Let's Eat! Korean Drama Review

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Sometimes, real life intrudes on my K-drama watching/writing schedule. An unexpected trip out of town + catching up on work as a result of going out of town = finally catching up on a few reviews that I've had on the shelf for weeks and weeks. I'll get around to reviewing I Need Romance 3 someday (...maybe), but for today, let's talk Let's Eat. 

This show wasn't even remotely on my radar until multiple readers asked for reviews, so I decided to give it a try. I'm all about underrated, quirky dramas, and Let's Eat had quirkiness in spades, for good and bad.

What It's About: Lee Soo Kyung (Played by Lee Soo Kyung--how convenient for her!) is a divorced woman who lives alone. She loves her adorable dog, Barassi (a play on the Korean pronunciation of Che Guevara), and she really, really loves food. Over the course of the series, she gets to know her neighbors, and everyone eats a ton of food.

At its heart, Let's Eat is a pleasant, fluffy drama that doubles as food porn. And when I say food porn, I mean that very literally. Upon hearing the various eating groans, my husband came into the room more than once to ask "What on earth are you watching?" On the one hand, the Food Network lover in me really enjoyed seeing bowl after bowl of amazing food. On the other hand, some episodes literally featured fifteen full minutes of slow mo eating. That's not an exaggeration.

Then there's the murder side plot. Did I mention that there's murder on this show? No? That's because it's tossed into the story as an afterthought. This is how I imagine the murder plot evolving:

Cable executive: I know that you wanted to do a show about food, but this script already involves 30 minutes of people eating. What are you going to do for the last 10 minutes?
Writer: .....Murder?

The central romance also felt a little haphazard and forced at times. Based on the first ten episodes of the show, they could have gotten away with no romance at all. Then, suddenly, the romance charges ahead with full steam. There were very cute moments, but I just didn't see much chemistry between the leads.

If all of this sounds like I didn't enjoy Let's Eat, that's not the case. When the show focused on the four lead characters and their growing friendships, it worked really well. Goo Dae Young (Yoon Doo Joon) was a tough character to figure out at first, and that's what kept me interested. I get tired of traditional male leads from time to time, and the friendly insurance salesman who wears a tracksuit and leaves all of his clothes at the dry cleaner's was an interesting break from the mold. Doo Joon did really well for an idol-turned-actor.

I didn't fully connect with Lee Soo Kyung's character, but after watching both Emergency Couple and Sly and Single Again, it was nice to see a story about a divorcee that didn't revolve around some long, drawn out backstory. The drama just treats it as a matter-of-fact part of her life.

Barassi clearly takes the cake as the best side character in the entire show, but Kim Hak Moon and Yoon Jin Yi round out the cast nicely. Once again subverting drama stereotypes, Jin Yi might be the sweetest second female lead of all time, and Hak Moon starts with a haughty first lead exterior, only to reveal an adorkable goofy side.

Conclusions
It's an uneven drama, and some of the extended eating scenes are borderline uncomfortable to watch, but if you love food shows and light noona romances, this might be the drama of your dreams! Just don't watch on an empty stomach.

Where to watch Let's Eat:
Viki

Let's Eat! Korean Drama Review

It’s Korean snack time!

Summer is over and it’s time to head back to school and work. To make this transition a little easier it helps to bring some delicious snacks with you. Instead of grabbing your trusty American snacks, spice things up by trying a Korean snack. In order to determine which Korean snacks are the best, I headed over to K-town to pick some up. I had a hard time deciding because once I see Korean stuff I want to buy it all, but I finally narrowed it down to 5!

The taste testing panel included Min, Jackie, and Stan from DramaFever, and me, Coco.

We scored the snacks on texture, flavor intensity, aftertaste, and balance of sweetness/saltiness. Here are the results:

1. Corn Chi

Texture: 7/20

Flavor Intensity: 9/20

Aftertaste: 11/20

Sweetness/Saltiness: 14/20

Total: 41/80

Comments:
Min: “It was kind of bland and too mushy. Flavor was ok, but I wish it were more crunchy.”

