Kimchi Knowledge : BIZARRE FOODS!:KIMCHI

Hello, all!
Lets talk about Kimchi as a Bizarre Food. Earlier in the Kimchi Knowledge introduction I mentioned how in S. Korea Kimchi is not only eaten as a side dish but is also sometimes combined with other food to produce a main dish or a snack. These snacks and meals would be considered by most Americans as Bizarre foods. Some of these popular bizarre foods include Kimchi Pancakes, Kimchi burgers, Kimchi chips and Kimchi chocolate. Find out more about these Bizarre Foods below!

Kimchi Pancakes

Kimchi Pancakes may sound 'Bizzare' to many Americans such as the Albany residence. This is because when we think of pancakes we think of the "American Pancake" which is a fluffy, sweet flour cake that is usually served with syrup for breakfast. However, even though Kimchi is made with almost the same ingredients (flour, water, sugar, egg, salt, oil, & milk) as the American pancake and is also sometimes eaten for breakfast it is very different from the American pancake. The difference is in taste (bland, savor), color (red & orange) and extra ingredients (Kimchi, onions & meat). Once Americans realize that Kimchi pancake is neither eaten with syrup or tastes like the American pancake with the added ingredient Kimchi it may become accepted as "normal food" rather than Bizarre.

Basic Ingredients: Kimchi, onion, salt, sugar, flour, vegetable oil & water
Additional Ingredients: Pork or Tofu

Watch & learn how to make a Pork Kimchi Pancake from "Chef Jihoon" (my fiancé).
Learn How to Cook Pork Kimchi Pancake:

Learn how to make many different types of Kimchi Pancakes by clicking on Recipes!

Albany University interview on Kimchi Pancake:

Interview with Jessica (TESOL) who is fond of Kimchi
Ami: "Have you heard Kimchi pancake and would you try it?" Jessica: "eewww what the hell are you talking about?...people actually eat pancake with Kimchi!!?" Ami: well Kimchi pancake is made with a mix of flour and Kimchi..but..." Jessica: "How could someone eat that....do they add syrup?.." Ami: "hahaha......no it's not what you think it is...."

Kimchi Burgers

Kimchi Burgers may sound Bizarre to the many Americans residing in Albany but it is actually a very popular food not only in S.Korea but also in other countries such as Japan, Vietnam, and even in London!

Watch a London street vendor prepare a delicious Kimchi burger:
Ingredients: ground beef,Kimchi, salt, cracked black pepper, cheddar cheese & unsalted butter. Learn how to make different types of Kimchi Burgers by clicking on Recipe 1! Recipe 2! Recipe 3!

Kimchi Snacks: Kimchi Chocolate & Kimchi Chips

When Americans think of snacks they only think of products that are sweet or have some kind of junky taste to go along with it. When I think of the American snack I can't really think of any that are based off of vegetables unless one were to include the potato which we use for potato chips. It seems that most American snacks are mostly produced with something sweet as the main ingredient. However, looks like Koreans produce snacks with not only sweets in mind but also vegetables as the main ingredient. Using vegetables for the main ingredient in a snack may seem bizarre to some people because snacks are usually considered 100 percent juncky with no nutritional value (this does not include snacks like oranges and other fruits or peanuts). I have never tried Kimchi chips or chocolate myself but based on the videos and pictures below they sure do look delicious.

Interview with Kathleen (TESOL) and a mysterious man.
Interviewer: "Hi Kathleen have you heard that there is such a thing as Kimchi chocolate?" Kathleen: "What!? No way! That's crazyness!" (A Mysterious man enters the conversation) Mysterious man: "Well, I wouldn't doubt it because look at the bizarre things they make you eat at the state fair...." Kathleen: Well, OK but don't mess with my chocolate!"

Here is a video of the unwrapping of Kimchi Chocolate.