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Ddeok |
Ddeok (떡) is made from rice or glutenous rice, with optional added ingredients, used in a number of foods and candies. In the form of ddeokguk-ddeok, it is often found in ramyeon where it will often be mixed with mandu (dumplings), or in ddeokguk or rice cake soup. Some ddeok is similar to the Japanese mochi (made from glutenous rice.) Ddeok is made by constantly pounding the rice mixture with a hammer until it becomes a gelatinous substance, which can then be boiled, stemed, or fried. It may be coated or layered with bean or barley flour; made from millet; potato; or buckwheat. For flavour or aesthetic appeal, mugwort, beans, raisins, Chinese dates, sesame and other seeds, or chestnuts may be used. Ddeok may be sweet or not.
Broad types of rice cake include:
- 1) Everyday traditional ddeok. There are regional variations. Also included is ddeokguk ddeok ([for rice cake soup]) and ddeokbokki ddeok (for ddeokbokki). The ddeokbokki ddeok is sometimes found made from wheat nowadays - this inferior but less expensive variety has a yellowish color.
- 2) Ceremonial ddeok. This is used for weddings and such and takes many colorful forms. The more ornate creations can cost considerable money, 100,000 won or more.
- 3) Contemporary ddeok. Some people are trying to update ddeok's image. This is currently found mostly in a few shops in larger cities. Some contemporary ddeok is made from rice rather than glutenous rice, so as to reduce the chewiness. This kind of ddeok is attractive, creative, and usually quite bland.
- 4) Ddeok cookies. Sometimes sold where other types of ddeok are not. These puffy lozenge-shaped items are usually coated with something (sesame seeds, coconut, etc) Some are flavored with ginseng. They are especially common around Lunar New Years.
[edit] Ddeok jips (떡 집) and museums
- Tteok and Kitchen Utensil Museum, 164-2 Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-360. Tel. 82.2.741.6521. This place has utensils on the second floor and ddeok on the third floor. Connected with it is:
- Jilsiru Rice Cake Cafe. #1F,164-2,Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul-shi 110-3. Tel: (02) 741-0258/Fax: (02) 741-5415. Another of these cafes is in Insadong. Try the ddeok lunch for 5,000 won - a ddeok sandwich and several pieces of ddeok in different forms.
- Ddeok Street in Seoul is just north of the Nakwon Arcade, north of Tapgol Park. They charge 3000 won though for your basic ddeok - You can get it for 2000 at Dongdaemun Market and vendors inside the turnstyles at Jongno-sam-ga and some other subway stations have small packages of ddeok for 1000 won.
- Siru in Kyeongju. Ornate cakes made of ddeok, gift boxes, squares of ddeok inlayed with flowers. Next to the juk restaurant. Tel: 054 744-9927. [1] http://www.ricesiroo.com Also branches in Busan, Jinju, Changwon, Gumi, Daegu, Andong, Kimhae, Cheongju, Chungju, Cheonam, Hwaseong, Seoul, Bucheon.
- Uri Ddeokbang, a ddeokjip in Samcheok - a nice presentation for their products and tastier than average. (033) 574-1211 (ground line); 016-346-2109 (cell). 104-2 Namyang-dong, Samcheok, Gangwon-do.
The Tteok and Kitchen Utensil Museum (see above) had a display with a number of traditional sayings about ddeok. Here are just a few:
- How lucky I am to have ddeok unexpectedly in the dark of night.
- Unable to eat ddeok, you are inclined to spoil it with a stick for no purpose. (There's the dog-in-a-manger effect...)
- Just watch and have a piece of ddeok without interfering.
- Our partnership is destined and tight like barley-ddeok in the starving season.
- Spring ddeok is welcome even by a dieting hermit.
[edit] External Links
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