Tasty food tonight. We had a selection of Korean dishes - veggie pancake, spicy rice cakes, spicy chicken and vegetables, bulgogi - a mariated beef, and dol sot bibipbap - a hot bowl of rice and veggies. Also, the traditional Korean side dishes (bancheon). Everyone had lots to try. What a great group of students we have this semester - definitely open to trying new foods.
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| Bulgogi |
I have to say I really enjoyed the Korean dishes I was able to try at Sobahn. To my knowledge it was my first time trying Korean cuisine. I had a unique issue with trying dishes this time that was not quite an issue yet during the last meal. I am currently pregnant and for me spicy food triggers my nausea, so unfortunately I was unable to try the spicy rice cakes, or spicy chicken and vegetables or some of the spicier bancheon. Of what I was able to try I did find very delicious. I tried the veggie pancake first and could have had that for my entire meal, but then I would have missed out on the Bulgogi which was on the sweet side but paired with some of the savory sides was just super yummy. The table setting made for a slightly clumsy meal for me. I managed to knock my chopsticks everywhere and then just had my spoon. I also felt we should have had some serving spoons or something because as it was a few of us made our spoons a serving spoon as we dished out to others but when I dropped my chop sticks I then had to eat with my spoon which made getting another portion of food a tad more difficult since I couldn’t handle the spice of the other dishes that were being served. Over all it was a great experience and one I hope to share with my family that enjoys trying new things.
ReplyDeleteI too loved the vege pancake! It was delicious! It was soft and just the right texture with a gentle flavor.
DeleteI really enjoyed the Korean food at Sobahn. I was a little surprised actually because I don't tend to care for the spices used but I actually liked everything I tasted for the most part. The only things I did not try were the spicy rice cakes and the chicken because I was not sure how my stomach would react to them. I think that the dol sot bibipbap was my favorite but I did like the bulgogi as well. I did find it strange that the chopsticks were metal, which did make it a little more difficult for me to maneuver them correctly. I think that I enjoyed the Korean meal more than the Ethiopian.
ReplyDeleteOlivia Lorance
Olivia - Yes, Koreans use metal chopsticks in their restaurants which definitely have a different feel from the wooden ones that you typically see in take-out Chinese places. I guess it makes sense - we use stainless steel utensils because they are durable and can be reused after washing, unlike wooden ones.
DeleteMy initial reaction to the metal chopsticks was that it makes sense because they can be reused. No sense in wasting with the wooden chopsticks. They were a little trying at first but I was able to use them just fine.
DeleteI have to say my experience at Sobahn was a good one. I especially enjoyed anything that had beef in it. The bulgogi was very good, but the bibipbap was my absolute favorite. All of the flavors seemed to complement one another. I found the main dishes more enjoyable than the side dishes for some reason. It could be because of the temperature differences. Although I am used to eating with chopsticks, I found that eating with metallic chopsticks was kind of difficult for me. I ended up using the spoon a lot more than I had anticipated. Lastly, I have been to Korea and have experienced Korean food. I will say that I found this much more appetizing. I'm sure it is because this food is more based towards the American palate. I'm sure that the beef we ate was cow, and not mystery meat. I am saddened that this is our last restaurant, but it was a good way to go out.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it - do you remember what type of food you had in Korea? I found the Korean BBQ there very tasty - many of the other dishes were lots more spicy in Korea than at this restaurant. Bibimbap seemed to be a crowd pleaser last night - and I always like this dish.
DeleteI do not remember. It was some type of meat though. I do remember eating little octupi though. They weren't too bad.
DeleteI enjoyed going to Sobahn last night to try Korean food; this was a first time experience for me. I found the names of the dishes fascinating and unfamiliar. If you asked me what I ate last night, the only word I can successfully remember is bap, the word for rice! Some of the textures of the food were difficult for me to try since I do not like spongy or fish based foods. My favorite dishes were the yachae jun (veggie pancake) and the dol sot bibimbap (beef and vegetables with fried egg). I found the dishes to not be spicy but was positive if you wanted something spicier the restaurant would accommodate your request. I also liked how the tables were set up with the main dishes and all of the accompaniments ready to go! I was a little disappointed the Korean grocery store had closed by the time we left the restaurant. It would have been fun to see the branding of the Korean grocery items. Should I return to Sobahn, I will make sure I go when the grocery store is open!
