Now in Nowon~

     I've been without a personal computer for a while now and (regardless of how obvious this realization will be), I have gained so much more time and general appreciation for my surroundings. I still access email and facebook (eghhhm) but have swapped afternoons home and reading random news, dreamy recipes, and tumblr rolling with stronger bonds and friendship(s). I've been in a great place just connecting with people and getting that buzz from being social.
    Though~ I've missed this blog. I have been eating delicious (and simple) things, been doing some art projects, bonded with some beautiful Seouls, and actually breathing~ (And now the air is cleaner...Nowon!) I've stuck as gluten free as presently aware of (I'm a learning gf baby) and still use soy sauce from time to time (tamari...I'm hunting around for you~) but I have knowledgeably turned my head from being 100% gf...how could I say 'No thank you' to my student's grandmother who put so much effort into making a vegan meal? And one time I really wanted a beer... I can keep this up, but I've been dreaming of pumpernickel rye bread lately.
     I have my final day of work tomorrow and I have been counting down the hours. I will miss (some) of the kids...but I am eager to have more time to do my hobbies, spend more time with friends, and just live more. More often than wanting to admit, I will sometimes just go to work and come straight home, no social action, no activity, no creating...not even stretching or kicking it with the girls! All around pumped...anyways~~ Here's a few things consumed by this lady...

Smiles~

Special vegan kimchi for me!! photo taken by VeganBeats

yummy Thai salad~ photo taken by VeganBeats

Fresh juicy mango fruit salad~ photo taken by VeganBeats

Vegan Crunk'n and in need of somethin'

     When you drink, what do you eat? Most people, especially in Korea, go for animal bits and pieces. Eating and drinking is a HUGE part all over the world. But Seoul-side...what's a vegan gal to do?
     There are classics, the essentials, the delicious and not to girthy, dotori muk, acorn jelly salad!

glory~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     It's great for a million reasons, even when I'm not throwing back alcohol, I'm secretly spying for places that have this! I LOVE it...it's got an interesting texture, super light, spicy, full of veggies, and slurp-worthy! yummm~
      Another easy vegan/veggie way to pack the tummy whilst marinating it...steamed tofu and kimchi. Make sure to ask if the kimchi is fried in butter, with pork, or has fishies in it! A lot of the time...vegan kids pull of lucky.

steamed tofu and kimchi~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Usually, I go for the drink on empty route, but every so often...re-fueling is absolutely necessary and these are the two dishes that most, if not all Korean alcohol places always have available!! The Tofu kimchi is much heavier...but the body wants what it wants...

Cheers~

Eating Seoul...after a couple week (?) hiatus

     Whoa~ it's been a hella while! Where have I been?

     working...playing...baking...dancing...and inebriating...

     Since the camera and robbing jam, I've been trying to figure things out, naturally detaching from those "WHY ME!?" and "GODDAMNSHITBAGGINMOTHERPOOPINGCRUMBLYFACESNOTMUNCHER!" thoughts... I've been absent, not in life, but from the blog...aiaiai

     There is a silverlining though, there always is. I had a camera gigging promise and it fell on the Saturday right after the steal, but a wonderful Seoul reached out to me and lent me his camera. (Thanks Chris!!) Regardless of the favor, I was and am far more excited about the fact that I got to kick it with Chris, it's been far too long!
     We had plans to wander off in some restaurant, but it was closed. So we kicked it at his place, watched UFC, drank maekgoli, and ate some homemade DELISH miso soup~

oh hey you....I'm eat you...DEAL~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The maekgoli was delicious...and hella strong! We shared a bottle and even after filling our bellies, got red-faced and tipsy!