Jackie: “Not crunchy at all. Quite disappointing because I thought it would be like cheese puffs.”

Stan: “Mushy and on the bland side.”

Coco: “Not good at all.”

2. Sweet Potato Snack

Texture: 13/20

Flavor Intensity: 13/20

Aftertaste: 12/20

Sweetness/Saltiness: 13/20

Total: 51/80

Comments:

Min: “It’s good and sugary but the hard texture and funky aftertaste make me not want much.”

Jackie: “Very sticky but pleasantly crunchy. Nice mix of sweet and salty. Kind of too savory for a snack.

Stan: “Crunchy and just a little sweet. Could eat lots of them.”

Coco: “Kind of like sticky pretzels. Good for a handful, but not a whole bag.”

3. Corn Snack

Texture: 7/20

Flavor Intensity: 6/20

Aftertaste: 11/20

Sweetness/Saltiness: 7/20

Total: 31/80

Comments:

Min: “Tastes like day old popcorn without butter. Is this a snack for old people?”

Jackie: ”Very light and not crunchy at all. Neither sweet nor salty.”

Stan: “Very soft and mushy, but a pleasant aftertaste.”

Coco: “Has a bland taste with a strange not-quite-popcorn texture.”

4. Peanut Balls

Texture: 11/20

Flavor Intensity: 13/20

Aftertaste: 10/20

Sweetness/Saltiness: 13/20

Total: 47/80

Comments:
Min: “Funky fishy taste. The nut in the middle was a nice surprise, but it was not my favorite.”

Jackie: “I definitely like this crunchy snack with its peanut taste.”

Stan: “Crunchy and a little sweet with an odd aftertaste.”

Coco: “Like a peanut-y, fishy version of Captain Crunch. Strangely I want more. Kind of addictive.

5. Ddukbokki

Texture: 14/20

Flavor Intensity: 18/20

Aftertaste: 14/20

Sweetness/Saltiness: 12/20

Total: 58/80

Comments:
Min: “Can’t tell if it’s sweet or salty. The spiciness is good until the aftertaste.”

Jackie: “ Very flavorful. The spicy kick is a nice surprise. It has a lasting aftertaste.

Stan: “Crunchy with a pleasant spicy aftertaste.”

Coco: “It’s like dehydrated Asian noodles: sweet, spicy, and sticky.

And the winner is Ddukbokki! Check out your nearest Korean market to try some of these snacks for yourself!

Have you tried any Korean snacks? Let us know how you like them in the comments below.

It’s Korean snack time!

Korean Ice Cream Taste Test: Guest Post at DramaFever

It’s summer, it’s hot, and you’re watching your favorite K-drama on DramaFever. All of a sudden, the leading man buys the female lead ice cream to demonstrate his love, like in Lie To Me, or the leading lady shoves ice cream in the leading man’s face, like in Boys Over Flowers, or the main couple finally get together after all the turmoil and are now able to share ice cream as they cuddle, like in Coffee Prince. What better way to share in their experience than to go out and try some Korean ice cream for yourself?

At DramaFever, we did just that. I took a little trip over to K-town here in New York City, and got some delicious Korean frozen treats for the DramaFever staff to taste test. The taste testing panel included Jeremy, Nick, and Ahnmin from DramaFever, and I. We scored the ice cream on intensity of flavor, sweet balance, texture, and aftertaste to determine which Korean ice cream is the best.

1. Melona: This is a Korean ice cream classic that is very popular around the world. The light green, melon flavored ice cream is shaped like an American popsicle, but has a creamier texture.

