Happy Tiger Year!

Wishing you all a Happy Tiger Year and Happy Valentine too..

It's my first post after a while since I'm just back from a long holiday, nearly two months since my last post around Christmas last year so hopefully I'll be able to catch up with latest issue soon.

All about Kimchi!

A kimchi lover? I do love kimchi even not as maniac as a friend who eat kimchi as a snack :) If you love kimchi then you should come to Gwangju Kimchi Festival (I wish I could..)

This all-about-kimchi festival will be held in Gwangju from October 23 to November 1. Gwangju has successfully established the image of the home of kimchi. Marking its 16th anniversary, the 2009 Gwangju Kimchi Culture Festival will offers various programs through diversified approaches toward kimchi and providing kimchi making experiences, and holding contest for making kimchi, which will serve as a venue to enjoy and experience Korean kimchi.

If you want to travel to the 'world of kimchi', visit this 'Speaking of Kimchi' page from Gwangju Kimchi Festival web and you'll find all you need to know about kimchi.

(Picture courtesy of Gwangju Kimchi Festival)

Korean Festival

My most-anticipated event for this October has come! Korean Festival 2009 which run through this weekend (Oct 10-11) at Eastwood Park. Eastwood is home to one of Australia largest Korean communities together with Campsie and Strathfield. It originated in the late 1980s as a Campsie-based event that was part of the Carnivale multicultural festival program, co-ordinated by the NSW Ethnic Commision and now is organised by the Korean Society of Sydney.

I was a bit late today and missed some morning performances like Korean Folk Game and Drum performance, but I still enjoyed the Korean traditional dance while hopping around from one food stall to another. Some others performances like Korean Pop music, Soul & Funk Band, singing and talent contest did entertain the folk and the food stalls satisfied my craving for Korean food like pajeon (seafood pancake), kimchi, tteokbokki and odeng. There were also some stalls selling Korean wines and served free tasting. One stall from Sydney's Korean Tourism was attracted folks with some free brochures and Korean books including travel guide and Korean food book.

I bought some Korean red ginseng product and a bottle of Makgeolli, a Korean traditional wine made from rice which gives it a milky, off-white color and swetness. Makgeolli and Pajeon, what a perfect combination!

(A stall from Korean Tourism office providing free brochures and travel guide books)

(Korean red ginseng products on display)

(Odeng)

(tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes)

(A stall selling some Korean wines)

Some stuffs I brought home: Honeyed Korean Red Ginseng, Red Ginseng jelly and candies, and a bottle of Makegeolli

Dine and Win

October is just around the corner! What's happening in October? For Sydneysiders, October used to be popular for Good Food Month Event and this year it has been replaced by Sydney International Food Festival, but it's still all about good food. A list of foodie events will run the whole month of October, from Night Noodle markets to World Chef Showcase will bring celebration of amazing food scene to the city.

On the top of that, 'I Love Korean Food Festival' - a Korean food promotion from Sydney's Korea Tourism, has been on my top list. Some Sydney's best Korean restaurants in the CBD, Eastwood, Newtown and Strathfield will be offering diners the chance to try some iconic dishes of Korea including Bulgogi (BBQ beef), Galbi (beef ribs), Dolsot bibimbap (mixed rice/vegetables in a stone pot), Japchae (Korean style sweet potato noodle), Haemul Pajeon (seafood pancake) and more.

Aside from enjoying some yummy Korean dishes at the special low cost of $10 diners will have the chance to win a trip to Korea for two persons including return flights from Sydney to Seoul plus three nights hotel accommodation in downtown Seoul. Dining out on the weekend, I considered this as my weekend hobby rather than a desire to win the trip.

For details of participating restaurants please visit the official website: www.ilovekoreanfood.com.au Entry details for the 'Win a Trip to Korea' will be open on the same webpage from 1 October, 2009.

(Picture courtesy of Korea Tourism)

And here is a creative picture representing Korea in World Chef Showcase event:

(Picture courtesy of : Sydney International Food Festival)