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!
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I am hoping to give a contribution & aid different customers like its aided me. Good job.
1Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was searching for!
2Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
3https://shorturl.fm/IRCzn
4You have noted very interesting points! ps decent site. “I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it.” by Mark Twain.
5hi!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
6https://shorturl.fm/79wFK
7https://shorturl.fm/cxyjU
8Appreciate it for this post, I am a big fan of this web site would like to go on updated.
9Normally I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice post.
10https://shorturl.fm/zAu6r
11of course like your web site but you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality on the other hand I’ll certainly come again again.
12I like this weblog its a master peace ! Glad I discovered this on google .
13Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
14I respect your piece of work, appreciate it for all the interesting posts.
15I’m curious to find out what blog platform you have been utilizing? I’m having some minor security issues with my latest site and I’d like to find something more secure. Do you have any solutions?
16It’s really a cool and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
17I’m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the difficulty is one thing that not sufficient people are talking intelligently about. I am very pleased that I stumbled across this in my search for something regarding this.
18I’m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you could have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the issue is something that not enough individuals are talking intelligently about. I am very completely happy that I stumbled across this in my seek for one thing regarding this.
19You are my intake, I have few web logs and occasionally run out from post :). “Actions lie louder than words.” by Carolyn Wells.
20Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My website is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Appreciate it!
21Simply wish to say your article is as surprising. The clearness for your publish is simply nice and that i can think you’re knowledgeable on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to seize your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thank you a million and please continue the gratifying work.
22You are my inspiration , I have few blogs and occasionally run out from to post .
23Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Great. I’m also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your hard work.
24Just about all of the things you claim happens to be astonishingly accurate and that makes me ponder the reason why I had not looked at this with this light previously. This article really did turn the light on for me as far as this topic goes. Nevertheless there is actually just one point I am not really too cozy with so while I try to reconcile that with the main idea of the point, let me observe just what the rest of the visitors have to say.Nicely done.
25The following time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to learn, however I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you could fix should you werent too busy searching for attention.
26I conceive you have noted some very interesting details , thankyou for the post.
27Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?
28Hi there, simply became alert to your blog through Google, and located that it’s truly informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate for those who continue this in future. Lots of other folks shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
29Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
30https://shorturl.fm/CvY8D
31I am now not positive where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or working out more. Thanks for great information I used to be in search of this information for my mission.
32I’ve read some good stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you put to create any such wonderful informative site.
33Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
34Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really realize what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also visit my site =). We could have a link trade arrangement between us!
35I believe you have mentioned some very interesting details , thanks for the post.
36Respect to post author, some wonderful entropy.
37You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the paintings you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
38Perfect work you have done, this web site is really cool with wonderful information.
39Glad to be one of the visitors on this awesome web site : D.
40I like this website its a master peace ! Glad I discovered this on google .
41My wife and i were absolutely comfortable Edward managed to complete his researching via the precious recommendations he gained through the blog. It is now and again perplexing to just choose to be giving out steps which often most people might have been making money from. And we also keep in mind we need you to be grateful to because of that. The type of illustrations you made, the simple web site navigation, the relationships you will aid to foster – it’s got mostly fabulous, and it is making our son in addition to our family understand this subject is pleasurable, and that is particularly fundamental. Thanks for the whole thing!
42excellent post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t notice this. You must continue your writing. I am confident, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
43I like the helpful information you supply in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and take a look at again here frequently. I’m fairly certain I will be told plenty of new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the next!
44Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
45I dugg some of you post as I cerebrated they were very helpful very helpful
46Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
47This web site is mostly a walk-by means of for all of the info you needed about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you’ll positively uncover it.
48I don’t unremarkably comment but I gotta admit thankyou for the post on this amazing one :D.
49Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will eventually come back sometime soon. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great writing, have a nice weekend!
50