Luntiang (green) Salad

Luntiang Salad

In Korea vegetarian reastaurants or Chaesik Buffets are gaining prominence because of the Mad Cow issue. Korean government insisted to import beef from the US in exchange of exporting freely its cars and other electronic products under the FTA (Free Trade Agreement).

Some see the issue not necessarily of mad cow perse but a culmination of different issues against the government neglect to hear to the voice of the people. Unlike the previous administration branded as leftist, the current government of Lee Myung Bak is very conservative. People are beginning to see him as a CEO of Korea's businesses more than a leader. So he revamped members of his first cabinet and had shelved the controversial Grand Canal Plan (a river network connecting Seoul to Busan that will cut across the country), a success claimed by green or environmental groups.

So green... people are now discovering green vegetables more than ever. Korean diet has plenty of fresh vegetables, like when they eat grilled meat, they would have it wrapped with fresh green leafy veggies. In a way whatever fatty acids those meat have got neutralized by fresh enzymes of veggies and spices as well (onion, garlic, chili, etc.).

Below is one of my favorite Korean rice. They call it green tea rice, cooked with green tea so it turns into green. The other dish beside(noodle) is chapchae - my favorite "Korean pansit" - although the noodle is said to be made from flour of sweet potato (?) that's why it is clear and gelatinous.

Berdeng Kanin/Green Tea Rice