Impressions
Nick: “Melt in your mouth melon!”
Ahnmin: “Flavor and sweetness are most pronounced. The creamy texture could be both a good and a bad thing.”
Jeremy: “Refreshing and flavorful. Not too sweet. Perfect flavor.”
Coco: “Smooth and tasty! The green melon flavor is delightful.”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 15/20
Sweet Balance: 17/20
Texture: 18/20
Aftertaste: 12/20
Total: 62/80
Rank: 2nd Place

2. Tank Boy: This white, slushy ice is Asian pear flavored. It comes in a plastic squeeze bottle.

Impressions

Nick: “I’m just confused what this is...”
Ahnmin: “Tasted like a foot.”
Jeremy: “Way too sweet. Nauseating.”
Coco: “Has a slightly odd, slushy texture.”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 11/20
Sweet Balance: 12/20
Texture: 10/20
Aftertaste: 8/20
Total: 41/80
Rank: 4th Place

3. Sweet Corn: This yellow ice cream bar on a stick contains whole pieces of corn in it’s creamy base.

Impressions
Nick: “Corn is not meant for dessert. Ever.”
Ahnmin: “Actually not that bad. The natural sweetness of corn works, but the texture was strange.”
Jeremy: “This should not be an ice cream flavor!”
Coco: “I was intrigued by, but also scared of, the visible chunks of corn. I was right to be scared!”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 7/20
Sweet Balance: 14/20
Texture: 8/20
Aftertaste: 6/20
Total: 35/80
Rank: 5th Place

4. Screw Pop: This pink, fruity popsicle is curved around like a screw.

Impressions
Nick: “Just your average ice pop.”
Ahnmin: “Too sweet! I got a cavity from one bite.”
Jeremy: “A cold, refreshing fruit flavor.”
Coco: “The sweetness was too intense. Nothing unique about it.”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 14/20
Sweet Balance: 11/20
Texture: 15/20
Aftertaste: 14/20
Total: 54/80
Rank: 3rd Place

5. Samanco: This fish-shaped rice wafer is filled with layers of vanilla ice cream and sweet red bean paste.

Impressions
Nick: “One of the Korean desserts to taste!”
Ahnmin: “Wafer, vanilla ice cream, and red bean create a stunning flavor combination. Would be perfect if it was more crunchy. The wafer tends to get soggy.”
Jeremy: “A fishy ice cream sandwich, without the fish taste. Love it!”
Coco: “I love cute things, and this is totally cute and delicious. Score!”

Score
Intensity of Flavor: 17/20
Sweet Balance: 18/20
Texture: 15/20
Aftertaste: 16/20
Total: 66/80
Rank: 1st Place

The overall favorite Korean ice cream from our sample was Samanco! The fish shape is just so cute and fun! The red bean paste makes it distinctly Korean, while the vanilla ice cream and rice wafer give it a delightful texture that tastes similar to a standard ice cream cone. Melona came in at a close second with its smooth and creamy taste. The least favorite was Sweet Corn. Sorry, but we decided that corn should just not be in ice cream!

Overall, we had a great time trying out these Korean treats, and now we will be able to recognize them in our favorite Kdramas. Hopefully you can go out and try them for yourself. What is your favorite, or least favorite Korean ice cream? What is your favorite Kdrama scene containing ice cream? Comment below.

Korean Ice Cream Taste Test: Guest Post at DramaFever

Getting to Know Korean Ramen: Taking the Soompi Taste Test Challenge!

The fun Korean media news site, Soompi, recently asked Do You Know Your Korean Ramen? I shamefully had to respond that despite all the Korean ramen I have viewed being eaten on Kdramas, no, I actually did not know. The closest I had ever come to it was the infamous, cheap, Top Ramen that you usually eat when you are in college and can only spend $.25 on a meal, or when you are just too lazy to make real food (which happens more than I'd like to admit), or when you're watching a Kdrama and see them eating it and want some even though you're not actually hungry but think you can get away with eating it anyway because all the Kdrama female leads eat ridiculous amounts of food and are still thin.

