Episode 10 : Adorable Spoon's Korean Food Delights! - with 'Happy' spoon

Duck meat, with its unique appeal different from pork or beef!

A restaurant that deliciously serves duck meat, which is rich in various nutrients and great for replenishing energy!

"Oh-Jeong-dam"

Adress >> 1483, Nambusunhwan-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
The interior of the duck meat restaurant 'Ojeongdam' features white walls and dark brown tables and chairs.

This place is a new duck meat restaurant that hasn't been open for long. I deliberately avoided peak hours and went just after 4 PM, but it was still quite crowded. The interior was very clean, featuring dark brown tables and chairs combined with white decor. It probably looked so clean because it had not been open for long. Also, there were many families visiting, so they had baby chairs available, likely to accommodate the needs of guests with infants.

And do you see the black baskets attached under the chairs? They are prepared for guests to store their personal belongings right under their seats. It's very convenient as you can keep bags or coats close by and ensure you don't forget them!

On the table with the basic side dishes, there's a smiling spoon placed on top of the porridge.

When you order food, the staff brings out the basic side dishes, which include salt, ssamjang, kimchi, pickled hot peppers, potato salad, and pickled radishes. There's one more thing. The left photo shows this place's special porridge. This porridge, made by simmering a mix of white rice and glutinous rice with various vegetables, was neither too mushy nor too bland, offering a very clean and delicious taste. It's served sprinkled with sesame seeds and seaweed powder on top, so when you mix it up and take a spoonful, it's incredibly savory! It was great as an appetizer to stimulate the appetite before eating meat. 

Ten different vegetables are arranged in a circular pattern on a plate.

These are the vegetables that come as a standard accompaniment when you order duck meat. I was quite surprised when I first visited this place. The vegetables were so fresh and varied that they raised my expectations even before I started eating the meat. In Korea, there's a culture of wrapping meat in leaves, and as someone who loves vegetables, I was delighted to see such an abundant selection! Lettuce, perilla leaves, kale, and about 10 different types of vegetables are prepared.

When you wrap meat in fresh vegetables, the greens neutralize the greasiness of the meat and add a refreshing taste. The wrapping vegetables are rich in various vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, which help supplement nutrients. You can experience better digestion compared to eating meat alone.

A self-service bar where you can help yourself to vegetables, kimchi, ssamjang, and other side dishes.

What's amazing is that these vegetables are continuously refilled. In the middle of the restaurant, there's a space set up for self-service where you can pick up side dishes. Not only the basic side dishes but also various vegetables are available there. If there are many people dining together, you can take additional vegetables from the plates prepared below and add them to your meal as desired. Of course, it's free. 

On the griddle, there are duck meat, water parsley, green onions, onions, and bean sprouts.

The food I ordered has arrived! I ordered a half-and-half menu of salt-grilled and seasoned grilled dishes. 

Duck meat is rich in protein and minerals, particularly iron and zinc. Compared to other meats, duck meat does not have a high fat content, and most of it consists of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are known to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Due to these characteristics, duck meat is considered a nutritious and low-fat healthy meat option.

It's not just the meat that comes out; there are also delicious vegetables served for grilling. They provide large slices of green onions, onions, bean sprouts, water parsley, and mushrooms. The water parsley, in particular, has a nice aroma and pairs very well with pork belly. It's so popular that there are even restaurants dedicated solely to dishes featuring water parsley and pork. Fresh water parsley can have a strong aroma, but when grilled, it becomes much softer and the flavor becomes milder. I know a restaurant that does a fantastic job combining water parsley with delicious dishes. I'll definitely introduce it to you later!

There is well-grilled duck meat, and in someone's hand, lettuce and perilla leaves are placed with duck meat and ssamjang on top, making a wrap.

Ah, the duck meat is grilled so deliciously! Let's prepare the wraps(ssam). You don't have to use just one type of vegetable for the wrap. I like to layer two! I place a lettuce leaf at the bottom and add a perilla leaf on top of it. Then I add the meat, water parsley, and ssamjang. Then, roll it up into a round shape and pop it into your mouth in one bite! If you bite into a wrap(ssam) piece by piece, you might not fully experience the perfect blend of vegetables, meat, and sauces. Eating it in one bite allows you to enjoy the rich flavors all at once—the savory meat, the crisp and refreshing vegetables, the nuttiness of grilled veggies, and the sweet and salty taste of the ssamjang. That's why I recommend popping the whole wrap(ssam) in your mouth! 

Bibim noodles topped with duck breast, accompanied by chopsticks.

Tada! The bibim noodles I ordered have arrived. It's called 'Duck Bibim Noodles'. The dish features spicy sauce, cucumber, egg, radish, and duck breast on top of the noodles! A small amount of broth is served with it, making it easy to mix. Use chopsticks to thoroughly mix the noodles and vegetables, then enjoy it with the duck breast. You'll experience a spicy, sweet, and refreshing taste all at once! In Korea, most meat-serving restaurants also offer cold noodle dishes. This is because eating only meat can sometimes feel greasy due to the fat content. Pairing the meat with a refreshing noodle dish helps balance the flavors, allowing you to enjoy the meat for a longer time without feeling overwhelmed.

After eating duck meat for the first time in a while, I realized it has a unique appeal compared to pork or beef. I could enjoy it without feeling overwhelmed, as it was less greasy and had a much more delicate and savory flavor.

The journey of the Bapmoo spoon continues!

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