in a search of a perfect kimchi

NZ definitely had taught me some important values that is crucial for every human being to take that big leap in life, which is trying out new things to eat. Though I've never had budu even once in Malaysia, I've let my friends talk to me into tasting them and honestly when it's mixed well it doesn't taste so bad. I in fact enjoyed them very much when eaten with boiled meat. Boiled meat also goes pretty well with air asam and cencalok I notice. Sorry for the late and seemingly jakun commentaries but i was a late learner ;p

Another thing I have found myself in love with is Korean food. As Auckland CBD is manifested with Asians with Koreans being the largest Asian population there, Korean food is everywhere and mind you, they are cheaper than average meals. You get lunch for as cheap as 4$ compared to Indian food which would cost you around 7-8$ per meal. Though you do get bigger portions in Uni which is awesome for big eaters.

Now that i'm back in Malaysia, I miss eating them. I didn't miss them so much initially cuz you see, there's heaps of Malaysian food i have missed so much around me. I keep eating keropok lekor up to today because i missed it too much. But now that my lust for local food has been satiated I'm beginning to miss what i had always have for 2 years that kept me alive and happy. On average i used to eat Korean ramyun every 5 days in a week and i thought i've had my fair share in eating them. In fact i should be sick of them because i ate them too much. and kimchi too. I've never let my fridge run out of Kimchi because you can just take plain rice and sesame oil and mix them together with kimchi and other junks and it would still taste so nice XD

I knew it. I should've learned how to make kimchi from any friends but i didn't. Well it's not like it would do me any good to make them here in IPBA cuz we don't have a fridge and Kimchi can only last so long without a fridge (except if it's winter, which is ridiculous if you're waiting for winter to come in Malaysia). So i've decided to hunt for the perfect kimchi ^^

So Amy and i decided to go to a place I've found in The gardens, MV. It's a place on Level 3 called Gogong (고공) which i don't even know what does it mean. (I've checked google translate, it says high altitude). We ordered Yoog gae jang and Kimchi Jeon. We were served with complimentary green tea and waited for the order. The banchans came first, and it consisted of kimchi, anchovies, taugeh, long beans and... some green leaves I don't even know what. I have the picture but i don't remeber touching anything else besides Kimchi. I was expecting to get miyeok but it never came so i was pretty frustrated lah. Seaweeds is a must for me so not

getting it is kind of annoying.

the banchans. i hate them all (BUT i don't hate the kimchi its heavenly)

So Kimchi jeon came first, and i was SUPER DELIGHTED because it tasted sooooo right and soooo good. like seriously. i would definitely go for this again. it has all the flavours, right amount of kimchi, right amount of crunchiness and right amount of juice. this is a big success!!! XD

And the star of the day arrived. This is a bit of dissapointment cuz the beef taste isn't blended well with the soup and they lack one ingredient that makes the soup yoog gae jang-the root that i have no idea what is it called. The soup is so-so. I know it doesn't look disappointing, but I think more beef stock should be added in.

the tasty looking Yoog gae jang. The spiciness covered up for the lack of beef taste. Must find a better one.

The restaurant is a bit pricey especially with 4 other side dishes that I didn't touch, but considering the fact that they specialize in BBQ I would give it a go next time. I wouldn't go for the soup again though. Kimchi was super nice and very well done, so if there's no other good places around, i might have to come back everytime a kimchi crave hits me.