ReplyDeleteNicole Burl
It's always an experience to compare American products with English text to those from other countries. It can be fun game trying to guess what each item is!
DeleteI was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the food at Sobahn. This was first time trying Korean food and honestly, there was not one dish that I would not try again. Well, maybe I would not eat the rice cakes again - although they were delicious, they were a little too spongy and difficult to chew. The vegetable pancake was by far my favorite dish. I found myself grabbing multiple pieces of it. Last night I learned some of the Korean dining customs such as never sticking the chopsticks straight up in your food and never serve yourself. I've always said that I'm willing to try anything new when it comes to food but this experience and the previous one at Blue Nile really helped confirm that. I would definitely try Korean food again especially from Sobahn.
ReplyDeleteChris Perkins
The Korean Food was a great choice for last night-especially Sobhan. The veggie pancake, spicy chicken and vegetables, bulgogi - a mariated beef, and dol sot bibipbap - a hot bowl of rice and veggies were my favorite. Also the bowl of greens that had the egg on top of it was delicious as well. The overall experience was great. The setup of the food reminded me of Thanksgiving dinner because there were so many things to choose from. The beef reminded me of beef and broccoli that you can buy from a Chinese restaurant. The overall experience was great and definitely something I would be willing to try again.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first ever experience with Korean foods. I learned that it is the Korean culture to eat family style meals and that rice is served with every meal. It is not a meal without rice (which is fine with me because I love rice). I enjoyed the beef dish as well as the chicken and the vege pancake was delicious! I tried the hot green tea that was served in a tiny drinking cup. It was good as well. I did not care for the kimchi. I noted the metal chop-sticks which makes sense. I am sure that in Korea they do not use wooden chop sticks and then throw them away after every meal. I really wish the staff would have explained the dishes and described them. I also noted the music to be a bit strange. It was like hip-hop r&b music which seemed to throw of the idea of capturing an authentic ethnic experience. It was rather loud too. I enjoyed and appreciate the experience.
ReplyDeleteKari Mellin
I was not a fan of Korean food. The only things that I liked were the chicken and rice. I did try the veggie pancake and did not like that partly due to a texture issue. Some of the side dishes did not look appetizing to me and I didn't know what they were. It would have been nice if they visited the individual tables to explain everything. I also do not like eating food that is hot and cold at the same time. That is my personal preference but it turned me off of the side dishes. I am glad that I tried it but probably won't return.
ReplyDeleteAmy S.
Sorry you didn't enjoy it. The side dishes are always my favorite!
DeleteSo, last night we tried Korean food. I really enjoyed the BBQ chicken (a little kick to it but very good). My favorite for the night was the sweet tasting beef. I did not like the taste of the chewy side dish (texture was definitely the issue with that) I love rice so anything with rice just about will work for me:) I also tried the sparkling sake...the first sip was definitely the roughest. Every sip after became better:) I learned that even though I was hesitant to try some of the dishes because of the way it looked, I was pleasingly surprise to confirm "you cant judge a book by its cover" theory. The dish with the rice and all the veggies and the egg on top was tasty minus the mushrooms. I also wish the staff would have conversated more with us to teach us more about what we were eating and the culture in general when it comes to the food. I am glad we had the teacher sitting with us to share his experience and knowledge of the food/culture, that helped a lot! I am glad I had the experience.
ReplyDeleteL. Tilford
You can always ask the staff for more information. I'm sure they would have been happy to tell you more.