But guess what? I am lucky enough to live near Ktown in NYC, so I have no excuse to be Korean ramen ignorant any longer! This weekend I decided to take the Soompi ramen challenge by sampling 5 ramens from their list. There are 10 on the list, but I just couldn't do it, ok? You try eating more than 5 ramens over a three day weekend! In order to conduct a ramen taste test you need:


1. An Assortment of Korean Ramen
Down in Ktown they have this awesome little Asian market, Hanahreum, that has an entire aisle of instant ramen. It was a ramen aficionado's dream!

These are the 5 ramen contenders I chose for the challenge.

Korean ramen does not look that different than regular old Top Ramen, but I did notice some differences. The biggest difference is that Korean Ramen includes a separate package for dried vegetables to add. Here is an example of what Korean Ramen looks like uncooked.

2.  A Ramen Pot

You know you've seen these beauties on kdramas and wanted one! I managed to pick one up.  The best part was that right after I made my first ramen package I sat down to watch Answer Me 1997, and look what she was making!

I just had to eat my ramen off the lid since Kdrama characters are always claiming who gets it. It really did taste better that way.

3.  Korean Chop Sticks

I mentioned in my last blog post about visiting Ktown that I am terrible at eating with chopsticks, particulary Korean ones because they are metal. Luckily I found some for this taste test and now I start practicing with them at home!

With all the necessary supplies ready, I began the task of determining which instant Korean ramen was the best.

1. Paldo Namja Ramen

                    

I thought this was really good Korean ramen. That being said, I have a pretty high spice tolerance. I am originally from Arizona so I grew up eating a lot of Mexican food. I would say that my spice threshold is more than the average white American, but less than the average Asian. I would give this ramen a spice rating of 4 out of 5. It made my nose run and gave me a mild lip burn, but I wasn't running around trying to find something to drink. The noodles were perfect with a good roundness and softness, and did not taste overly processed. The overall flavor was mostly just spicy, but it had a nice beefy broth. My roommate and I both went back to the ramen pot for more, only to discover that we already ate it all.

2. Jin Ramen

              

This was my last favorite ramen. It just seemed pretty bland. The overall flavor was just salty. The noodles were also kind of gummy and overly processed tasting. I would give it a 2.5 out of 5 on the spicy scale. It would still be considered spicy for a lot of white Americans. My roommate and I didn't even have the urge to finish the pot. 

3. Shin Ramyun Black

            

This ramen was pretty tasty. The overall flavor was mushroomy and beefy. I would give it a 3 out of 5 on the spice scale. My nose did run a little but there was no lip burn. The noodles were nice and soft without being gummy. The little packet of dried vegetables that came with it added a nice texture. Only eat this ramen if you really love mushrooms. 

4. Samyang Spicy Beef

          

This ramen had a nice beefy flavor with a good amount of spice. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 on the spice scale. I wanted to go back for more as I ate it. One strange downside to this ramen is that it is very orangey, so much so that it tinted my teeth orange. Gross. 

5. Kokomen Clean Spicy Chicken

This was my favorite ramen overall. As I leaned over the pot to cook it, I whispered out loud, "Oh my gosh, that smells really good." The funny thing is that on the package the flavor is labeled as "clean" and "spicy". I was really curious to find out what "clean" tasted like, but I actually think this is a really good description for this ramen. It just looked light and fresh, and not greasy or overly processed. The noodles were nice and soft and round. It had a delightful chicken and green onion flavor. The dried vegetables you add in were very prominent, especially the green onions, but I liked that. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 on the spice scale, which I think is perfect because spicy doesn't become the main flavor, but still plays a big part. I think this is a great choice for a kdrama fan to sample.

Hopefully this has inspired you to conduct your own Korean ramen taste test. You should try the other five on Soompi's list and let us know what you think. Have you ever tried Korean instant ramen? What are your favorites? Comment below.

Also, I found a few other gems at the Korean market, which means stayed tuned for more posts about my forays into Korean food and culture in Ktown, New York City!

Getting to Know Korean Ramen: Taking the Soompi Taste Test Challenge!