Chris' miso soup~ ughhhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I barely ever have miso soup, and having some with a wonderful friend may have made it even better~ a friends making it for you, sharing it with you...BEST~~
     There has been a bunch of eats from the past that...well I'm going to lay on you~
Coco Bruni is a swank and pricey cafe that kicks it around Sinsa and Apgujang and during a lunch tutoring session I got a DANK loaded, vegan sando...but only after over half an hour of explaining what I'm not very keen on shoving down my throat.
      "No mayo."
      "okay."  and then five minutes later. "Mustard okay?"
      "Yeah! Sounds great!" and then ten minutes later.
      "The mustard sauce has mayo, is okay?"
      "Ahh, no mayo, so no thank you."
      "Ahhh, aiiii, what do we do...no mustard, no mayo, it;s not sanwichi."
      "....do you have balsamic?"
      "uhhh yes....but..." scurry to the back, conversin with the boss....shuffle back "balsamic is with salad, sanwichi maybe, okay, maybe...no, yes..."
     etc etc etc....

the monstrously delish sando~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Well WELL worth the confusion! I got a toasted ciabatta sandwich filled with caramelised onions, slivered grilled zukes, slices of pumpkin, grilled balsamic eggplant, sweet tomato slices, green leaf lettuce, spicy green lettuce, sprouts, and a generously garlic kissed balsamic...they even threw in a salad...ughhhhh~
     Hit up hospital dining also...a buddy decided to climb trees...then snap them~

hospital 비빔밥...rice niente~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I've also done some itchin'n'the kitch...'cooking' for myself lately has involved grab'n'go cucumbers or carrots...I've been translating the "I'm hungry" into cooking kitch challenges~~

jajangmyeon for breakfast?~ had mine with cucumber noodles~ photo taken by VeganBeats

chickpea, black-bean, pea burgers with a sesame, garlic, tofu-sauced salad bedded on top~ photo taken by VeganBEats

 Oh...and being summer I had my first official So Delicious ice-cream!! nom nom nom

chocolate mint chip~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     I got the chocolate mint chip~ perfect for a hungover and heated Sunday! SoulScience and I went for a bit of a wander, sipping and knocking back an orange hooch (hungover healers?) and indulged in these coconut sweetened vegan darlings~ I think he got the cherry amaretto...I didn't try it but it's got to be SO DELICIOUS!!!



ahhh I'm done, mind in gutter...growing up (phbbbt chyea)

anyways~ in the next couple days (or week) they'll be loads more posting...annnnd atem~

Random Vegan Eats spamming...(and a guestimate recipe!)

     Not the spam that you sweep up after you mold up those hot dogs...it's been a while and this blog has been all about music, talent, photography, and kicking it...there's still some vegan nomming that happens! And there def some kitchen playing...Here's some stuff from the past week, two weeks, month?!? eiighhhh

carrot and zuke noodles~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My genuine dislike for pasta has been solved...zucchini noodles are where it's at! Gluten free, versatile, high in fiber, high in deliciousness! I made zuke and carrot noodles and plated it up with a semi-raw cherry tomato, wine, garlic, black pepper, and balsamic redux~

     I met with a friend and slurped a morning hangover away with a wine sorbet...make sense, meh, tasty~ yes!

wine sorbet~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     One day I got all sorts of ideas in my head and wanted to make a spicy, highly flavorful, but stripped of any fat possible, tofu-based dish. I wanted crunch, heat, and variety...result~ this plate of "stir-fried" tofu, zukes, mushrooms, onion, and kale in a soy garlic and gochujang redux! 

in it's reduced glory~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I wish I had a recipe to provide...it was a kitchen craze of octopus style hand-ingredient throwing!

Here's a guess:

What you need:

1. tofu, slice it any way you want, and drain!
2. 1/2 an onion sliced...I'm all about half moons!
3. 1 small zuke, slice it the way you want!
4. enoke mushrooms...go with what you're wanting!
5. shitake mushrooms...see above!
6. 3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed. 
7. as much kale as your heart desires. 
8. low-sodium soy sauce
9. 1 T gochujang

What to do:

1. maybe 1 tsp of oil heated in a pan, throw int he tofu when it's hot
2. throw in the onions and zukes when the tofu is browned
3. throw in everything but the kale, garlic, soy sauce, and gochujang after maybe 6 minutes.
4. add the kale, soy sauce, and garlic...mix
5. add the gochujang sauce....if too thick, add splashes of water...
6. cook down til it's as thick/thin as you want!
7. plate, sprinkle sesame seeds, eat, smile!

Grand apologies for not being able to provide more directed details!!

Ahhh and another picture to throw in your face!

