Don't call it sushi...it's KIMBAP!!

So as I mentioned earlier, when I was pregnant with my first crazy kiddo I was a Korean food fanatic. Something about the garlicky and spicy flavor combinations appeased my overwhelming desire to go....I'm just gonna stop there. We all know what pregnant people want to do most of the day. This is a food blog and I shall refrain from digressing. Moving on...When I was about 8 month pregnant and inhaling everything in sight, my husband and I were invited over for dinner by a group of crazy Korean bachelors.  They thought my hubby was a bit of an oddity being a young white dude and speaking perfectly good Korean. Needless to say, they thought they'd test him out to see how good he REALLY was.   They made us a delicious traditional Korean meal and had, I'm assuming (it was all in Korean), a great conversation with Chad.  I just sat back, ate and listened.  When I saw that they had made kimbap (pronounce khee-bahp) I told them that I LOVED sushi.
"No, no. This is not sushi! This, is Kimbap!"
Well, they told me.  They were a great group of guys and gave us a wonderful lil' baby gift that we still have hanging above our son's doorway...and he is 8!  So, here's to you boys of the Korean bachelor pad.  My recipe for KIMBAP!

Truly, it's not much of a recipe as it is a procedure.  You can really put whatever the heck you want in it. 

Some things that are traditionally found are:

cucumber
carrots
avocado
fried egg
kimchi
pickled radish (takuan)
imitation crab meat
Spam

The list could go on forever.  You could even do BBQ beef and coleslaw or chicken, spinach and bacon!!

Some items that you most definitely will need are:

• Kim (roasted seaweed) - you can find this at any Asian market or I have even seen it at WalMart...if you are desperate.
• 4 cups cooked rice, short grain.  Make sure the temp is warm.  Not hot, not cold...warm.
• sesame oil
• toasted sesame seeds, ok this is optional...but if sure makes it taste and look good!
• bamboo rolling mat

First off, you will need to prep all of your fixings.  Try to cut everything about the same length and size.  I'm just nutty like that.  I also like to season my rice by mixing in a little of the sesame oil into it.  Remember, a little goes a long way!

Next, take your kim and put it on your bamboo mat.  Give about 3/4 of the kim a layer of rice (about 1 cup) leaving a 1/2 in border. 

 Then, at the bottom of you sheet you will want to put your fixings next to and on top of each other.  

Get them all comfy and cozy with each other.

Now, just roll with it baby.  You will want to try to tuck and roll to keep everything in. 

Right before you get to the end of the roll, wet the edge with a tiny bit of water and finish rolling.  Give it a few slight squeezes.  There is nothing too tricky this.  It may take a few attempts, but once you get the hang of it, it's a piece-o-cake.

To finish these little beauties up, gently slice through the rolls, wiping your knife every so often to prevent it from sticking.  Sprinkle with some toasted sesame seeds and KIMBAP!

Your finished product is a super healthy and fun snack.  You can dip them in soy sauce or just eat them plain.  Even my kiddos dig these lil' circles of deliciousness.  Get creative and experiment!  Let me know if you try them out, how it worked, and what you put in them.  Eat well my friends!!

#1 Korean BBQ

Kimchi...oh just the mention of it can make some people's nose hairs curl in disdain. As one of Korea's most well known foods, this funky fermented cabbage is an "acquired taste".   My husband, having immersed himself for 2 years in Korea and the Korean culture, hails himself to be some what of an expert on Korean cuisine.  When he first attempted to get me to eat kimchi, I literally turned my nose up at it.  I had to do some thing to get it away from its pungent fragrance.  But I did soften up and I was hooked on kimchi when I was pregnant with kiddo #1.  Yep, kimchi and cream filled doughnuts kept me content for a whole 9 months.  Don't let my hubby tell you otherwise!! 

In Lacey and Olympia, there are a few Korean restaurants.  One that my family and I have grown to really enjoy is the #1 Korean BBQ.  Family owned and operated, we are always greeted with a warm smile and seated quickly.  You have the option of eating at a regular table or, if you chose to, you can BBQ your own meat at one of their special  tables that has a grill in the middle of it.  You cook, they cook...you'll be happy with your food.

Their menu offers many authentic Korean dishes such as, Doenjang Jigae (a soybean paste soup), Bulgolgi (thinly sliced meat that has been marinated in a delicious sauce.  Literally means "fire meat" because you grill it up.), and Dolsot Bibimbap (a Korean "stir fry", if you will.  Usually served in a piping hot stone bowl.)

After ordering your entree  you will be brought 6-8 Korean side dishes called, Banchan.  Some of the most commonly served are kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, roasted anchovies (don't be intimidated.  They are REALLY good!), spicy cucumbers, and pickled radishes.  I always feel like I am getting a meal before my meal with these.  Bonus!  They are very flavorful and a perfect way to start your meal. 

Dolsot bibimbap with egg on top.

On our most recent visit, my husband and I ordered the Dolsot Bibimbap and the Bulgolgi.  Both came out piping hot, one still cooking in a stone bowl (make sure you request that your bibimbap be "dolsot" if you want it in the stone bowl!) and the other sizzling on a cast iron skillet.  My husband always orders his bibimbap with an egg on top.  It may cost you an extra buck, but it makes the dish very tasty.  If you do order any of the different types of bibimbap, let the rice continue to cook on the sides of the bowl.  It becomes a lil' crispy layer of goodness that provides wonderful texture to the dish. A top the rice was various veggies and thinly sliced beef.  It was a little overcooked, but I think that is nature of Korean cuisine.  My hubby mixed everything together and added some gochujang (a chili pepper paste) to kick up the heat a notch.  The different flavors and textures make this dish a winner in my book!  My Bulgolgi was also a very rewarding dish.  The beef is marinated in a soy based sauce to provide an excellent flavor and enhance the tenderness of the meat.  They provide, lettuce leaves, whole cloves of garlic, and an excellent dipping sauce called samjang.  Wrap everything up in a lettuce leaf for little package full of flavor being delivered straightaway to your face!! 

Dolsot bibimbap all mixed up!

Even though I wouldn't consider this the best Korean food I have ever had, it is a great place to experience good Korean food.  Always fast, ALWAYS friendly, I feel confident in recommending others to go enjoy some delightful Korean eats there.  They also sell their homemade kimchi if you decide that it's something you just can't live without it. One last  thing that I love about this place is that they do offer a military discount of 10%.  You may leave this place smelling of something fierce, but your bellies will be full and satisfied.  Eat well my friends!