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www.groovekorea.com / February 2014 40 FOOD & DRInK Edited by Josh Foreman (joshforeman@groovekorea.com) Story by Shireen Tofg Photos by Charles Haynes, Alpha, Ayustety and Igelig I’ll admit it: I was completely skeptical at first. After hearing about its random assortment of ingredients, I put it on the back burner of things to try in Korea. That is, however, until a friend, raving about how delicious it was, convinced me to finally give it a try. I was first introduced in one of the back alleys near National Assembly Station, though this dish can be found all over Seoul. The name “soldier soup” comes from the stew’s ori- gins during the years surrounding the Korean War. When food was scarce, people began taking what was offered by the U.S. Army facilities and threw it together with what little else they had; rations and leftovers were boiled together in one large pot. Because of its popularity, the stew has come into its own as a popular Korean staple. Budae jjigae typically contains ramen, green onions, ground beef, radishes, garlic, mushrooms, macaroni, sliced sausages, tofu, chili peppers, baked beans, tteok (Korean rice cake), parsley, mushrooms and any other vegetables that are in season. Mine also had bacon, udong noodles, pepperoni slices and small pieces of kimchi. It’s often topped with slices of American cheese. For all the conflicting imagery that comes out of the description above, this savory, spicy assortment of ingre- dients is surprisingly delicious. For a solid introduction to the dish, try one of the Nolboo restaurants that specialize in budae jjigae. GettinG there there are several branches around the city, but Myeong-dong is a good place to start. Walk out Myeongdong Station, exit 6. turn left down the main pedestrian boulevard, then make another left at your first intersecting street. nolboo Budae Jjigae will be on your left after a short walk. As the snow collects outside and my bal- cony freezes under a layer of ice, my inner Californian further recoils into the fetal position. Are there really still two months left? The only thing that motivates me to crawl out of bed most days is the promise of hot Korean food — the best thing to take the sting out of winter. Here’s a list of five must-have meals for the cold months. To survive The cold, Turn To Korea’s soul- warming cuisine Budae JJigae (aKa “soldier soup”) These five foods will have you feeling toasty this winter