Koreanfest 2006

I'm not sure where posts about festival food go ... forgive me if this isn't it!

I'm very excited about going to Koreanfest tonight and wondered if anyone had been yet this year or was planning to go.

If we remember to take the camera, I will bring back pictures!

http://www.koreanfestival.org/

I stopped by today and enjoyed the tempura combo from one of the stands and enjoyes slightly less the sliced boiled pork hock from another. Next time I'll stick to blood sausage. there were also some white-bean filled donut holes that appealed. Pretty fun way to spend a half-hour on the NW side.

Seth

Seth Zurer wrote:there were also some white-bean filled donut holes that appealed. Pretty fun way to spend a half-hour on the NW side.

Seth

I wonder if you are referring to the little spongy cakes shaped and sized like a walnut? The vendor described the filling as imitation walnut paste. They were so cute and reminded me of the little Hong Kong cakes sold in the streets. I loved them! Does anyone know what they are really called and where they can be purchased during the remainder of the year? I think we purchased them from the booth that was next to the Red Bean Bing Booth. The vendor started w/a "J."

That's right - in fact, the bag they came in had pictures of walnuts. I thought he said white-bean paste, but I could be wrong. they were about half-way between a donut and a pancake and about the size of a golfball.

http://www.koreanfestival.org/festival_map.swf

My friend and I thought it tasted more like a sweet bean paste. I couldn't really distinguish the walnut flavoring myself. I'm only accustomed to red bean paste as opposed to white bean paste.

I had a very nice pork bulgogi from Chung Choon Yul Cha. Very spicy, right off the grill (they had 4 going at once in different stages) and with ribbons of pork fat that normally I'd run from, but seemed just right yesterday. The bulgogi was served with black specked steamed rice and a huge helping of kim chee. The husband really wanted the noodles, but was too full at that point to try them.

Pic of the noodle cups:


Kang Nam had by far the longest line of all the vendors when we were there. I was tempted, but in the end decided that I visit Kang Nam enough the rest of the year to skip it at the fest.






The beer vendors were delighted that we only wanted OB. From the amount of verve they put into yelling "OB" at each other, I think most people had been opting for the $1 less draft beer.


As the light faded, we became more interested in eating and people watching than taking pictures.

Street Scene:


Banner:


It was really nice to be at a fest that was unique to a community.
Happy festing, everybody.

Pucca wrote:I think we purchased them from the booth that was next to the Red Bean Bing Booth. The vendor started w/a "J."

Pucca,

The walnut shaped 'donuts' were quite good, the one I had was filled with red bean paste.



I believe this is the vendor to which you refer.


It's entirely possible they were making more than one type. Either way, it was fun to watch them being made.


A fun fest, Chicago is a great town.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary,

Thank you for posting the pics and answering my questions. I reviewed the map on the website, but nothing really ringed a bell.

My friend told me that these little treats can be purchased at Korean grocery stores. My mom recalled seeing them at the Korean grocery store in Buffalo Grove near Dundee and Arlington Heights Rd. I'll have to check out that source - I hope they are as fresh as they were at the festival.

Christina

I don't know if New York Bakery on Lawrence is still in business but they would have similar bean-paste filled Korean bakery items. When I first moved to Chicago I had a craving for the creme buns had no luck with google or the phone book so I looked up "New York Bakery" - a popular name for k-town bakeries in LA and NYC. Lo and behold, there was indeed a New York Bakery in Chicago and when I called the number, much to my relief, the woman answered in Korean. Creme buns, sponge cakes, red bean and white bean pastries -- pretty good but I had to ask her what was freshest since they've never appeared particularly busy. My theory is that Mondays (after the churches make their big orders) offer the freshest items but this doesn't always pan out.

(I resisted my laziness and found the following...)

New York Bakery
3455 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 604-8820