Have you heard the story of the 63 year-old South Korean woman whose mouth that was impregnated with 12 little baby squids after eating calamari? True story.
Having just returned from a month-long trip to South Korea where I certainly digested my fair share of cultural delights, that particular story totally scared the shit out of me. Not so much literally, but I certainly am glad I drew a line (re: trying exotic foods) after having consumed sundae from one of the multitudes of street food vendors at the Gwangjang Market.
Let's just say the sundae experience was interesting (disclosure: my mama always taught me that if I didn't like something, to say it's 'interesting'). Here's a quick vid of my sister Colleen and I trying our first bite of sundae.
Did you hear at the end of the clip where Colleen says, all relieved-like, "It's like noodles!" and then there's this pause and then there's her saying, "No?" and giggling...? That's because I couldn't even compose myself enough to consider it 'interesting'. So gross. It tasted like I was eating pig intestines (go figure) - intestines that had digested years and years of whatever slop and very probably crap (like literal poop) that the pig had ingested prior to its death. And to make matters worse, my poop for the next two days smelled exactly like how it tasted.
And that's when I drew the very distinctive line between foods I was willing to try and foods that I wasn't so much willing to try. And boy am I glad I drew it before I stepped foot on Jeju Island (a volcanic island off the coast of South Korea that has recently been named one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World), where prior to my sundae experience, I was totally open-minded enough to consider trying sannakji.
Call me weird, but I kinda like my seafood the non-sperm-exploding-in-your-mouth kind of way.
Come back for more. I'll be posting a delish recipe for something truly delightful (a dish that just so happens to totally symbolize my half-Korean, half-American heritage).