11/25/2004: Kimchi production for the needy

This volunteer effort is in Seoul, Korea: 2,000 women, who are employees of the Korea Yakult Company, made kimchi in front of the Seoul City Hall for five hours. Over 50,000 cabbage heads were used to produce food for the needy which will be distributed today.

The dish is described as Korea's national food - besides cabbage, it apparently involves spicy pickled vegetables. I prefer turkey.

Doesn't kimchi have to ferment underground for a while before it's reached the correct stage of ripeness?

Or was that just a plot point in M*A*S*H?

I was struck by the similarity in color choice to another recent IOTD from Korea.

So the needy get a cayanne pepper laced, red-hot cabbage side dish to eat? Yikes.

Where's the beef/ poultry/ mammal of choice?

Wow...and it's difficult enough here in the US to get people to donate a $.59 can of vegetables to our own needy.

What was the final yield of food after all was said and done? How many pounds (tons?) and how many could eat off all that?

Kimchi is good stuff! I developed a taste for it while stationed in Korea in the Army. I can find it occasionally here in the states in small jars in some supermarkets and of course ethnic food shops but it's just not the same as I remember over there. There's many different kinds of kimchi, not all of them as hot and spicy as is generally thought. If you're culinarily adventurous I'd recommend going out to your local specialty food shop to get some kimchi, boil up some sticky rice and try it out!

and afterwards i guess they all used a needed hole in the ground???

200 kinds makes for a hell of a menu.

Kimchi is a live food which contains probiotic digestive bacteria (like yogurt does) and cabbage is one of the most important vegetable family plants for essential nutrients (anti cancer, etc.) So while it is not all that caloric it lets you make the maximum use of your other food (via the probiotic bacteria), protects your gut and nouirishes you. That hot food might taste good in a cold country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 404Error Yup, Koreans do use *squat* toilets. A unique experience the first time you use the public restrooms over there. If you've ever *gone* in the woods, you'd know what it's like.

Kimchi is good stuff!

Yeah, if you can get past the smell.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsune Yeah, if you can get past the smell.

Kimichi smell? Toilet stink? Its all the same.