Bizarre Foods America Season 4 Episode 2 Seoul, South Korea
- April 21, 2009
In Bizarre Foods America season 4 episode 2, host Andrew Zimmern travels to Seoul, South Korea to explore the city's unique and eclectic food culture. From street food vendors to high-end restaurants, Zimmern dives into the wide variety of dishes that make up Korean cuisine.
Zimmern starts his journey at a market known for its fresh seafood, where he samples a variety of unique preparations including live octopus and fish served sashimi-style. He then visits a restaurant specializing in Korean barbeque, where he grills up different cuts of meat and learns about the importance of marbling in the Korean beef industry.
Next, Zimmern takes a cultural stroll through a traditional neighborhood, sampling classic roasted sweet potato and rice cakes at a local stand. He also checks out a thriving street food scene, tasting popular snacks like fried chicken and tteokbokki, a spicy rice cake dish.
Zimmern then explores the influence of Buddhism on Korean cuisine, visiting a temple where he learns about the methodical preparation of temple food. He also tries his hand at making soybean paste, a staple ingredient in Korean cooking.
The episode concludes with Zimmern tasting a modern Korean fusion cuisine, with dishes that blend traditional Korean flavors with global ingredients. He also observes the latest trends in the Korean food scene, including the use of fermented ingredients and the popularity of spicy flavors.
Throughout the episode, Zimmern highlights the unique ingredients, techniques, and cultural influences that make Korean cuisine so fascinating and delicious. Whether he's sampling century-old dishes or innovative new creations, Zimmern leaves no stone unturned in his quest to explore the varied and dynamic cuisine of South Korea.