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“Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern - Korean edition”

19 posts
started 3 years ago by Maangchi

latest reply from Hanmin

stanford USA My profile page
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Just what the west needs - a TV show all about "bizarre" foods from around the world. Before you watch the first episode, you can see where this is going: fat bald guy, mugging for the camera, one raised eyebrow, and a book on the subject.

Here's part one of his trip to Korea:

In the first 25 seconds he describes Korean food as stinky, foul, fermented, horrifying, scary, and "a freakshow in a bowl."

Just once I'd like to see TV treat Korean food as regular food that a normal person might want to eat. This is an extreme example, but it's either shown to be "weird" food, or too spicy, or in need of "fusion" with something else, or made into a pizza.

The other extreme is it's shown to be something ancient and foreign and mysterious, with a 5,000 year old reverence, usually with a mention of kings and/or princes.

It's only when some of these 2nd generation Koreans from LA get on TV and something sneaks on the airwaves which treats Korean food as something normal and part of everyday life.

But the day will come when some white people will get on TV and state that they like kimchi, and there's nothing wrong with it.
- Posted 3 years ago
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kumaxx berlin germany My profile page
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i think, the korean episode was okay... i mean, zimmerman says "stinky, foul, nasty" about everything he eats, but it is almost always followed by "tastes glorious".

what i don't like is, that some people might get the illusion that we eat bizzare stuff all the time. i mean, live octopus is not something, i eat on a daily basis. in fact, most times, there is a lot of alcohol involved.
- Posted 3 years ago
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korea4me South Korea My profile page I'm a fan!!
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Okay, I'm a white person. Put me on TV and I will tell the world I love eating kimchi and there's nothing wrong with it! But, you know, kimchi is only a small fraction of the delicious food coming out of Korea! ^__^
- Posted 3 years ago
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korea4me South Korea My profile page I'm a fan!!
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Oh, and Andrew Zimmern's ego is probably bigger than his genitals.
- Posted 3 years ago
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SongMiru NYC My profile page
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I actually saw this episode when it aired, and to tell you the truth I liked it. For those who don't know, the entire premise of the show is to search out the strangest foods both abroad and in the states. If it were a show simply aimed at exploring the cuisines of other countries I could see where people would get upset... but it's not.
Anyways, that's just the way I feel
- Posted 3 years ago
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Reinier Rotterdam, The Netherlands My profile page I'm a fan!!
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Don't worry too much. This programme is more about entertainment and a 'witty' presenter, not só much about exploring a foreign cuisine.
- Posted 3 years ago
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Reinier Rotterdam, The Netherlands My profile page I'm a fan!!
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- Posted 3 years ago
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Maangchi New York City My profile page
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"Andrew Zimmern's ego is probably bigger than his genitals"
awww! korea4me! You are so funny! lol
- Posted 3 years ago
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soko2usa Minnesota My profile page
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I saw the episode too and I liked it. I think he's doing less of jading people against the more exotic ethnic foods and more showcasing it and showing also that there's nothing wrong with it and that a person should keep an open mind. Besides, he's done Bizarre Food Minnesota, Los Angeles (CA), Alaska, New York City, Hawaii, Maine, and Texas, so it's not just other countries. I was really happy he'd done a show in Korea.

Here: http://www.zenkimchi.com/FoodJournal/?p=585

That's a link to ZenKimchi, a blog that wrote about the behind the scenes efforts to set up and shoot Bizarre Food: Korea. It's pretty enlightening.
- Posted 3 years ago
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korea4me South Korea My profile page I'm a fan!!
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Soko2usa said: I think he's doing less of jading people against the more exotic ethnic foods and more showcasing it and showing also that there's nothing wrong with it and that a person should keep an open mind.

If that were true, then why did he say within the opening 25 seconds that Korean food is 'stinky, foul, fermented, horrifying, scary, and "a freakshow in a bowl." This does not encourage open mindedness. In fact, it will further perpetuate that Korean food is full of weird foods that no one in the West would want to taste (unless you are an egotistical American male).

