Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Seoul food
On our way back from Japan we stopped in Seoul for a few days. It turned out our plane ticket was actually cheaper if we went through Seoul, so we thought we might as well see the city. Since South Korea is so close to Japan, we had wanted to get there at some point - and we just managed to get it in.
The main highlight for us was the food. Chelsey had arranged a taste tour for the first full day we were there. We went to a food school and one of the employees (who was an interesting guy), took us to four or five different restaurants. At each one, he ordered a dish for us to try. It was a great way to get an overview of Korean food and it was delicious. Sometimes it was hard to keep from eating too much at one stop to try to save room for the subsequent stops. Our guide also took us through a local Korean market and pointed out some of the local ingredients. We tried to remember them so hopefully we can find them in a Korean market back home.
The next day we went back to the cooking school for a cooking lesson. We had already met our instructor the day before; she cooked us a Korean pancake before we left on the tour. Our lesson was on Korean barbeque.
We prepared three types: a grilled chicken, pork with a chili sauce, and beef ribs, along with a chive salad. Our instructor chef did a 
demonstration first, then we tried to make the same thing. I had trouble pulling myself away from the beef ribs she made long enough to try to make my own, but eventually both Chelsey and I did, and all our dishes turned out pretty well, if not perfectly. Sometime we'll see if we can replicate it in our own kitchen.
In the next post: the sites we saw.
-Jason
The first group of pictures are from our food tour. The second group are from the cooking class.
The main highlight for us was the food. Chelsey had arranged a taste tour for the first full day we were there. We went to a food school and one of the employees (who was an interesting guy), took us to four or five different restaurants. At each one, he ordered a dish for us to try. It was a great way to get an overview of Korean food and it was delicious. Sometimes it was hard to keep from eating too much at one stop to try to save room for the subsequent stops. Our guide also took us through a local Korean market and pointed out some of the local ingredients. We tried to remember them so hopefully we can find them in a Korean market back home.
The next day we went back to the cooking school for a cooking lesson. We had already met our instructor the day before; she cooked us a Korean pancake before we left on the tour. Our lesson was on Korean barbeque.
We prepared three types: a grilled chicken, pork with a chili sauce, and beef ribs, along with a chive salad. Our instructor chef did a 
demonstration first, then we tried to make the same thing. I had trouble pulling myself away from the beef ribs she made long enough to try to make my own, but eventually both Chelsey and I did, and all our dishes turned out pretty well, if not perfectly. Sometime we'll see if we can replicate it in our own kitchen.In the next post: the sites we saw.
-Jason
The first group of pictures are from our food tour. The second group are from the cooking class.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
last Japan post
I know Jason already had his sayonara post, but I still have a few last Japan things to post.
On our second-to-last day in Himeji, we went for one final visit to the castle. They started a major 5-year reconstruction project while we were
there, and they have now opened a special exhibit where you can go and see the progress. They have enclosed the entire castle in a huge box. Below is a time-lapse video of the covering process.
Many of the friends we were in Japan with have talked about having a reunion when they reopen the castle. It sounds like a good idea to us!
On our last night we went for okonomiyaki with some of our friends (somehow Lauren isn't in the pictures?). Then it was time to start saying our "see you laters". It was difficult because we'd made so many good friends in Japan. We hope to return to Japan to see them, and hope they'll come to San Diego to visit us!
On our second-to-last day in Himeji, we went for one final visit to the castle. They started a major 5-year reconstruction project while we were
there, and they have now opened a special exhibit where you can go and see the progress. They have enclosed the entire castle in a huge box. Below is a time-lapse video of the covering process.Many of the friends we were in Japan with have talked about having a reunion when they reopen the castle. It sounds like a good idea to us!
On our last night we went for okonomiyaki with some of our friends (somehow Lauren isn't in the pictures?). Then it was time to start saying our "see you laters". It was difficult because we'd made so many good friends in Japan. We hope to return to Japan to see them, and hope they'll come to San Diego to visit us!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sayonara
Last month we ended our two years in Japan and 
headed back to the States. Himeji was a wonderful place for us, mainly because of the terrific friends we made there. We were sad to say goodbye to everyone and there were some tears shed.
Now we're getting settled in our new place and are looking forward to our next adventures. We'll post some updates about our progress on that soon.
-Jason
headed back to the States. Himeji was a wonderful place for us, mainly because of the terrific friends we made there. We were sad to say goodbye to everyone and there were some tears shed.Now we're getting settled in our new place and are looking forward to our next adventures. We'll post some updates about our progress on that soon.
-Jason
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