DeleteI very much enjoy trying new things and am grateful for the experience. While I am happy to have tried Ethiopian food and had that experience, it is one I will not likely crave again. This is not the case with Korean food. I liked it and would definitely go again. There was not any item I disliked. I think that may have been different if I hadn't had the warning about the texture of the noodle/rice. I didn't love it, but it was interesting. The kimchee was good and the pancake was great. My favorite dish was the bulgogi. That is something I can see myself wanting or even craving again. It was great.
ReplyDeleteRenee Roe
Last night we experienced Korean food at Sobahn. I am always a little hesitant to try new foods, but this was actually a nice experience. I like the fact that the food was communal. I am not a fan of spicy foods, so it wasn't a fan of the chicken. My personal favorites were the veggie pancake and the beef. I wish that the staff would've communicated with us, they barely even came to our table. At the prior restaurant they were pleasant and allowing us to ask questions. I am so glad that Eric sat with us to let us know about his prior experiences and knowledge of the food and culture. I hate that was the last restaurant, but it went out with a bang.
ReplyDeleteFelicia Cason
I enjoyed my dining experience at Sobahn, the heavy dark wooden table and chairs along with the other décor made for a very casual and relaxing atmosphere. I tried all of the dishes and sides and the primary flavor profile of chili, garlic, and pickled preparations came through nicely. Of all the dishes I most enjoyed the dol sot bibimbap. Dol sot bibimbap was served in what I now know to be the traditional manner, in a heavy stone bowl. It is a signature Korean dish with a rice base and then various vegetables, herbs and meat served on top of the rice with an egg in the center. The hot stone bowl created a nice crust to the rice that was in direct contact with it. This created a delicious nutty flavor and crunchy texture to contrast the other ingredients. According to Wikipedia this dish was traditionally eaten on the eve of the lunar New Year as the people at that time felt that they had to get rid of all of the leftover side dishes before the New Year. The solution to this problem was to put all of the leftovers in a bowl of rice and to mix them together. Wiki goes on to say that the ingredients chosen are rich in symbolism representing North, South, East, West and the egg represents the center of things. This is definitely a dish that I will attempt to recreate at home. I now understand why the fusion of Korean flavors is becoming so popular, with their bright and bold flavors adding a new twist. - Greg Burl
ReplyDeleteI can see how the ingredients in bibimbap symbolize the 4 directions, they were placed separately in the bowl with the egg in the middle. Love it!
DeleteKathy
The colors of the dish are also rich with symbolism.
DeleteThis was an amazing restaurant. All of the food was very good. At first I was a bit nervouse because again this was a differnt style of food, however that first bite of the pancake changed my mind. The spices in the food where flavorful but not over powering. the attmosphere and decor was also very nice. The only thing i would have hoped for, was that the wait staff would be a little more open in explaining what was what, I guess the Blue Nile had me spoiled. I also wasn't a big fan of using metal chop sticks, that made it bery difficult to eat, but i managed. But I will go back to this restaurant with my family. I really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteJamie Horn
The bulgogi was my favorite from Sobahn. It was especially good with the sweet/spicy chili sauce that is intended for the dol sot bibimbap, which was also very good. None of this food is unfamiliar to me. I loved the side dishes too, especially the fish cakes.I consider myself an adventurous eater. I'm willing to try pretty much anything as long as it is not alive and not a bug! I have to agree with others that I wish the staff had had time to interact with us. They seemed genuinely pleased to have us there and interested in their foodways.
ReplyDeleteKathy G
Woohoo! it's Food & Culture night again!
ReplyDeleteThose were the thoughts that filled the expanse of my mind before I came to class on Monday night. I don't often treat myself to eating out and trying new foods is one of my new favorite things since traveling overseas. I knew that if the food was anything as good as the food at the Blue Nile that I would leave feeling more than satisfied with my experience. Walking into the restaurant I was pleased to see that the food had already been laid out on the table for the students (and teachers). Nonetheless, the four students at our table waited for everyone else to be seated before we dug in.
