Daryl Morgan

Here is my mini interview with Daryl and the photos of korean dishes that she made!  While I interviewed her, I found she is living in the Southern island of Namhae which is my father’s hometown. My father is now buried on the island . Daryl took some pictures of  Namhae. Looking at the photos makes me nostalgic!  Thank you, Daryl!

1. What is your name and where do you live?
My name is Daryl Morgan and I live in Namhae, a beautiful island just off the coast of South Korea.  I’m originally from Cumbria in England – very similar to Namhae.

2. What do you do and how many family members do you have ?
I teach English at Namhae Middle School for boys – I’m in my second year now and I love it – the school, the island and the country.  I have two children, a 25 year old son, Arrian who lives in the Netherlands and a 19 year old daughter, Sara, who is at university in England.

Sukho village, Namhae

wolpo beach, Namhae

3. How often do you cook Korean food following my recipes?
Not as often as I should!  It’s far too easy (and often cheaper) to go to a local restaurant and eat excellent food.  But your site saved my life when I first moved here and knew no-one and nothing.  I would copy the names of ingredients from recipes and read everything in the store until I found what I needed then come home and cook.  I’ve rarely eaten ‘western’ food since I arrived in Korea and I try to cook whenever I can.
4. What are your favorite Korean dishes? Choose 3, please!
Bibimbab, especially dolsot bibimbap, maeuntang and raw fish, though really it would be easier to list the few things I don’t like. I loved the grilled eel here too.

Bibimbap (Mixed rice with vegetables)

ddeok (rice cake soup)

gimbapand yubu chobap

5. What’s your best Korean dish, the one that everybody compliments you on when you make it?
Well, to be honest I haven’t cooked for many people.  I went for my first return visit to England this Christmas with a suitcase full of ingredients, all set to make a special Korean meal for my family.  Unfortunately the airline lost my case and it didn’t arrive until after I left so no-one got to try my bibimbap, kongnamul guk, myulchi bokkeum and tteokbokki that I was planning!  So, the only person I’ve cooked for is my boyfriend and as he is Korean I was very, very nervous.  He says my soon dubu jjigae is perfect, but he would say that, wouldn’t he?.  I love my maeun tang – better than some of the restaurants I’ve been to, even if I say so myself!

soondubujjigae (spicy soft tofu stew)