Eating your Way Through Summer

" 이열치열", a Korean proverb that means fight fire with fire.

Koreans believe that if you warm up the inside of your body with a hot soup, it will have a cooling effect on the outside of your body. 

Although I won't be reviewing any hot soup, the saucy spiciness of one of the Summer foods I'm about to introduce is equally satisfying. 


As people gear up for the hottest period of the year which is called Boknal (the dog days of Summer), the competition for the best Korean summer food also heats up. Boknal is divided into three period, (Chobok (beginning), Jungbok  (middle) and Malbok (last), they are commonly referred to as Sambok. There is a 10-day interval between Chobok and Jungbok, and a 20-day interval between Jungbok and Malbok. 


My friends and I decided to put two of the most-recommended Korean traditional summer food to the test-Jjimdak 찜닭 and Bingsu 빙수. 





At the back of Yeungnam University is 안동찜닭, a restaurant that serves the special variety of 찜닭,  aptly called Andong Jjimdak (안동찜닭)

There are many speculations on the origin of the dish, the first is that it is a dish only enjoyed by the privileged in Andong during the Joseon period, prepared and eaten for special occasions. 


Another assumption is that during the 1980s in the Dak golmok (닭골목, or "chicken alley") of the "Andong Gu Market," restaurants decided to create a dish incorporating the most common ingredients that regular customers demanded, which became the current Andong Jjimdak. The most plausible speculation is that this move was a way to maintain their business afloat despite the rapid expansion and popularization of Western fried chicken shops.






Basically, Andong Jjimdak is a savory dish of braised chicken mixed with a spicy soy sauce and simmered to perfection. The flavors of the juicy chicken, chewy noodles, succulent potatoes and carrots, flavorful onions, and various vegetables creates a perfect balance for a delectable culinary masterpiece.  Jjimdak is a dish usually served in plentiful amounts on a large plate to be shared. The best way to enjoy this dish is to partner it with dongchimi (water-based kimchi with radishes).







What I like about this scrumptious dish is that it is appetizingly-filling with just the right kick of spiciness. You also have the option to customize it by adding cheese, 떡 (rice cake) and even 만두 (dumpling). Among the toppings, I highly recommend cheese since it adds a distinctly exquisite taste to the rest of the ingredients.   




This sumptuous dish has become a personal favorite of mine among Korean cuisine. It's simple yet offers a global taste. 


Andong JjimdakPrice: 20, 000 won for 4 people
Contact information: 053-813-9959

Address: 경상북도 경산시 삼풍동 506-2
Rating: 4/5

Bonus clip: Follow this link for a simple tutorial if you are interested to learn how to cook Andong Jjimdak





Up next is the mouth-watering Korean treat called Bingsu (빙수), a dessert of shaved ice milk and assorted toppings. There's a variety of flavors to choose from, from Bingsu topped with chunks of cheese to Bingsu with yogurt and berries. One can surely find a combination that perfectly matches his taste. But when in doubt, try the most common one which is 인절미빙수 (contains shaved ice flakes and rice cakes coated in steamed, powdered beans). 




We put Mango Cheese Bingsu in the hot seat. It is both visually-appetizing and tastefully-satisfying. 






Just right across Yeungnam University is a branch of the hugely-popular Sulbing (설빙), Korean dessert cafe. Proof? Although it originated in Busan, there are now 400 franchises across Korea in a span of 15 months with plans of global expansion soon. We decided to see what the hype is about. 





For this review, I am privileged to be joined by three special guest judges. They will give their verdict on the latest flavor of Bingsu that Sulbing has to offer. They are my food trip buddies from Indonesia, Mexico and Fiji Islands. Let's see if Bingsu was able to satisfy their international palate. 



This fruity concoction has a generous amount of the sweetest mango cubes and plain cheesecake on top of milk shaved ice, plus a big scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel syrup and finished off with crushed almonds. And if that's not enough to make you drool, there's also a cup of sweetened condensed milk to add to the dessert. You can opt to eat these individually or you can mix them together depending on your preference.










Personally, it is love at first bite. It is heavenly delicious and worth all the calories. It will surely leave you wanting for more. 

My Indonesian friend Sigmund likes the combination of the vanilla ice cream and the crushed almonds that lends a rich flavor to the dessert. 

Betty, my Mexican friend is usually health-conscious but she gives this dessert her approval since the fresh mangoes are nutritiously-divine. 

My friend from Fiji Vickram was not originally a fan of Bingsu but the succulence of the ingredients was enough to change his mind about this treat. The melt-in-your mouth goodness of the cheesecake was also a factor for him in giving this treat a thumbs-up. 

To complete the Sulbing experience, we also tried the Cheese Garlic Toast. You can never go wrong with the  combination of cheese and garlic on top of the toasted bread. You’ll be surprised that in between is a layer of soft and chewy rice cake.





So the final verdict? We'll give a sweet 5/5 for both these treat. Bingsu has passed the meticulous taste of my international friends so like Jjimdak, it also deserves a spot in the Global Korean Food list. 

Price: Bingsu price ranges from 7,000-11,000 won depending on the flavor while the Cheese Garlic Toast is 6, 500 won. Bingsu is good for sharing by up to 2-4 people 






Bingsu never disappoints and Sulbing brings dessert to a whole new level of experience. The scorching heat of the weather is no match for the soothing flavor of Bingsu. This is definitely one competitive food that can fight the blistering heat of Summer. 






I would like to say thanks to my friends Betty, Sigmund and Vikram for helping me out in this review. And credit also goes to Paul and Aprille for recommending the Andong Jjimdak Restaurant in Sampundong. I had a great time, you guys are awesome! 

















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