor in South Korea's top hospital Myungwoo University Hospital, but he feels like a complete outsider. To bring his love from North Korea, he does anything to make money.

Review:

To be honest, I watched this drama because of the casting and they surely did not disappoint me. The first episode alone was full of happenings that made me curious, puzzled, shocked, happy and made me cry. A lot really happened in the first episode and the next thing I knew, I kept asking for more. This is basically a story revolving around a genius thoracic surgeon who was from North Korea. The acting of the actors was superb and the romance between those four characters were intertwined together so as their parents' history. I like how there were hidden revelations and hidden enemies that you won't expect. What I did not like so far was when they would perform surgery and you would see all those blood and the heart beating. But aside from those, this drama is definitely worth your time. 

2. Marriage Not Dating

Plot:

A perfect man, Kong Ki-Tae (Yeon Woo-Jin), is forced to marry by his family, but he doesn't to marry. To make his family give up, he introduces a woman, Joo Jang-Mi (Han Groo), to them that they would never accept.

Review:

I really, really, really love this drama! The cast, for me, are not that well known but this could be their biggest break. Their acting skills were really good  and considering that this is a romance comedy drama, they never fail to make me laugh. For me, this is really a good comedy drama because of the schemes the two protagonist make just so the mother of the guy would hate the girl. The girl would make chaotic situations that would leave you laughing your hearts out. Furthermore, the romance between the two is really, really cute! They are such a funny and unruly couple but that's actually what makes them charming. I like everything in this drama and I can go on raving about this in here but I need to move on. This drama even when the girl is sad, is still funny. So be sure to watch this!

And the Top 1 is...

1. You Who Came From the Stars 

Plot:

Do Min-Joon  is an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty period. Do Min-Joon  possesses a near perfect appearance and enhanced physical abilities involving his vision, hearing and speed.

Do Min-Joon holds a cynical view to human beings, but he falls in love with actress Cheon Song-Yi.

Review:

This drama is also called "My Love From the Stars." The plot may seem absurd to you since its about alien and stuff but let me assure you, the acting of these actors were able to pull it off. I mean, where can you find such a hot alien with cool and not ridiculous powers? This guy will definitely make you wish that aliens like him to invade us. The girl will also definitely make you laugh especially when she speaks English. Another thing that what makes this drama cool is the effects. Teleportation? Cool! Telekinesis? Cool! It does not make it ridiculous but rather it makes it cool. The chemistry between the two is great because it makes you hope for them to be together. Lastly, the drama really makes you feel the emotions because for me, whenever the guy is crying, it makes me want to cry and whenever the girl is lonely, I too, would feel lonely for her. Overall, it is a great drama with great performance from great actors!

The Most Heartbreaking Korean Movie

Miracle in Cell No. 7

"The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature." -Prevost Abbe

This is the top movie in my list whenever I talk about sad movies. The story was so charming because of the father and daughter bond that they shared but later on, it became stronger than ever which is why this story makes me cry and cry over again even until now because in my mind I keep asking myself questions like, "What if my father was in his place?" This movie for me, made me realize how much I love my parents, and same with the protagonist of the story, I too, would fight wherever it is whether in court or in the internet  to uphold the dignity of my parents. Furthermore, this movie made me realize that mental illness is not a disability and should not make you any lesser than a human being. 

Plot:

Lee Yong-go is a mentally impaired father with the intellect of a six-year-old, who lives in a run-down house along with his daughter of the same age, Ye-sung. One day, he gets into a physical altercation with the police commissioner, who has just purchased the last Sailor Moon backpack for his daughter, a gift Yong-go was saving up to buy for Ye-sung. Soon after, the police commissioner's daughter dies in a freak accident, in which she slips on ice and suffers a fatal blow to the back of her head while she is taking Yong-go to another store that sells the same backpack. When he tries to resuscitate her, a woman witnesses him and mistakes him to be molesting her. Yong-go is falsely accused of the abduction, murder, and rape of a minor. The police quickly take advantage of his disability and force him to admit to committing the crimes, while ignoring exonerating evidence. Yong-go, who is sentenced to death, is imprisoned and assigned to Cell No. 7, the harshest cell in a maximum security prison.

At first, the other men in the cell, lead by gang leader Jang Min-hwan, do not take kindly to Yong-go after reading in his file that he murdered and molested a child, but when Yong-go saves Min-hwan from being fatally stabbed by a rival gang leader, Min-hwan repays the favor by smuggling Ye-sung into Cell No. 7. Over time, they come to believe in his innocence, and make it their goal to help reverse the verdict at Yong-go's retrial .

