In the morning we went to Bongwonsa (봉원사), a Buddhist temple near Yonsei. Coming down from the temple we passed through Yonsei because I really, really wanted to drink Banana milk. Yes, you did not read wrong. Banana milk. It is as refreshing and delicious as strawberry and chocolate milk, even if the idea of it sounds a little odd (or for my mom, revolting). The industry leader for banana milk is made by a company called Binggrae and is pretty iconic in its packaging.
| Credits to kimchibulgolgi.com |
What I don't like about Binggrae's banana milk is that it tastes very artificially banana-y. Which is why I HAD to go to Yonsei for banana milk. A lot of people may not know, but Yonsei owns, produces, and manages a milk factory. They also sell *you guessed it* BANANA MILK! (And of course other types of milk, including strawberry, coffee, chocolate, and plain 'ol milk). Yonsei's banana milk has that creamy, thick texture of whole milk and a less artificial tasting banana taste. If you're on Yonsei campus and want to try their banana milk, go to the convenience store that is Yonsei owned in the cafeteria building (other commercial convenience stores such as GS25 will not sell it). They also sell it in the Muak dormitory. For me, this is a MUST try drink in Seoul!
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| Yonsei banana milk |
My banana milk craving satisfied (I bought 3 cartons haha), we were ready for some real food. We decided to have Sul Lung Tang (설렁탕). It's a very light tasting and simple soup with only a couple of ingredients - ox tail bone for the milky broth, scallions, a few slices of meat, and vermicelli noodles. I think the key to a good sul lung tang is that the broth doesn't exude that stinky and sour smell that is similar to improperly cooked lamb. We went to a restaurant in Sincheon that specializes in this dish.
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| Sullungtang |
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| Close up of dumpling filling |
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| Dumpling & rice cake soup
We also ordered the Korean pancake for grins. It was deli :)
Then off to Jeju Island we went! If you're ever in Korea during the spring or autumn months, I'd say definitely go to Jeju because it'll be so picturesque, relaxing, and pretty empty of other fellow (photobombing) tourists. You can selca like crazy unbothered =)
Apparently Jeju has its own special breed of black pigs that you can only get in Jeju, so of course we had to try it! I was a bit sad I didn't get to see one alive and roaming around a mountain or something, but it was pretty tasty on the table too. The manager in the hostel recommended this hole-in-the-wall place. And when you get a recommendation from a local AND it's a hole-in-the-wall place, you definitely know you hit the right spot.
Above is the menu. And yes, there are only two options on the menu. We got the one on the left. Not really sure what the one on the right is.
The Jeju black pig meat marinated in red pepper paste with scallions. Looking good, but that's not it...
And then the owner goes and piles more veggies on top of the meat. We were ridiculously hungry and it looked delicious, but is this really for only three people?!
 
The final product! The Jeju black pig has a very distinctive taste/fragrance that lingers in your mouth that my friend didn't like. Not really sure how to describe the taste as I have never had anything like it. The texture of the meat is firmer and tougher than normal pigs. It seemed as if the pigs had real muscle and climbed a lot of mountains all day long. You can eat this wrapped in the lettuce leaves much like Korean BBQ or just alone with rice. Needless to stay we were pretty stuffed after all of this and pumped to see the rest of Jeju! More to come~또오세용~ ^___^V ~please visit again!~
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