Mom's Incredibly Hot and Spicy Pork Stew House (엄마네 돼지찌개)
Posted by GwangJu (at 2012/01/24 08:28)
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UPDATE: I recentlly was having a chat with a group of expats who swore up and down that Korean food wasn't very spicy. I agreed that the spiciness of Korean food has been exaggerated but I felt one place exceeds all ideas of what is hot food here in Gwangju.
Getting out of the main part of downtown is very important in finding a culinary adventure in Gwangju. There are numerous places in the core of downtown that serve up a wide variety of delicious food. These places, however, are mostly large company owned eateries with all their ingredients prepackaged so there is very little actual cooking done on premises. A definite point loser for those that prefer qualtiy.
Getting out of the main part of downtown is very important in finding a culinary adventure in Gwangju. There are numerous places in the core of downtown that serve up a wide variety of delicious food. These places, however, are mostly large company owned eateries with all their ingredients prepackaged so there is very little actual cooking done on premises. A definite point loser for those that prefer qualtiy.
Photo from blog.naver.com/laverene/30030595590
The place that I want to introduce today is a treasure that defies accurate description. All I can say is that you have probably never have had the opportunity to eat something as fiercely hot before in your life. The restaurant is simple and plain but the food is legendary for its destructive powers. Mom's Incredibly Hot and Spicy Pork Stew House (엄마네 돼지찌개) is a quaint place that has developed a huge following with the local lunch and dinner crowd near Gwangju River. The menu is simple and until recently not even posted. You enter and a promptly told where to sit. A quick head count is done and several minutes later this comes to your table.
Photo from blog.naver.com/laverene/30030595590
Don't be fooled. This is an extremely dangerous, but oh so delicious, meal that will have you hooked and demanding to return for another go on a weekly basis. The sauce is made from some of the finest dried chungryang (청량) peppers found in Korea, garlic, onions, leeks with big chunks of firm tofu and lean pork. It is served with a bowl of rice which you dump into a larger bowl and scoop the stew over. .
The sides are all designed to give your tounge a break from the extreme spiciness. Soothing would be the term that I would apply to the sides that are given. The best part is the large plate of fried eggs that have been cooked together in one pan. They arrive as one big heap of whites and yolks. A definite help in trying to reduce the pain you feel as you scoop your way through your stew. The trick is to successfully eating a full serving is to mix the rice with the stew and alternate between stew/rice mixture, sides and eggs. Even though the stew is incredibly spicy, the indivdual ingredients are easy to taste when eaten in this way.
Photo from blog.naver.com/mint801/50046990898
This is a meal that should be shared between several people. In fact this should not even be attempted alone. Well, that being said, it is impossible to get only one serving. The minimum order is for two and will run a mere 7000 won a person. There is nothing else on the menu other than cola and extra rice. Few choices makes for an easy decision when it comes to lunch and it allows the cooks to focus on producing quality meals for their patrons.
Please remember that I'm not joking about how hot this meal is. Caution should be taken if you are new to the world of hot food. This dish is so hot that I actually experienced dizziness and a slight euphoria the last time I had it. I was positively giddy for about two hours. The pain is definetly worth the taste and the experience.
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::: Comments :::
Sounds great! How do I get there? Does "Near Gwangju River" mean near Migliore by the river or elsewhere in town by the river?
To go GFN, you have to pass by police station. Stand, facing to the river and cross the bridge. (The name is 금교 Geum bridge.)
You will see a PC game room on the second floor in the left corner, and Lotos on the first floor in the right corner.
Go through in between these two buildings about 30meters.
It's very close from the GFN studio.