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_in_Cell_No._7)

What I Like:

The movie is a mixture of comedy as well as drama. I love the bond between the daughter and the father and the fact that because the father is mentally ill, the very young daughter did her best in doing house chores like paying the bills. But even if he is mentally ill, he still see to it that he is working for the sake of his daughter. What infuriated the most was the injustice he felt when in fact, he was innocent and the higher-ups know this. It made me feel all kinds of emotions which implies that I was really drawn to the movie. There were a lot of scenes that really made me cry and the most heartbreaking was the parting of the two without the girl knowing that her father was sentenced to death. The father tried his best to pretend he was fine as he was bidding his daughter goodbye but on the last minute, he ran back and cried so hard. It was such a painful scene with the father grabbing the railings which separates him from his daughter. The latter, realizing something is off, cried hard as well. This story is definitely a must-watch! 

What I Did Not Like:

None. I love this movie.

Rating:

6/5 

just kidding

5/5

The Second Most Heartbreaking Korean Movie

A Werewolf Boy

"Did you wait for me?...Why did you wait for me?... I am old now. My hair has turned white."

"No, it's the same. Hands, mouth, eyes... You are still beautiful. So much. I've missed you so much."

This movie is a favourite of mine because although I didn't cry a bucket of tears for this, the feeling I felt for this movie is the feeling of having your heart squeezed tightly. The guy was so pitiful in the sense that he was abandoned then abandoned and he was, as if, destined to live life alone and that made it so heartbreaking. Plus, the guy was so handsome, what a pity. 

Plot: 

Kim Sun-yi, an elderly woman in her sixties living in the US, receives a phone call about the sale of her old family home back in South Korea. Returning to her homeland, she's met by granddaughter Eun-joo, and they drive to the house in the country and stay the night. Sun-yi recalls how 47 years ago when she was a teenage girl in 1965, she moved fromSeoul along with her widowed mother and sister Sun-ja to a remote valley to undergo a period of convalescence after suffering problems with her lungs. The Kims lived in genteel poverty at the mercy of their arrogant and foppish landlord, Ji-tae, son of the business partner of Sun-yi's late father. Because of her delicate health, the beautiful yet introverted Sun-yi lives an isolated life in the country home, without any friends her age.

One night, Sun-yi glimpses a shadow in the outhouse; the next day, she discovers a feral boy of about 19 crouching in their yard. The boy's body temperature is 46 degrees Celsius, his blood type unidentifiable, and he can neither read nor speak. Even though he behaves like a wild beast, Sun-yi's kindhearted mother adopts him and names him Chul-soo, assuming he's one of more than 60,000 children orphaned in the Korean War.

At first Sun-yi considers him a nuisance, but eventually has fun taming him according to a dog-training manual. She teaches him how to wait patiently before a meal, how to wear clothes, how to speak, how to write and other human behavior so that he could one day live like a normal man. Chul-soo demonstrates unswerving loyalty and superhuman brawn, thus inspiring the envy of Ji-tae, who lusts after Sun-yi.

As Sun-yi attempts to "civilize" the beast, the two eventually become very close. Sun-yi opens her heart to Chul-soo, and he in turn falls in love with her, the only person to ever show him affection. But their relationship is fraught with difficulties, as Ji-tae begins to cause trouble. Feeling threatened, Chul-soo lets loose his bestial instincts, and in their fear the town villagers turn on him. In order to save the life of the boy who risked his to be by her side, Sun-yi leaves him with a promise: "Wait for me. I’ll come back for you".

Returning to present day, Sun-yi decides to stay the night. In the middle of the night she walks into the shed to find Chul-soo sitting there, still as young as he was 47 years ago. He hands her the note that she wrote. She realizes that he's been there waiting all along. He reads her the book that she asked him to when he can speak, as she sleeps. The next day she wakes up with Chul-soo nowhere in sight. She leaves with her granddaughter. In the car they receive a call from the county asking about the property. Sun-yi tells him that she's not selling the place and hangs up. Chul-soo stares from afar as the car drives away.

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Werewolf_Boy)

What I Like:

I actually watched this movie because of the actors who are part of this like Song Joong Ki. This did not disappoint me at all because this became one of the most heartbreaking movie that still saddens me whenever I remember the details from this movie. First, I love the romance and the chemistry between the guy and girl. It was such a cute couple because the guy, who was partly a wolf, acted like an animal thus he did not know any manner nor does he know how to speak. Then this girl would teach him how so before he ever learned the language of words, he learned the language of love first.

 But the ending made me want to pull out my hair or cry in frustration. This is because the girl, for the sake of the safety of the guy, left him saying that she will come back for him. Many years passed by, it was as if the girl didn't take the promise seriously and when she was old, she went back to the place because someone was interested in buying the place where they used to live with the guy. Upon returning there, she found out that the guy was still waiting for her. 

