Shokugeki no Soma - Anime

Back in the day there was an interesting anime I watched that focused on bread, Yakitate Japan. It was a culinary show and despite the odd image one would have when you try to picture anime and bread it was quite a fun anime to pass the time with as the baker protagonist created various dishes that evoked extreme reactions from whoever tasted his amazing bread.

In a recent batch of anime I was given to enjoy, I had the pleasure of reliving the joys of another culinary show that had a similar premise to Yakitate Japan, except instead of focusing on bread this show turned your attention to food in general. Shokugeki no Souma takes you into the kitchen and hypes you up for the process of cooking as you watch the protagonist create his various dishes with seemingly random resources, all of which are targeted at being consumer friendly and relatable to the affordable pocket.

The main story follows a young chef, Yukihira Soma, who strives to beat his father’s cooking and become the best chef in the world. He also takes pride in the cooking he grew up learning in his father’s little diner and wants to become the best while serving his common style cooking that is available to the average customer and not just the ‘elite’.

But despite being a great chef, Soma has an unfortunate habit, picked up from his father, of experimenting with new dishes which almost always turn out horrible and the poor taste testers of these dishes always tend to be his friends.

The show is very light and full of humour that has you laughing along with learning a thing or two about the culinary arts. One thing in particular that’s quite noticeable is the reactions that the characters have when tasting delicious food. If ever you could apply the term ‘food porn’ to a place, here would definitely be it.

Another thing I like about the anime is probably a bit cliché but screw it – it works for me. I like that the protagonist is talented and strong enough to take on tough opponents from the get go and generally comes across as the underdog type. It makes for fun viewing and it also brings about some anticipation for when he might be really challenged and maybe knocked around a bit. That might sound sadistic, but it’ll be interesting to see how he recovers and such from blows like that. After all we can’t have him only winning all the time, where would be the fun in that?

Anyway, the anime is worth watching, if only to make yourself hungry for the food that is so deliciously drawn and presented on screen. 

Gotcha pork roast 

Dae Jang Kum - Korean Restaurant

So nice I tried it twice ^o^!

The taste of Korean food is an interesting experience, one I’m glad I got to repeat recently with a few friends and family at a local Korean restaurant in Rivonia.

Taking the opportunity to drag along two newcomers to the brilliance of the spicy flavours of Korean cooking I had the chance to enjoy a good Korean BBQ along with some other dishes that blew our minds and no doubt will have us going back with more people, even if I have to bribe them with the possibility of karaoke in the back which I was surprised to discover was a feature at the place we were eating!

But back to the tasty stuff! First the amazing side dishes of the staple kimchi, which I have to admit I’m glad was slightly milder than my first experience of the stuff. The spicy cabbage was delicious all on its own so you can only imagine what it was like adding it to the other stuff. Definitely wouldn’t mind some more and I’m not one to like the hot stuff.

Then there was the grated potato, some mini omelettes, bean sprouts, a different kind of polony, Chinese cabbage and a grated sweet and spicy orangey something I don’t particularly know but would like to eat again. Needless to say there were a lot of little side dishes and it’s amazing what they could do to fill you up.

Our main mission of the evening was of course the Korean BBQ, so we headed straight for some pork belly that we could cook right there in the centre of the table, a feature I really like. Our other options were seafood themed as we chowed down on some spicy tempura prawns and another BBQ option that was unfortunately grilled elsewhere as our table grill couldn’t handle all the meats at once.

Though the octopus was not grilled to deliciousness before my eyes I still enjoyed its squishy meat to its full extent as did my companions who even went searching the empty plant for more long after the last squid had been consumed. That’s how good it was.

And then the Omurice~! I have waited a long time to try this and I blame all the Kdramas I have ever watched for this anticipation. The look was on point, which is a stupid thing to note, but there you go. Then there was the taste… omo* I finally understand why it’s in almost every Kdrama and why every human should try it at least once. It’s not the best, most world smashing dish you’ll ever find, but it’s homey and warm and worth a nibble or two.

Then there was the spicy ddukbokki, the Korean spicy rice cake. Now I have to emphasize how much I don’t like spicy foods, but for some reason I couldn’t stop taking a bite out of this. I think years of my dad’s [who is not Asian I might add] cooking has killed my taste buds or it was just simply that good, I don’t know. But whatever it is, the answer is that my tongue and whatever taste buds I have left now hate me. Either way, it was all totally worth it.

Dae Jang Kum, I will see you again [and again...] and hopefully I will be singing in that room where I heard some people enjoying themselves with the karaoke!


Note: I realised only after I wrote this that I already made a review on this place a while back, but it never hurts to have more than one, especially since this time round I got to enjoy more stuffs on the menu ^o^! If you want to read my first thoughts on this place, you can go here.

Location: Corner 9th Avenue & Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia, Sandton


*omo – expression of surprise*

Dae Jang Kum - Restaurant

Corner 9th Avenue & Rivonia Boulevard, Rivonia, Sandton
Open: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm MON-SAT & 3:00pm – 10:00pm SUN

Recently I had the pleasure of experiencing the taste of a Korean BBQ for the first time and I have to admit, it probably won’t be the last time I go looking for it.

The Dae Jang Kum restaurant was indeed an interesting experience, from the full-on Korean menu that ensured you no other option but to dig into some Korean cuisine, to the intriguing table design that had you cooking your own food right there in the centre. I liked it all. 

The atmosphere was pleasant and perfect for a group outing. The quirky tables that were equipped with the mini braai* in the centre were closed off from other tables. So while one could hear the loud chatter that echoed from the other tables, you didn't have any visuals to distract you from your own business.

Frankly I find the table isolation both a pro and a con in such a setting. The pro bordering on the fact that each group is given their privacy to conduct themselves as they wish while enjoying the company of their companions, be it for a quiet experience with family or the loud chatter that is born from friends catching up on their lives. It gives those anxious few a relaxed area in which they are able to just eat in the comfort of knowing no random stranger watches you take every bite while giving a running commentary to their own companions.

The con of it can be drawn from the fact that most groups seem to thrive on watching others enjoy their meals, whether it is for entertainment or simply because they wish to learn how exactly one should eat a specific dish. Sometimes these reactions also tend to direct your menu choices as you are able to observe the least favourite dishes that people are less than keen on finishing and from there make your own selection accordingly. 

Once your choices have been made, a waitress can be summoned by a pretty cool device that once pressed announces to the front reception that your table requires assistance. I find this convenience a nice change to the endless flapping of arms and tired whistles that is such common practice in other places.

As me and my companions had opted for the Korean BBQ, we were treated to the interesting experience of having our meat cooked before our eyes by the very efficient waitress.

The meat was thinly cut and sauced before being brought to the table, but once it was laid across the grill over it wasn't long before it began to sizzle. The waitress then brought the complimentary side dishes that are so common in Korean cuisine and I was finally able to experience the infamous staple of Korea, kimchi.

I loved every minute of it.

~

It’s been in my experience that Korean food is hard to come by [in my part of the world] and after my recent visit to Dae Jang Kum for some Korean BBQ, I have to ask , WHY?

I’ll admit that kimchi is indeed…something special. But surely that shouldn't be the only reason >.<!

Also, interestingly enough, any SA citizen knows that ‘BBQ’ is meant for the flavour of potato chips and maybe that sauce you buy for your Braai to smother all over your meat. But I guarantee this experience to maybe change that thinking just a teeny tiny bit ^o^/

*Braai = BBQ = grilling of meat over open fire/controlled fire