     Man joked about breakfast that past weekend, and I threw together everything in my fridge and made a heaping amount of 전, what was in all of this?

전party~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Beansprouts, kimchi, scallions, zukes, kale, spinach, mushrooms, and loads of love! I made a bit too much...but hey, parties can't be too much right....right?

Anyways...promises on more food posts~ 

Veg-on!    

    

Some vegan eats~

     Oh right...this is a vegan blog~ Here are some eats from the past couple weeks...

loaded 김치김밥~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

반찬~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

마파두부~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

extremely disappointing hummus from Rocky Mountain....do NOT get~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Balwoo Kong: Budget Vegan Resto

     A long time ago I went to a Baru, temple food resturaunt with fellow veg heads Mipa of AliensDayOut and the lovely Kia! Since that last time, I haven't wandered over there but this past weekend I did! After the last hike with Alex and the family, we were hankering for food (some of our reasons differed) and going vegan was a natural choice, being in 인사동 and all..oh yea, and because of me!!
     A while ago I spoke with Mr. Seouleats and he mentioned how Baru actually has a more affordable restaurant, since then it's been on my list...and coincidentally this was the place we wandered to!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     The second floor restaurant is slightly more gentle on the wallet and offers a pretty decent spread of options! I can't state how it really works, it's a bit overwhelming. There is a buffet near the entrance and people line up grabbing plates, trays, bowls, etc. I think the price is determined by which bowls/plates you get. Everyone was in a hustle down the buffet line, apologies that my tired eyes didn't study fully the "order."

menu~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     When I went there was grained rice, soybean sprout and kimchi soup, turnip kimchi, spinach banchan, lotus root banchan, hot crispy mushrooms, and a colorful salad.

a loaded plate~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I bailed on the rice (obviously), and loaded up on greens. Although 반찬 typically is loaded with salt, the 반찬 here didn't overwhelm your palate, everything was light and fresh. I use "fresh" a lot, the vegetables were not over-flavored, marinated, or sauced up...the vegetables were left mostly untainted with palate-teasers. The mushrooms were crispy and served with a spicy sauce, I usually would steer clear of the fried stuff, but I was hungry and considering the previous night's adventure...I'll be a bit easy on myself! And, bonus, the mushrooms were not oily at all...phew~
     While leaving the restaurant, I spotted the chefs rolling thick, ingredient-heavy 김밥. Dried tofu, shitake mushrooms, spinach, carrots, etc...the 김밥 I'm accustomed to (the easy vegan pick-ups) are skimpy on the filling, and there's so much damned rice. I decided to grab one and save for a later starving time~ for 4,000원, I'll say it's worth it!

boxed up and ready to go~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The roll I saw when I opened it way later was not what I expected. Again, used to the rolls that are easy to pick up, it's packed with rise, low on veggies, and has no distinct odor. This 김밥 smelt delicious, the toasted sesame oil teased the senses while the hinting sweet carrots played with my eyes!

filling spilling out...a tad~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     So much color, so much filling, and though it's hard to see, the rice is full of other grains...quality 김밥 for the win!

loaded 김밥~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Oh, and how did it taste? Easily the best 김밥 I've had (outside from mama Beats' loving creations!!)

바루 Balwoo phone#: 02.2031.2081

website

address: 서울시 종로구 견지동 71번지 템플스테 5층 

71 Gyeonhji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-070

Directions:

안국역6번, Anguk station (line 3) exit 6. Walk straight, pass Insadong street on your left and at the street where Mao's Vegetarian is, take a left. Walk straight for maybe 300 yards and you'll see the Temple Stay building..hit up the 2nd floor!! 

