It is true that many expats complain about the prices of most of the food in the grocery stores here because just about everything is imported. However, having base privileges allows me to purchase everything I need to cook my usual fabulous meals from this magical place called the commissary. The prices there are extremely reasonable and they carry imported and domestic items. So, if I want homemade lasagna like I did last week, I simply pick up the ingredients and fire up our easy-bake oven (appropriately named because it is the smallest oven I've ever had the pleasure of cooking in).
Recently, my interests have turned to chamchi (tuna) kimbap. This local delicacy is ideal at any time of the day. I often depend on it in the morning when I'm running from one class to the next. Many food vendors sell it right on the street...and yes, it's safe. Kimbap is also cheap and can be very tasty depending on what's in it. The roll is very similar to a Japanese maki roll and can contain a variety of ingredients including spinach, egg, tuna, ham, crab stick, pickled radish, and carrot. It's basically the Korean version of a breakfast burrito and for about a dollar, I can get one roll which will stave off hunger pains until just about lunch time. For an added treat, sometimes I bring a banana or drink a cup of coffee or red ginseng tea (another delicacy here which claims to cure cancer among other health benefits).
The only thing I have yet to get used to is kimchi. With the exception of a yummy kimchi pancake that the hubby introduced me to one night, I have not been able to get used to eating kimchi with every meal. According to the locals, it aids in digestion. Yeah, that's great! but I still know I'm eating spicy, fermented cabbage and nothing can stop me from tasting that. Perhaps one day it will grow on me.
Until then, kimbap yes! kimchi no!
