Eating in Jeju: 4 Course 갈치 (Kalchi) Meal
Two months ago, I went to Jeju Island for the annual Fulbright conference to present my research. I stayed a few extra days after the conference to explore the island. Which, of course, means trying different foods as well!
For our first meal after the conference, we decided to stop at a restaurant that specializes in the fish known as 갈치 (kalchi) in Korean, which literally translates to sword fish, but is not the same type of sword fish with the long nose that is more common in restaurant menus in the US. The official name of this fish is the largehead hairtail, and it is a small and long fish shaped like a sword, hence the name in Korean. This fish is a speciality of Jeju Island and this restaurant (which I unfortunately forgot the name of and I didn’t take photographs either of the name of the restaurant!!!) is located in Seogwipo, which is where we stayed.
We had just walked an incredibly long distance, following one of the beautiful Blue Pony trails (officially they are the Jeju Olle trails, but the mascot is a blue pony), which is also the same name of our fabulous AirBnB! The owners, a lovely couple, had walked every single trail, which traverses the entire island and its coasts and their love of walking gave birth to the idea of opening a guesthouse named after what brought them to Jeju Island in the first place. We actually walked from the Blue Pony Guesthouse to the KAL Seogwipo Hotel and were pretty much starving by the time we were ready to eat dinner.
We figured since we had essentially been receiving free food from the conference and since we were so hungry, we decided to splurge on the four-course kalchi meal, which came with kalchi prepared 4 different ways: raw, in soup, stewed, and grilled. This seems like a lot of food to commit too in case we didn’t like the fish, but it turned out to be a really great meal!
First up was raw kalchi (갈치회). I normally don’t like Korean-style sashimi because usually the fish tastes too frozen (as if it was just taken out of the freezer) or the flesh is too firm and chewy. (I generally prefer raw fish that tastes as if it almost melts in my mouth like butter…) While the kalchi was still chewier than I would prefer, the fish definitely tasted extremely fresh and dipping it into the vinegared gochujang (초고추장) made for a perfectly suitable bite.
Shortly after the sashimi arrived, we received the second course: stewed kalchi (갈치조림). The spicy sauce was perfect and the fish was so delicate. Despite thinking that the small long fish would be oily like mackerel, the flesh is more similar to a white fish – meaty and surprisingly substantial. And it also tastes just as good cooked as it does raw!
Third course was kalchi soup (갈치국). This is a traditional Jeju dish and the fish is boiled with some green vegetables and pumpkin (단호박). Compared to the 조림 (stewed dish), it was very bland, so we ended up not appreciating it as much. I would have preferred to have this dish come out second because then we would have eaten a lot more of it. The stewed kalchi and then the next course ended up completing stealing the soup’s thunder sadly…
This is the grilled kalchi (갈치구이). This was everything I could have ever wanted in a fish dish – salty (the kind of salty that is addictive so you go back for bite after bite), crispy (just look at that skin!), and meaty (the white flesh of the fish was just so good). Each bite was perfect and we unanimously agreed that this was the best of the four courses. Simple and delicious, this is fish and kalchi at its best.
I would definitely recommend giving kalchi a try; my partner’s mom in Seoul cooks the fish quite regularly as well! This fish tastes good in so many different preparations as well – raw, stewed, boiled, and grilled – so there is something for everyone! Hopefully I’ll be able to find this restaurant again!
Fantastic site. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thank you for your effort!
1Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
2It’s perfect time to make some plans for the long run and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to counsel you some interesting issues or suggestions. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I want to read even more issues approximately it!
3Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
4That is very attention-grabbing, You’re an overly professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to searching for more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
5Good day very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I am glad to find a lot of useful info right here within the put up, we need develop extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
6You need to take part in a contest for among the finest blogs on the web. I will recommend this web site!
7Fantastic site. Plenty of useful information here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks for your sweat!
8I’d always want to be update on new blog posts on this internet site, saved to bookmarks! .
9Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
10Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
11I’d have to check with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I get pleasure from reading a put up that will make people think. Also, thanks for permitting me to comment!
12hi!,I like your writing so much! share we be in contact extra approximately your article on AOL? I need an expert on this house to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you.
13Hello there, just turned into aware of your blog through Google, and located that it’s truly informative. I’m going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you proceed this in future. Numerous other people shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
14Usually I don’t learn article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you, quite nice article.
15I was very pleased to find this net-site.I wished to thanks for your time for this glorious learn!! I definitely enjoying each little little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you weblog post.
16It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
17Some really excellent blog posts on this web site, appreciate it for contribution. “My salad days, When I was green in judgment.” by William Shakespeare.
18Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your weblog. You have some really great articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested. Thank you!
19Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
20Appreciate it for this tremendous post, I am glad I found this web site on yahoo.
21Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is really irritating. A good blog with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
22It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
23I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, but I by no means found any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful value enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the net will probably be much more useful than ever before. “We are not retreating – we are advancing in another Direction.” by Douglas MacArthur.
24Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
25Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this website , likewise I think the layout has got great features.
26An interesting dialogue is price comment. I feel that it is best to write extra on this matter, it may not be a taboo topic but usually individuals are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
27Terrific work! This is the type of info that should be shared around the net. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my website . Thanks =)
28Merely wanna comment on few general things, The website design is perfect, the written content is rattling excellent. “Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” by Andre Gide.
29I don’t even know how I finished up here, however I assumed this put up was once good. I don’t recognise who you are but certainly you’re going to a well-known blogger for those who aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
30I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂
31But wanna remark on few general things, The website layout is perfect, the articles is rattling wonderful : D.
32Hi! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
33This really answered my drawback, thank you!
34Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Cheers
35I really like your writing style, excellent information, thanks for putting up :D.
36Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
37I genuinely enjoy studying on this website , it contains fantastic content.
38As I website possessor I conceive the content material here is real fantastic, regards for your efforts.
39Hey, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
40I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂
41I really like your writing style, fantastic information, appreciate it for posting :D. “God save me from my friends. I can protect myself from my enemies.” by Claude Louis Hector de Villars.
42Attractive component to content. I simply stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I fulfillment you get right of entry to persistently rapidly.
43Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
44Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
45fantastic publish, very informative. I ponder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
46You are my intake, I have few web logs and occasionally run out from post :). “Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.” by W. Somerset Maugham.
47I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is required to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100 positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
48When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
49Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
50