The one thing that surprised me by the whole experience was the vast amount of food given to each table. There was more than enough to begin with and yet the waiters and waitresses continued to bring out dish after dish (yum). I really loved anything spicy on the table. My favorite was the spicy chicken mixed with rice. the marinated beef was alright, but the chicken definitely won the meat battle in my book. I also really enjoyed the veggie pancake and had to fight the other students for the last couple pieces; I lost that battle to the pregnant lady. As far as the sides were concerned, there were too many to keep track of. All I remember is that I didn't like the sprouts. I did like the sot bibipbap especially after spreading the spicy sauce on top.
Something that I found a little odd about the experience was that there wasn't much direction in the proper way to eat in this new Korean manner. Instead, us four students had to improvise with how to eat these new dishes. There were no serving utensils and many of us were not adept at using chopsticks. nonetheless, we were forced to use our chopsticks as best we could and use the spoons we were given to serve the communal food (after all, we didn't want to use dirty spoons or chopsticks to serve the food).
Overall, it was a fun and unique experience, albeit an odd and sometimes awkward one. If I had to rate my two ethnic food experiences against each other I would rate the Blue Nile a 9/10 but I would give the Korean experience a 7/10.
I enjoyed another night out, experiencing a different culture's food, with my Food and Culture class! We dined at a Korean restaurant called Sobahn, located in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. We sat as a table in order to share he community food. In the Korean culture everyone has their own individual bowl of rice, however, there are several different dishes referred to as community food.
ReplyDeleteThe dishes served were savory and somewhat spicy. The first dish that I tasted was a delicious savory pancake called Yachae Jum, which is a veggie pancake. The lightness and texture of the pancake was yummy. We also had a delicious bowl of Bulgogi, grilled marinated beef. The beef was tender and flavorful. I paired the beef with my rice and tried it with the Yachae Jum. Also included was Tteokbokki which is a spicy ricecake. This is not the traditional American rice cake that one would think about but rather retextured, almost like a noodle, chewy. The Tteokbokki had a strange texture to the palate initially. We also tasted Mokeuu Dalk Bokkew, spicy chicken with vegetables. The chicken was tender it the heat level was not over the top. There were many side dishes referred to as Bancheon.
It was my first time eating with chopsticks and I must say that I did very well. In Korean tradition it is considered rude to serve yourself, therefore, the group that I sat with served one another respectfully. Considering it rude to serve yourself is something new in Korean tradition that I learned. In American culture, or at least in my household, we have a starch with most every meal. Koreans having rice with every meal isn't to unfamiliar. Also in American culture, at least in my household, we serve the children first so Koreans serving the elders first was unfamiliar. I would have liked to have tried some fish.
I learned about myself that I truly do enjoy eating as a group, as I do at home, as a family. I think that sitting down as a family is slowly being lost here in America.
I must say that I was expecting a different kind of service. The service was not as good as I would have expected the Korean culture to be. There wasn't anyone to direct us as to how to eat, what to eat with what. Overall, I enjoyed the experience and the food.
Monica A. Smith
I enjoyed going to Sobahn! The food was good, and the ambiance was nice as well. I have tried Chinese & Vietnamese foods before, but not Korean, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I couldn't believe the variety of dishes, and the amount of food we were offered. Each dish looked like it had been given special care to make sure the presentation was done well. They all looked very appealing! I tried at least one bite of each item, and enjoyed most everything. I wasn't sure I would like the bibipbap, but that turned out to be my favorite dish. I added the hot sauce, which made it perfect! However, I would have liked it to be a little spicier. The dish I didn't care for had tubular rice cakes in it. I didn't care for it as much, because the texture bothered me a bit. Overall, I really enjoyed the food! I felt bad about leaving any of it, because it seemed like they put a lot of effort into making it. I took leftovers home, which made a nice dinner for my family the next evening. My husband really enjoyed it, but my kids were a little nervous about trying something new!
ReplyDeleteShelley Mundy
Glad you took the food home - several of us took leftovers - I had a yummy lunch the next day and the food didn't go to waste.
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