Savoring Seoul with Alex~

     Before Alex got here, I was stressing~ I was to be the appointed "travel guide" and find places that may be of interest...I translate this into "food guide." Whenever I travel to a new country, I do MAJOR research, more because I'm interested but also because with this lifestyle, it's crucial. I create a food list where I get to experience the Country's cuisine. Alex did zip research~ Clearly my food preferences will differ from the bro, one he's an omnivore, two he likes hot foods and, three, his metabolism is MUCH better than mine... Where would we eat?!
     I know I'm a pickier vegan than most, I own this, but I feel like it's my responsibility to share Korea and its cuisine with those that make the effort to come to this country. Korean food isn't very well represented over the states, there's the Korea towns, New York, Boston, California...but other than that...even 비빔밥 is messed with!
     Luckily, I wasn't fully responsible for every meal, only maybe one per day...I hope I did okay~ I stick to my fruits, so all these cooked good gave me a whee Buddha Belly (it's there...I feel it!!) The following pictures are just things we ate, we savored Seoul~

latte and my Americano~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Coffee in Korea is stil not really coffee, it's weak, watered down, and mostly reaches a meh level...because of the fragile acidic waters, Alex and I hit up a lot of cafes, downed "caffeine" like it was....well water!
     전 is an easy "meal", it should be downed with some sort of alcohol, and I don't like eating it often...but it's a vacation. I steered as clear as I could from the flour based 전 and went with the protein packed and veggie studded 빈대떡! We got this one in 동대문 and both swooned over how beany it was and that crunch!!

빈대떡 from 동대문 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     We also got treated to a buffet at the Hyatt...about 70,000원 for veggies...I ate til it hurt. I mentioned a while back how buffets are all around dangerous. As kids we ate at them to get calories in, and because...well we weren't the wealthiest. Buffets filled hungry kids tummies, provided more than enough calories to last day(s) and required little to no work. Sadly, I'm still in that survival mindset, it gets triggered at buffets. I travel back to when I had to fill myself up, get your moneys worth...and damned veggies for nearly $70.00....grumble.
     Thankfully veggies are loaded with fiber...
             ...yes, I just went there..

so much, so many greens...ughhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I loaded my two plates with things I barely buy, can't find, and feel too guilty forking cash over for. Grapefruit (my FAVORITE), pine nuts (literally cups of these), iceberg (it's pricey here and I love it...I don' care if it's crunchy water), sprouts, arugula, artichokes, and sweet cherry tomatoes. Alex and I tumbled home, and went straight into food coma...

loaded plate~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Alex's final night was a family dinner at my uncle's house. The entire family gathered around a nearly 100% vegan spread of homemade greatness. Everything but the 불고기 (bulgogi) was vegan. My family is beyond accommodating and so very supportive.

widespread Vegan love~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I swear, every Korean meal resembles a U.S Thanksgiving, all these various plates of foods, colors vibrantly feeding your eyes...we all ate well and traveled back to a time when Alex and I were children, and these meals were shared in a tiny apartment in Boston.

so much Korean Vegan Noms~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Post dinner we got fruit...mangoes, apples, grapes~ Give me a mango any-day!!

fruits~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My brother and mama Beats hadn't yet met my new cousin, he's all smiles now! I got him dancing with a little LMFAO...

wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle, yeah! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     He really likes "I'm Sexy and I Know It!"

전 Jeon with Alex

     전, or jeon is typically eaten as 안주~ (food partnered with alcohol) and typically on rainy days; but for my brother and I, these veggie packed pancakes are our childhood. My mom would usually make 호박전, (hobak) zucchini pancakes and they'd be perfect; crispy, hot, LOADED with zukes and requiring nothing but chopsticks! 전 is really easy to make too (flour, salt, water, veggies) but I didn't know this as a child. We weren't rich when we were young and these ingredients can fill hungry bellies up while keeping your wallet safe~ jeon is a treat! If and when my mom announced 전 night, waiting for the sun to set was painful. Now a days, I barely, if ever nom on any 전. The oil, flour, etc, bothers me, but it could be because every single one I've had here can't compete with mama beats cooking!
     The other day Alex claimed hunger and wasn't wanting barbecue or any animal parts, he was craving something crispy and "something you can eat." My place is by food street and there are loads of 안주 places, after walking in drizzle we found one open 전집 (pancake house) and ordered a plate of 전's and some 야채비빔밥 (vegetable bibimbap).

sauces and 반찬 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Nearly all the jeon was vegan, there were some though designated for the brother. For 19,900원we got 빈대떡(bindaeddeok, soybean vegetable pancake), 파전 (pajeon, green onion pancake), 김치전 (kimchi pancake), 두부전 (dubu jeon, fried tofu), 생선전 (sangseon jeon, fried fish), 고기전 (gogi jeon, fried beef patty), 깻잎전 (kaennip jeon, sesame leaves filled with meat jeon), and 만두 (mandu, Korean dumpling). The staff was super nice and kept the meaty jazz closer to one another versus the safe ones!