For how many years! Isn't that the type of guy what every girl wants? She was already old and married at that time, so she had to leave him. Once again, the guy was left alone, never able to find someone he will grow old with and not being able to grow old at all.The last scene showed the guy making a snow man by himself which he used to do with the girl and her family. Such a sad love story.

There was actually a little bit of action in this movie. Only the time when Joong Ki transformed himself into a wolf and defended his loved ones. I was amazed with how Joong Ki played the role of the wolf because in playing a role like that, you must act like an animal which is being barbaric even when eating, scared of taking a bath and even walking with your feet and hands. I salute him for he did all of this with matching facial expressions that makes you say that he is someone who used to live with wolves and has not seen human civilization, much like Tarzan actually.

What I Did Not Like:

I actually find the antagonist, which is another guy who has some feelings for the girl, really annoying. It was not actually the actor that I dislike, it was the character that he was portraying. He was irrational and boring. Aside from that, I disliked how this movie brings pain in my heart whenever I remember this. Okay, so maybe I don't dislike that after all. 

Rating:

I would still rate it 5/5 because it kept me interested from start to end. 

The Third Most Heartbreaking Korean Movie

Rockin' on Heaven's Door      

"Life is short. At times, it is even shorter compared to others. So create special moments with those that you truly care for."

This movie really left a mark in my life because this is not your typical movie. We are all familiar with a storyline wherein there is this bad boy who changes because of a girl. But in this movie, this bad boy not just because of a girl but also because of life and the realization of the importance of life because of the people he met. This movie teaches you that sometimes you need to learn to let go of things to make it easier for you and for the other party.

Plot:

Chung-ui is a famous Korean pop star with a temper. After he beats up a man at a night club, he is sentenced to do community service at a hospice for terminally ill patients. The reluctant young man first hates his chores and dislikes the people around him, but as he gets to know their stories, he becomes attached to them. The hospice struggles with funding, leading to a possible close-down, so the hospice in-house band, The Phoenix Band decides to apply to a talent show on television. For this, they need an original song, so they ask Chung-ui to help them. The singer refuses at first, then tries to use the opportunity to reduce his sentence days. He ends up seriously changing his mind about music, his behaviour and grows to accept his mother's death, while helping the patients achieve their dreams. Even after the death of the band members, he continues to revive The Phoenix Band each time, assisting new patients.

What I Like:

At first I was really hesitant to watch this movie because I wasn't familiar with the actors but as I finally watched it and continued watching it I fell in love with them.The storyline was amazing and it really reached my heart. Although there was this certain protagonist in the movie, the life of the patients surrounding him made as great of an impact as his. The acting of the actors portraying the lives of the patients were so realistic that I was so touched by the story and it brought tears to my eyes. The romance between the protagonist and a patient was subtle yet it was still in a way, heartbreaking. One more thing, the lives of the patients gives you an idea of the struggles and regrets in life that makes you realize how important to live everyday of your lives to the most of your abilities.

What I Did Not Like:

I have no complaints or whatsoever with the movie. Even though it broke my heart over and over again, I enjoyed the movie even until the very last scene.

Ratings:

5/5

"Project 365: A Plethora of Happiness"

"Project 365: A Plethora of Happiness"

Last September 13, 2014 in Well Hotel located F. Ramos St., Cogon Ramos, Cebu City, a gathering was held for those fans of the Kpop group named EXO. The event started with an opening prayer led by the organizers then followed by a song performance by a Kpop enthusiast. Games followed afterwards like the Pass-a-Paper-Through-the-Mouth game, Guess-the-Character game and the Scavenger Hunt game. We also had our own version of a quiz bowl wherein we were to guess the person whom the question is referring to.

After the games, raffle draw followed and I wasn't lucky enough since I didn't win anything. We also watched several music videos and more performances. I can say that the event was really successful since all of us had fun and all of us went home with a smile plastered on our faces. Kudos to the organizers!

"SATISFYING THE GUSTATORY PERCEPTION PART 3"

So once again, annyeong haseyo yeorobun! I'm back with another food review for you guys. After we visited Chosun Galbi and Ila Puti, our next stop was a restaurant in  J Center Mall, A.S. Fortuna, Mandaue City, Cebu named, "Gue Gue Yakiniku." If you are with a friend, you can avail their eat-all-you-can food set. In our case, we chose the 399 per person (we were 5 that time) which consist of Samgyeopsal (yay!), fried rice, white rice, Ramen, Kimchi soup, Seaweed soup and they also gave us lettuce and sauce (sesame oil and soy bean paste). 

