Beat the heat, Korean style

By Han Sang-hee

Staff reporter

Put away your ice cream and turn to spice and steaming hot dishes for the summer. The hotter, the better.

Sometimes, to deal with the scorching weather during the summer, many people search for cold and refreshing snacks and dishes such as ``patbingsu'' (shaved ice with sweetened red beans), ``naengmyeon'' (buckwheat noodles served in a cold broth) or ice cream, but Koreans tend to follow the ancient saying ``iyeol chiyeol,'' which literally means ``control heat with heat.''

``If you consume cold food just because it is hot, your stomach and organs will get cold, possibly leading to flu. (Korean) ancestors understood this mechanism and ate warm or spicy food to protect the organs from getting too cold. When they ate naengmyeon, they would add some mustard, which is under the `hot' category of food, and would not drink cold water at once,'' said Kim Young-jo, Korean culture expert and director of the Green Pine Korean Culture Institute in his book ``31 Insights on Tasty Korean Culture.''

Scientifically, it's not a great idea to eat just cold food over and over again, as it will ruin your stomach and appetite in the long run.

Samgyetang: traditional favorite

The most famous summer ``boyangsik,'' or energy-booster, is ``samgyetang'' also known as chicken ginseng soup. The traditional dish is famous Korean fare and is a beloved recipe for both locals and foreigners, with its rich and hot chicken stew, soft meat and the delicate rice hidden inside the chicken.

``The ginseng used in samgyetang helps you regain your strength and energy after a long grueling summer day and it's also good in preventing cancer and for high blood pressure,'' said Yoon Sook-ja, director of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food.

Samgyetang is a common dish around the nation, but there are several places that are especially famous. Youngyang Center, which literally means ``nutrition center,'' offers samgyetang year-long. Their samgyetang costs 11,000 won and is located near Myeong-dong. For more information, call (02) 776-2015.

For a more traditional experience, pay a visit to Tosokchon located in Hyoja-dong, central Seoul. The restaurant is a renewed ``hanok," offering a cozier ambiance than other places. The most famous dish is the samgyetang with its rich stew and soft and juicy chicken and according to photographers, it is the first place they go when they need to take photos of people eating boyangsik in the summer. Call (02) 737-7444.

Stop by the Korea House near Mt. Nam for a fancier samgyetang experience. Consisting of a three-course meal, the samgyetang sold here may be a bit pricy (30,000 won), but it is a meaningful experience for tourists who want go for the whole traditional Korean package. The taste, however, was not that impressive considering the price, but it was different in that it was served in a course meal that included abalone, also good for the body on hot summer days. Visit www.koreahouse.or.kr.