Tag: spicy raw crab

  • BCD Tofu House – Los Angeles

    BCD Tofu House – Los Angeles

    BCD Tofu HouseBukchang-dong (or BCD) Tofu House has been one of the most popular Korean restaurants for years. I believe it’s one of those rare Korean restaurants that was born in America and made its way back to the Motherland, Korea. They have 15 locations in and around the Los Angeles region, New York, New Jersey, Seattle, and Seoul.

    The BCD Tofu House was how most Los Angelinos in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s learned about Korean food. For the non-Koreans, the concept of ordering one main dish and have it accompanied by various side dishes was a big treat.

    Non-GMO Soy Tofu at BCD Tofu House

    I always try to make it a point to visit BCD Tofu House whenever I’m in Los Angeles or the surrounding regions. They serve some of the best 순두부찌개 Soft Tofu Stew and I know the ingredients are 100% legit. The House brand tofu is made with Non-GMO organic soy bean tofu. The seafood/beef bone broth and the various banchan side dishes are made without MSG. I can trust this place.

    BCD Tofu House Menu

    As far as the price is concerned, it’s very fair. A bit on the cheap side, especially those Soon Tofu Combos. I would highly recommend the Pork Bulgogi and Soon Tofu combo, but the bibimbap combo ain’t half bad either!

    The spread before the main dish

    On this occasion, we ended up ordering the 게장 Blue Crab in Spicy Marinade, 돼지불고기 Spicy Pork Bulgogi, and 김치 순두부 Kimchi Soon Tofu. Of course, we got the mixed grain rice, which is optional at no extra cost. Soon after the order is received, the waitress ajummas brings out your rice and banchans. Unlike most restaurants, BCD starts you off with 굴비구이 pan fried young yellow fish. All the banchan served has good flavor, but the yellow fish and spicy pickled clams/squid are just work of art!

    Spicy Pork BulgogiThe Spicy Pork Bulgogi is not too spicy, not too sweet, and has the right amount of flavor. The meat itself is very tender and the marinade/sauce is not overpowering. Very good!

    Crab in Spicy MarinadeI’m not a crab fan, but for the crab lovers and/or many other Korean food lovers, this stuff is known as 밥도둑 – aka rice thief. You can ask your Korean friends about the meaning of that term or you may leave us a comment below.

    Kimchi Soon Tofu StewKimchi Soft Tofu Stew… Quite possibly the second favorite comfort food among Korean people. At least for me, it is…

    Be sure to visit BCD Tofu House at any of their numerous locations. From the menu, price, food quality, cleanliness, to the restaurant design, this is a place that I can proudly refer to anyone who is looking for a genuine Korean dining experience. Without any of that ‘luxury’ or some faux high concept Korean food that they are beginning to roll out, the BCD Tofu House is exemplary. Please visit http://www.bcdtofu.com to find the most convenient location to you or your traveling destination.

    Bukchang-dong (BCD) Tofu House

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  • Spicy Raw Crab, Yangnyeom Gejang

    Spicy Raw Crab, Yangnyeom Gejang

    [media-credit name=”shinshine” link=”http://www.shinshine.com” align=”alignnone” width=”700″]Crab1[/media-credit]

    Many Koreans call yangnyeom gejang a ‘meal thief’ (밥도둑; bap do duk), a dish so delicious that the accompanying bowl of rice is gone in no time.  Admittedly, it is quite messy to eat – I wouldn’t recommend this for a first date – as you’ll soon have the red sauce covering your lips and fingers.  Yet, you won’t be able to stop reaching for another crab piece and licking off any remaining sauce from your fingers.

    The original version is the simple ‘gejang’ or ‘ganjang gejang,’ literally crab (게; ge) in soy sauce (간장; gan jang).  Cleaned fresh crabs are immersed in boiled then cooled soy sauce for 3-5 days, with the same soy sauce strained, boiled, cooled and poured back a couple of times to deeply flavor the crabs along the way.  Although it sounds all too salty, when it’s done right, these ganjang gejang (간장 게장) crabs come out with deep oceany, briny bites.

    I usually resort to a faster, spicier version, which is utterly delicious and addictive – seasoned (양념; yang nyeom) or spicy (매운; mae un) gejang.  Besides, it’s easy to make this dish – only two steps!  Clean the crabs.  Mix in spicy sauce.

    …although these are really the two big steps, it takes quite a lot of effort, from shopping for fresh, live blue crabs to cleaning the crabs in one-go.  For me, it’s still worthwhile, even with the time requirement and my mild allergic reaction to shellfish.  Yes, I like this a lot.

    It is also a great time to have blue crabs now, in season for the female roes (vs. for plump crab meat in autumn).  As a person who grew up in a fish roe-loving country, spring is a better season for blue crabs.

    [media-credit name=”shinshine” link=”http://www.shinshine.com” align=”alignnone” width=”700″]Crab2[/media-credit]

    [media-credit name=”shinshine” link=”http://www.shinshine.com” align=”alignnone” width=”700″]Crab3[/media-credit]

    [media-credit name=”shinshine” link=”http://www.shinshine.com” align=”alignnone” width=”700″]Crab4[/media-credit]

     

     

    This dish is made only with the freshest crabs. When I make yangnyeom gejang, I get the liveliest crabs in Chinatown in the morning, then freeze them for an hour or so for easier handling when I get home.

    KOREAN WORDS)

    ge      게    crab

    gae    개    dog