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!
You have mentioned very interesting details! ps nice site.
1Very instructive and wonderful structure of written content, now that’s user genial (:.
2I’ve recently started a site, the information you provide on this website has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
3Valuable info. Lucky me I found your website by accident, and I am shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
4I like this website its a master peace ! Glad I noticed this on google .
5I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
6Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme. Cheers
7Very interesting subject, thank you for posting.
8I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again!
9Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
10Some truly excellent info , Gladiola I detected this. “O tyrant love, to what do you not drive the hearts of men.” by Virgil.
11Wonderful site. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks in your effort!
12Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
13Thank you for another fantastic post. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such info.
14It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
15I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to do not forget this site and give it a look regularly.
16Hi my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with almost all important infos. I’d like to see extra posts like this.
17Great, I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task.
18Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
19Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!…
20whoah this blog is great i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are searching around for this info, you could aid them greatly.
21Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
22I’ll immediately seize your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me recognize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
23I like this web site so much, saved to favorites.
24Magnificent site. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you for your sweat!
25Hey there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
26Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
27I’m now not certain the place you’re getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while finding out more or figuring out more. Thanks for fantastic info I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.
28You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
29I was looking at some of your content on this website and I believe this site is real instructive! Keep putting up.
30Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
31Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
32It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
33Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
34There are definitely lots of particulars like that to take into consideration. That could be a great point to carry up. I offer the thoughts above as normal inspiration but clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up where crucial factor will be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round things like that, but I’m positive that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both girls and boys feel the influence of just a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
35Some truly fantastic content on this website , thankyou for contribution.
36As soon as I detected this web site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
37I really prize your work, Great post.
38This website is mostly a stroll-through for all of the info you wished about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and you’ll definitely uncover it.
39You actually make it appear so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I believe I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m having a look ahead to your next put up, I will attempt to get the grasp of it!
40Hi there very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to search out a lot of useful info right here in the submit, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
41Hi, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much appreciated.
42Share our link, earn real money—signup for our affiliate program!
43I just like the valuable info you supply in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and take a look at again here frequently. I am moderately sure I will be told lots of new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the next!
44I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..
45You have noted very interesting details ! ps decent website .
46Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
47Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
48You have noted very interesting points! ps decent internet site.
49I very thankful to find this site on bing, just what I was searching for : D besides saved to my bookmarks.
50