Hangry, Hangry, Hangry! and how to cure in just 7 minutes

Fueled on caffeine from our little morning stop at Coffee Brown we've ended up ... well, actually, I don't quite know where we were. We found a one of the huge Hyundai department stores that housed an impressive basement level wonderland of all-things food, including a macaron shop with flavors like black truffle, gorgonzola, milk & even foie gras (but they were sold out). Of course we get a few for later...

We try to find some noodle place, that supposed to serve the noodles so spicy, that whole chilies make up a large part of this lunch staple. We wander around for hours, well okay, maybe 20 minutes. I get a bit hangry (that's when I get so hungry, that I turn a little grumpy, or angry - which happens after about an hour or two with no food;)) and I totally give up on the noodle idea. We wander some more, now just looking for some more fuel, in the form of solids. We randomly turn up a little alley, and spot this place bursting at the seams with people casually enjoying lunch amongst all the bustle.



Silver extractor pipes seem to be crawling from the roof, the waiters aptly navigating their way around these pipes and stopping by tables armed with shears. We head in, and they clear a table for us just as someone gets up to leave. Something gets babbled away to us, and we just nod. Then the lady points to a menu on the wall..



Hmm, when she comes back we just point at the table next to us, which have something simmering away that smells delicious. She comes back moments later with a few bowls of kimchi - a white cucumber kimchi, an intense chilli & raw squid version and a bunch of sesame leaves rolled in a spicy mixture.



Then a little pot is placed before us, and they walk away. We guess we wait, so sit patiently. A few minutes pass and I just cannot resist lifting the lid for a peak!



It looks good, I see kimchi and some chunks of meat. We still sit patiently ... then a young guy who has been behind the register comes over and tells us we are about to enjoy the "7 minute kimchi stew". Awesome!! He has a pair of shears in his hand, and lifts the lid and starts chopping.



It's a pretty frantic event, the clanging of the shears against the pan and red juice splashing all over the table. What's left are little bite-sized chunks of pork and cabbage kimchi in a thick, spicy broth.



We each get a bowl of hot rice placed in front of us, and a gesture towards the silver tub on the table. The tub is full of big flakes of crispy green seaweed. We pile it on, and top with great big spoonfuls of the kimchi stew.



Wow, hangry what now? I was so content, full & happy for hours after this lunch, which means only 1 thing - I need a little more kimchi stew in my life;)