Kimchi craze

MILLIE: Daddy Joe has a unique game every time we dine out. It is the highlight of every dining experience my siblings and I grew up with and now, the grandkids are just as thrilled to enjoy. At the end of the meal, we would all be handed tiny pieces of paper and each one would write one’s name and wild, wild guess of how much the total bill was. The rule is that the one who comes closest to guessing the total amount of the bill without going over wins a cash prize from Dad. So you can just imagine how excited everyone gets. For some reason I’ve never won this game, ever. Either I’m a poor guesser or my expectations are too high. Haha! I don’t quite know if it’s Dad’s way of finding out how much we really spend to dine out or if it somehow gives him great pleasure seeing us all thrilled to the bone playing his game.

Hot and yummy: Kimchi is the ultimate spicy taste in Korean dining.

At least once a month, there’s a birthday or anniversary that calls for a celebration and the family gathers to dine out. One of our family’s favorites is Korean because it’s something our restaurants don’t offer. It’s my sister Marijo who introduced us to Korean food long ago because she had a friend who owned a Korean resto. We frequent Kaya Restaurant as it is conveniently located on Jupiter St., Makati. Going Korean is also not too expensive as the food is served communally or family-style, great for sharing, and the prices are reasonable.

 KARLA: Mom and I love Korean food. Ever since I can remember, whenever we are in Hong Kong, one of our must-haves is a Korean lunch or dinner at Arirang. I guess that is probably how I acquired a taste for Korean food, plus the fact that I could actually cook my own food and eat it right away. It was to my advantage that I also learned how to use chopsticks at a very young age. Well, I didn’t really have a choice as most restaurants in Hong Kong then did not have utensils I could use, so I had to learn how to use chopsticks or I wouldn’t be able to eat anything. I remember that cooking the food would excite me so much that I’d practically cook for everyone at our table. Of course, mom, lolo and lola wouldn’t complain because they actually liked that someone was cooking for them. I remember that they would always serve their homemade ice cream at the end of the meal for free. I would always end up eating even mom’s share.

Going Korean: The Kalbi Chim is scrumptious stewed Korean beef ribs at Kaya Restaurant.

In LA last year, where I spent time with my Lola Meldy’s eldest sister Lola Carmen Chavez, we went to an eat-all-you-can Korean place for my uncle Pol’s birthday lunch. The deal was that there would be a per-head price and you could order all you want of the Korean barbecue. My cousins had at least four servings each. Boy, was it worth every US dollar because my cousins and I really stuffed ourselves!

Here in Manila, we usually go to Kaya Restaurant for Korean food. As soon as we get settled at the table, the waiter immediately gives us a variety of appetizers including bean sprouts, spinach and two kinds of kimchi: fresh and fermented. Kimchi is the most common side dish for Korean food. There are actually different kinds of kimchi, not all are made with cabbage. In Seoul, Korea, there even is a Kimchi Field Museum that has documented 187 varieties of kimchi from historic times until the present. For sure when I visit Korea, this will be at the top of my list to visit.

My all-time Korean favorite is the barbecue because I like it spicy and I enjoy cooking the meats myself. Just right, not too well done. The steamed gyoza dumplings or jun mandoo and dak bulgogi or grilled spicy chicken are my all-time favorites. I love the way the spicy flavor lingers on my palate. The dweji bulgogi or grilled marinated pork strips also spells happiness with a mouthful of kimchi! When we are a big group, we also order the grilled marinated short ribs for more variety. But Mom’s favorite is the Korean beef stew called kalbi jim and the chapchae, which is glass noodles made from sweet potato with three kinds of mushrooms, shredded cabbage and meats. Last week, she decided to try a new dish called “Talangkanin meal” or aligue bibimbap, an exclusive at Kaya Restaurant.

Time for noodles: The chap chae is Korean glass noodles made from sweet potato.

Back when we were kids, we used to run around the spacious restaurant after dinner. And just like Arirang in Hong Kong, Kaya would give complimentary desserts, too, which is usually a pineapple and sweet ginger drink that is really good for the throat. I remember when I was a kid, I would collect the ginger drink and even bring it with me to school the next day.

Going Korean is ideal for family or group get-togethers so try it some time!

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For inquiries and reservations, call the main Kaya Restaurant located at 62 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati,  tel. 895-0404. Other branches are in Glorietta, Robinsons Place, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Paseo Center, and SM Megamall.

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Send e-mail to milliereyes.foodforthought@gmail.com and karla@swizzlemobilebar.com. Find us on Facebook and read articles you might have missed: Food for Thought by Millie & Karla Reyes.