As many of my friends (and now readers) know, I have a penchant for Korean food. Actually, I have a penchant for Asian food in general, and when I find myself a few drinks deep at the end of the night, I like nothing more than to venture into Los Angeles’s famed K-Town (a.k.a. Koreatown) for some BBQ or tofu or pho (and yes, I realize pho is Vietnamese). Unfortunately, I can’t always find a driver or willing participants for such activities, and such was the case Friday night when I found myself stranded at my apartment with no mode of transportation to ferret me to and fro the late night eateries just east of Western Avenue. What to do? Well, after calling three or four people, I took matters into my own hands. I strutted down to Ralph’s, which is open twenty-four hours, and purchased a small jar of overpriced kimchi at 1:45 AM. I returned to my apartment, consulted a cookbook, and in about four minutes, I had a delectable late night snack.
Photos after the jump…
According to the time stamp, it was 1:51 AM when I took this first picture. Clearly, I felt the need to document the music that would be scoring this adventure, and I think we can all agree that nothing says Korean food like mid-’80s Phil Collins.
Here is my handy dandy Korean cookbook with recipes culled directly from several restaurants in Los Angeles’s Koreatown. Hey, if I can’t go there, I bring it here.
The borderline fluorescent kimchi.
I carefully measure out 2 oz. of kimchi.
This is radish kimchi. It was the only kind Ralph’s had.
I chop up the kimchi, massively staining my previously alabaster cutting board in the process.
I then mix the chopped kimchi with about 1/3 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of water, and a pinch of sugar.
Meanwhile, I heat up some vegetable oil in a skillet. This will not be my healthiest endeavor.
In goes the mixture. I try to pat it down as thinly as possible, ultimately winding up with a strange square of batter.
Macro shot!
Despite my general lack of dexterity, I manage to flip the pancake without incident.
After about a minute on each side, I remove the kimchi pancake to a nearby towel for drainage.
And now it’s time to try my culinary masterpiece. Oops. Forgot to move the chair out of the way.
First bite…
A rousing success!
And now a dramatic reenactment of me passing out on my couch as I watch The Soup afterwards.
The Verdict: great! The kimchi pancake was not only super easy to make, but it was massively flavorful too. If you have access to kimchi in your local supermarket, I highly recommend buying some and making this dish. I can’t wait to make more with different types of kimchi (cabbage, etc.). I should note that the next night, I made this again, and that time, I added a little bit of the kimchi juice into the batter to boost the flavor. It yielded lovely results.
Highly recommended.
Forget those other five- YOU should be the next Food Network Star. Kimchi pancakes sound delicious!
Looks good, but what the heck is kimchi?
Every time I come to your page, I’m drooling over this thing.
It looks like a latke, and now I’m craving them.
Kimchi is a fermented cabbage or radish.. with spices added.
Remembering your adventures in horseradish.. how did this not bring tears to your eyes?
I first tried Kimchi in Korea and it will bring tears to your eyes just being in the same room with it! I’ve never tried it since bt B’s sure looks as if would taste good. Maybe it depends on how much vodka you’ve had before eating.
This kimchi was very mild. I’m sure I could have upped the spice quotient by adding hot pepper powder. Don’t fear the kimchi, people!
It’s not the kimchi I fear. It is the kimchi farts that are to be feared.
(my Hawaiian cousins love that shit)
hb
I’m just curious why you didn’t call a delivery place.
There must be at least 10 in your area.
I think that you are a Korean Ninja spy, and your alter ego is a mild mannered BB and foodie fan.
And another thing, I notice your kitchen and apartment always look so neat and clean. This is quite disturbing and you aren’t holding up your end in supporting bachelordome. Correction must ensue.
I can just imagine you sitting with your grin and two thumbs up waiting for the timer on your camera.
Cool reenactment.
kimchi — BLEAGH!
Have you noticed that your food posts gain the most comments?
were you drunk when you were heating hot oil on your stovetop?
If so, then well done Sir- I applaud your culinary skills AND your ability to not burn your place down!
I just bought some kimchi from a korean grocery yesterday….they make their own….and it is spicy, fermented, a little stinky, but sooooo yummy!!!!
I think I may make a pancake tonight…..maybe a seafood pancake too.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I bookmarked this WAAAAAAAY back when you first posted it, and I kept coming back to it to drool. I finally, finally found some kimchi in a local grocery store (quite a feat, as I live in a rural area with very little in the way of “exotic” foodstuffs) and made a cabbage kimchi pancake tonight for dinner. It was delicious! There was a bit too much water, so I’ll modify it a bit the next time I make it. Thanks for introducing me to a new late-night snack! 🙂