Little Seoulster

Exploring Korean-American Heritage & Interculturalism

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood – Brew Master Plus a Holiday Potpourri Recipe

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Brew Master Plus Holiday Potpourri Recipe

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Brew Master Plus Holiday Potpourri RecipeA Story from a Korean-American Childhood – Brew Master

Here’s a story about something that you may have long forgotten about, but that your nose could never forget.

So growing up in a Korean household meant lots of things…kimchi was ever present (even on pizza night), kids were largely unsupervised because parents were out working, and there was usually some funny smell in the house. And by “funny,” I definitely don’t mean haha funny. I mean, what died in here kind-of funny. [Read more…]

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood – Freezer Surprise

Korean-American Freezer Surprise

Korean-American Freezer SurpriseA Story From a Korean-American Childhood – Freezer Surprise

I’m not talking about scoring the last popsicle or finding pizza bites at the back of the freezer. If you’re Korean-American like me, or of some other first generation, you know of the surprises I’m referring to. And you’ve probably discovered some surprises in your mom’s kitchen over the years as well.  [Read more…]

Once Upon a Time There was a Jar of Kimchi

Once Upon a Time There Was a Jar of Kimchi

Once Upon a Time There Was a Jar of KimchiOnce Upon a Time There Was a Jar of Kimchi

Did you know that kimchi makes a sound? I never noticed until one fine Summer day.

I had gone to the Korean grocery store in the morning and dropped everything at home before heading back out to run more errands.

My sister had asked me to get the big jar of kimchi and to leave it out of the fridge so it could ripen more. I thought ‘sure, no problem – I won’t even have to take up refrigerator space for it.’

So I bought her kimchi, size extra large as requested, tightened the lid before transport (I can’t have kimchi juice spilling out in my car. Nothing would ever get that smell out!), and left it in the garage. [Read more…]

A Story From a Korean-American Childhood – Stovetop Surprise

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Stovetop Surprise

A Story from a Korean-American Childhood - Stovetop SurpriseA Story From a Korean-American Childhood – Stovetop Surprise

I came home from school one day, absolutely starving. As soon as I walked through the front door, the delicious smell of some sort of vegetable stew greeted my nose.

I followed the scent to a large pot my mother had left on the stove top. I thought to myself, “Yay, Mom left something good to eat!”

Then something started emerging from the murky broth. I couldn’t make it out at first…Was it a green onion? Was it a potato?
So naturally, I poked at it to find out.

It turned over to reveal… [Read more…]