My last night in Daegu, the choice was clear.  Makchang had to be consumed.  I had cautiously enjoyed it my first night in Korea, so I thought, why not.  I’m a foodie…and Daegu is famous for its makchang.

my aunt calls this "man" food

Now if, you’ve forgotten, makchang is pig intestine.  In Daegu style, the innards are first boiled before being grilled on a barbecue and eaten with a spicy daenjang sauce.  I’m realizing that a lot of things are different without adequate amounts of pain medication, soju and jetlag to bolster the courage…This time around…my gut ain’t feeling it.  Me and makchang are destined to have a dysfunctional relationship.  Maybe with another bottle of the Andong soju I could have cleaned my plate, but after 4 good college tries of trying to enjoy the chewy fattiness, I guess I’m not bound to be a serious foodie after all.  The sauce however has possibilities that range far beyond it’s bowel usage, and I plan on making interesting forays into creative uses of makchang sauce.  My hat goes off to Julian and friends who genuinely seem to enjoy what even some Koreans can’t literally stomach.

Also on the menu was marinated eel.

edible eel

It was tastier, and something I’ve had quite a bit, but I was just not in an adventurous culinary mood that evening.  The steamed egg, cold soybeans and eternal side of kimchi made up the larger part of my last meal in Daegu.  On our walk towards finding a cab, Julian’s friend and I shared a surprising love for “My Fair Lady.”  After a rousing chorus of- “Why can’t a woman be more like a man?” and “With a little bit o’luck” my blistering feet found it “loverly” when a taxi was finally hailed.  Since Julian and I had a long day of traveling the next morning, we all said early goodbyes.

korea has world cup fever...from t-shirts to beer bottles

Side note: I’ve been fascinated with all the signs I’ve seen in Korea.  Especially their use of cute animal cartoons to depict what kind of meat they serve in their restaurant!  Since most Americans want to pretend that their meat comes from a styrofoam package in the freezer section of the grocery store, I found it especially hilarious to get ushered into a beef restaurant by a blow up cow doll!  Apparently there was even a certain sam gyop sal restaurant that used to have baby pigs in the front window to attract the guests.  Nothing like staring at a bundle of pink baby pigginess when chowing down on your pork belly!

cow...this way

it's cute, it's pink, it's pork!

a cautionary depiction for soju consumers

mama chang serving up finger lickin' seoul food!