Kimchi Soup

  This soup has a similar taste with the Kimch so it is a bit sour. Unfortunately for me, I'm not really a fan of sour food like our very own Sinigang so my taste buds did not really appreciate this soup. But I noticed that my mom really liked so I guess people who can stand sour food would appreciate this soup.

Seaweed Soup

This soup is, from the name itself, has the taste of seaweed. Have you seen Korean movies wherein someone celebrates their birthday? In Korea actually, they give the birthday celebrant Seaweed soup instead of a birthday cake. This is part of their tradition and is rooted from the day of their birth. It is because after the mother's pregnancy, the mother drink this soup because the seaweed is rich in iron and iodine which helps in blood production since during labor the mother usually lose a lot of blood.

Ramen

This is the Korean style instant noodles and is a bit spicy with a hint of seafood flavor. The noodles are round and a bit big but we enjoyed this dish as well. What fascinated me though is the cooking pot because it was different than ours and the pot is golden.

Samgyeopsal

 

Look at all those meat! This dish is definitely one of my favorites. I love how they have thick and thin slices which gives you an option on what to choose. For us, we preferred the bacon slices because it gets cooked faster. We cooked the meat then dipped it into the sesame oil and soy bean paste. We then wrap the lettuce around the meat and shove it into our mouths in one bite. The flavor brought by the sauce enhanced the taste of the meat which was not marinated.

Overall, I love this restaurant! That was actually the second time we ate there and like our previous experience, we were satisfied and went home full. I love the service of the staff who were so diligent in refilling our meat and lettuce. We would love to go back here anytime soon.

Bonus:

Hello there, Psy.

" Satisfying the Gustatory Perception Part 2 "

Annyeong haseyo  yeorobun! For my second entry, let me take you to a restaurant named, " Ilaputi," located in Asiatown, I.T. Park, Lahug, Cebu City, Cebu. Ilaputi is actually a fusion restaurant where you can taste dishes from different countries and from there we decided to try their bibimbap. 

Bibimbap is a Korean dish composed of rice and vegetables mixed together. Ilaputi's Bibimbap is actually the second Bibimbap I've tried and I can say it was better than the previous one I've tasted. Their Bibimbap is composed of white rice topped with lettuce, mushrooms, carrots, egg and beef (yay! beef). All of the flavors of these components mixed together create a unique taste which definitely blend well with each other and complement each others' flavor.

Satisfying the Gustatory Perception Part 1

"Satisfying the Gustatory Perception Part 1"

Annyeong haseyo yeorobun! For my first entry in my first blog, join me in experiencing Korean culture through getting a taste of their food. 

Last August 2014, we visited a Korean restaurant named, "Chosun Galbi," located in A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu which is across the Divine Peace Adoration Chapel.  Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by two attendants and ushered to a nearby table. The interior of the restaurant was impressive because it was mostly made up of marble which made it look neat and clean. We ordered one bibimbap, two servings of samgyeopsal and one bulgogi.

Bibimbap is rice mixed with various vegetables like carrots, lettuce, mushroom together with egg. For it to attain its kind of sticky texture, it is mixed with pepper paste which adds to its color as well as to its flavor.

Koreans are fond of cooking using mini stoves or stoves built in the table. Samgyeopsal  is actually a grilled pork dish which you can opt for marinated or not marinated which in our case was the latter. When the sides of the pork are a little bit crispy then its the time for you to eat it. But before doing such, you can dip the meat into the sesame oil and soy bean paste because those two gives the meat a bit of salty but flavorful taste. To eat it the Korean way, wrap the lettuce around the meat and shove it into your mouth in one shot.

 

Bulgogi is a beef dish mixed with some vegetables. The same thing with Samgyeopsal, we cooked it in a separate mini stove.

As the saying goes, " The best things in life are free." Likewise, these side dishes are free and unlimited so you can just ask the waiter to refill your side dishes and you don't get charged anything for it! Let me name a few side dishes and these are kimchi, cucumber, scallop meat, Chinese cabbage, bean sprouts and macaroni salad. 

 

If given the chance, I'd looove to go back there because the service and the food are jjang! But hey, let me save some money first because their food are not so affordable for a mere student like me.

Any questions? Please comment below.

♡ Introduction to my blog ♡

Exploring Korean Culture

photo source:http://cms.korea.net

Have you ever sang along with the song, "Nobody, nobody but you..," or danced along with Psy's famous horse dance? Well, if you have then you've just had a taste of the Korean Culture, specifically their music. Koreans are now becoming more known in different industries: music, entertainment, fashion, food and especially cosmetics. The good news to us admirers of Korean culture is that we can now experience their culture through different ways like the internet or tasting their food personally through Korean restaurants scattered here in Cebu. Join me in exploring a culture different from ours and together, let's appreciate not only the Korean culture but also our very own culture.