전 platter~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

      The jeons were made egg-free and the portions were rather big. We ate this up free of 막골리(maekgoli) and rather happy about the 전 decision, though...mama beats owns in the 전 department~

     I've thoroughly enjoyed having Alex here, going out to eat alone isn't very fun and the portions in Korea are so big that you can't really finish everything by yourself. More posts to come...Alex edition~

설악산 Seoraksan

     This past weekend started off with wonderful people, and luckily that was a theme that embodied everyday. My brother, mother, and 이모 (Emo-aunt) all got together and drove out of Seoul to Seorak mountain. We stayed in a gorgeous pension where we cooked a simple dinner together and went back in time. When my brother and I were much younger, and my 이모 was living in Boston, we would all get together (my grandparents and uncles as well), pile into a small and cozy apartment and prepare a Korean feast of sorts while laughing, playing, and talking until our mouths were tired. My brother and I would fill our tummies with delicious food while the adults yacked away in rap-fast Korean. Years have flown by, and the  weekly trips to Boston are now impossible. I see my family every so often and half of us are on opposite sides of the world. These moments have me traveling back...I'm so thankful. This time around, we all brought something to the pension, I brought some fruit, waters, and tea, and my mom and 이모 brought more fruit, more fruit, breads, rice, 반찬, lettuce, etc. We were only staying for the night but we were having another "Boston" feast.

the feast~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     After the tiring drive, now filled nourished bodies, we snuggled up on giant couches while watching Korean dramas and sharing life. It's such a strange place to be when you are reminded on being a child when with family, but are now an adult, and viewed as such. Instead of zoning out, I'm involved in the conversations...our opinions are requested, and our thoughts are respected. I bailed on any alcohol, but my aunt knocked back a beer while we stayed awake until our eyes couldn't pick themselves up.
     In the morning, I woke up to this...

my morning view~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My aunt, brother, and mother wandered to a sauna and I caught up on sleep (I admit I went through a Sex and the City marathon and watched a fair share of action movies before crashing) and some writing. Around noon we piled into a car and got some lunch, 순두부 (soft tofu stew) is very popular here so...can you make a guess?

할머니순두부~ Grandmother's Soft Tofu Stew (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The 순두부 here was different from the usual spicy tofu stew I'm used to. Instead of a boiling red pot of bubbling silky tofu, we all split a couple bowls of tofu curd and several bowls of 반찬. Almost a deconstructed 비빔밥~ sans 밥.The 반찬 was fresh, generous, and delicious. The sauces on the various dishes were very clean, spicy, complex, and left everyone at the table requesting several refills.

오이 반찬 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

시금치 반찬(photo taken by VeganBeats)

sweet spiced 고추 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

맛김치 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

두부~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I wasn't super hungry, so I grabbed a small bowl and stole some tofu while piling in 반찬. I knew there was a hike ahead of me, so I needed fuel but carrying a Buddha belly up a mountain or during any physical strain is not a way that works for me.
     The restaurant was wonderful though, everything was man-made, fresh, clean, and the staff was more than generous. I mentioned to my family that at 두부집 (tofu houses) they sometimes leave out the soy pulp so people can bring it home...and they gave me a HUGE bag of it!! ^^*
     After this, we drove to the stunning 설악산 where the beauty embraced us and again, I felt like a child, uhh nature, hiking, being active~
     Words won't explain...not well enough~ again, pictures to do the story-telling~

big ol'bear (photo taken by VeganBeats)

by the cable cars (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     The view was spectacular, and though the air was biting cold, I was filled with so much warmth and genuine happiness that my body didn't register any of it. I still can't believe that both my brother and mother are here...and that again, like nearly 15 years ago, we were together on an adventure...and Korean was still a language surrounding us!

photo taken by VeganBeats