mary eats

After a particularly grueling shoe shopping expedition at Doota, C, Kevin’s school chum visiting from Japan, and I sat down at one of Dongdaemun’s many pojangmachas for a snack.

I would like to say that we were mislead. The ajuma keep calling out “chi-ken, chi-ken.” So we took the bait and walked over. At her grill, sliced cabbage, noodles, and onions sat in a spicy heap. I asked.

“Igyoboya?”

“Gobchang bbokeum, pork, very delicous-ie.”

It was pork alright. Rubbery, chewy, medicinally cold pork intestines. In texture they resembled a mixture between calamari (though not nearly as tender) and a wood ear mushroom.

Not very delicious. Especially after having read Wikipedia’s warning concerning chitterlings.

“Care must be taken when preparing chitterlings, due to the high possibility of disease being spread with chitterlings which have not been cleaned or cooked properly. These diseases/bacteria include Yersinia enterocolitica as well as Salmonella. Chitterlings must be soaked and rinsed thoroughly in several different cycles of cool water, and repeatedly picked clean by hand, removing extra fat and specks of faecal matter. The chitterlings are then boiled and simmered until tender.”

In fairness to a pig’s small intestine, the overall quality of the meal was poor. The ddokboggie was too chewy and the kimchi pancake too oily. So not the best place to introduce a former vegetarian to the delicacy known as chitterlings.

Intestines play sizeable role in Korean cuisine and one preparation that I would be interested in trying is Makchang, a samgyeopal like dish of seasoned sliced large pork intestines grilled and served with lettuce, garlic, and ssamjang. Says Wikipedia, this dish is popular around Deagu (can anyone verify that) Other intestine showcases include Yanggopchang-gui, grilled beef tripe and intestines. Naejangtang, beef tripe and intestine soup. Gobchang Jangol, intestines hot pot with mushrooms and other veggies, among others

Zen Kimchi also recounts his experience with Gobchang here

Japanese Television and Youtube present….