My New Favorite Treats: Kimbop and Shabu Shabu

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In the last week or so, I now have a new favorite treat: Kimbop.  To explain it simply, its like the Korean version of Japanese sushi because if you order it in a restaurant or buy one at the market that's what it looks like.  The picture of one I have here is one of the 80 cent ones from 7-Eleven.  And no -- it is not raw fish.  Actually, in Korea anything wrapped in seaweed like this is called kimbap (or gimbap, in some spellings), while anything wrapped in seaweed in Japan is called sushi.  You can have it filled with just about anything - veggies, beef, tuna, chicken, cheese, etc. All have rice and seaweed at least but there is always something else added.  And no, it is not by any means a "specialty" meal as it is in western cultures (in fact, they find it amusing that we look to it as being fancy - but wouldn't you if China thought cheeseburgers were "fancy"?).  It's what you eat here instead of sandwiches.  Yes, there are some sandwiches here (had a dollar burger from 7-Eleven the other day) but this is more common.

My next few favorite treat is Shabu Shabu.  I think it was originated in Japan, but there are many different variations of it now in all countries in Asia.  They place a big bowl in front of you and fill it with water and broth.  You can choose from beef or seafood as the main dish to add (we had beef) and then they give you a variety of lettuces, mushrooms, carrots, sprouts, etc. to cook in the mix with it.  To eat, you just grab the cooked pieces with chop sticks, dip it in some sauce if you wish, and enjoy!  In Korea, of course the sauces are more spicy and they give you a side of coleslaw and kimchi.  Many restaurants here have the Vietnamese version where you take the meat, veggies, etc. out of the pot and wrap it in a clear rice paper. Once you've eaten most all of the beef and veggies, the server will then come by and fill the bowl with a little more broth and then add rice, seaweed, and an egg to finish up the meal.