Costco sells Kimchee!

Just the other day I was shopping at my local Costco's and what do I see in the food aisle? Rows and rows of kimchi! And it wasn't some weird unknown brand...it was Cosmos (a very well-known Korean company)! It was $6.99 (I think) and it was a half size jar (58 oz). Since I don't live in an area with a huge Korean population, I was pleasantly surprised! So I bought me a jar and I have to tell you, it was darn good!

Not sure if it's available at all Costco's but next time you go, see if they have it!

Kimchi

photo from chosunilbo.

Children participate in a kimchi-making event at Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul.

I really want to learn to make kimchi. Although my mom makes it for us all the time, I never asked her to teach me. It just looks so time consuming and complicated! Plus she always makes it so there never was a reason for me to learn! :-)

Now that she's getting older I need to learn because I LOVE kimchi...all types of kimchi. It definitely is my comfort food. I can eat just kimchi and nothing else. The smell of it makes my mouth water.

The best I ever had was when I was about 10 years old. The very first Korean market in Los Angeles was called Olympic Market. There was a grandma that made this kimchi called chong gak kimchi (aka young bachelor radish pickle) for the market. It was the best tasting EVER! If I close my eyes, I can still smell and taste it to this day. I remember each time I went to the market with my mom, I would run to the kimchi section to see if there was any left (since it sold out all the time) and begged my mom to get it (it was quite pricey). I wanted it more than candy!

Anyways, the market eventually closed down and to this day, I have yet to find chong gak kimchi that good and I don't think I ever will. I also found out the grandmother that made it passed away not too long after the store closed down. So sad. What I wouldn't do to have that again...


picture of chong gak kimchi

-written by E.M.

Give it to Koreans to find innovative ways to store their Kimchi!

Did you know that Kimchi was voted one of the world's five healthiest foods by the US magazine, Health? Kimchi, a fermented cabbage dish, that is eaten with every Korean meal, is packed with essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. Due to its fermentation process, it is rich in lacto-acid bacteria. Studies have shown that Kimchi aids in digestion and may also help to prevent cancer growth.

During the months of November and December, Koreans will start making jars of Kimchi to last them during the cold winter season. In the past, they dug holes and stored kimchi in large jars to preseve its freshness during the harsh winter months. Now with technological advances, most Korean household have a Kimchi referigerator, known as "kimchi neng ja goo." These kimchi referigerators are outstanding in preserving kimchi, meats, fruits and vegetables for up to 5 times longer than a regular refrigerator. You can find them at any Korean appliance store.

Koreans have also discovered a way to store Kimchi in Space! This past April, when Korean's first astronaut, Yi So Yeon, blasted off into space, Kimchi went to space in a sealed space preserving plastic bag.

Now if they could only find a way to take the powerful odorous smell out of kimchi......