I find his words offensive. Sure, there's food that people in the Western world are going to find weird, however, there are a lot of foods in Korea that are delicious and habit forming and, personally speaking, I will look towards Maangchi for my inspiration, NOT Andrew Zimmern.
- Posted 3 years ago
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stanford USA My profile page
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I admit I didn't watch the whole thing. There might be some kind of warm message to be gleaned from the episode but the intro put me off, and so did that guy mugging for the camera. I have better things to do, quite frankly!

ZenKimchi seems to be setting themselves up as a Korean food fixer for western media, which is great for them, but they're hardly a disinterested voice in the discussion. Of course they will defend the show. But it would be more interesting if they didn't.

They point out an article in the Villiage Voice which has a lot of the same complaints that I do: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/archives/2009/04/reasons_why_i_h.php so apparently I'm not alone.

Like Korea4me says, there's a lot of great food coming out of Korea. I think shows like this are actually underestimating their audience. I think a lot of people are ready to eat - and cook! - things that are "bizarre," but current western TV still thinks that this food has to be wrapped up in a Fear Factor wrapper for anyone to watch a show about it.

People are ready! It's TV that has fallen behind. When Julia Child started her show, people were also ready for a change. And she led with respect, skill, grace and charm. She didn't dig in to the escargot and mug for the camera about how slimy it was.

And she ended up changing how Americans cook and eat.
- Posted 3 years ago
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kumaxx berlin germany My profile page
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well... not to defending zimmerman in person... but come on... it is a tv-trailer to make people interested in the bizarre food he's going to eat. it is "bizarre" food, and people who watch that show don't want to hear "this food is delicious and absolutely not weird at all" in a trailer.

it is bizarre food after all, and it is clearly not the purpose of the show to show the people what kind of lovely food there is in korea, and andrew zimmerman is clearly not the person to advocate korean food in the world. maangchi is of course a much better person for that job.

btw: i thought, zimmermans food wasn't that bizarre. i had much worse to eat and to drink and I'm pretty sure, some things weren't even meant to eat, but just to see, if i would eat or drink it.
- Posted 3 years ago
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soko2usa Minnesota My profile page
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"Soko2usa said: I think he's doing less of jading people against the more exotic ethnic foods and more showcasing it and showing also that there's nothing wrong with it and that a person should keep an open mind.

If that were true, then why did he say within the opening 25 seconds that Korean food is 'stinky, foul, fermented, horrifying, scary, and "a freakshow in a bowl." This does not encourage open mindedness. In fact, it will further perpetuate that Korean food is full of weird foods that no one in the West would want to taste (unless you are an egotistical American male)."

He opens all his shows with words to that effect. I respect your opinion and agree to disagree on some of your points.

There's great food coming out of everywhere nowadays, and just as much odd and strange stuff. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's nice to see some of the more exotic stuff showcased somewhere. Maybe Zimmern's show isn't ideal, but it's something.
- Posted 3 years ago
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korea4me South Korea My profile page I'm a fan!!
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Okay, I'm happy to agree to disagree with those who like Andrew Zimmern and his type of presentation. No surprises that I wont be rushing to You Tube or my television to see more of his programmes (yes, I live in the UK and I think his show is on over here on satellite TV).

I'm with stanford on this one. And Britain has been going through a change for some time, too (so, no, I don't eat fish and chips, mushy peas and pies!). Asian food is very welcomed over here but Korean food is still a mystery especially in Scotland. Maybe I can do something about that! ^}__^
- Posted 3 years ago
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stanford USA My profile page
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Ok then, stay tuned for my new show: "Totally Rational and Completely Sane Foods You Might Want To Eat."
- Posted 3 years ago
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korea4me South Korea My profile page I'm a fan!!
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Sounds good. LOL;-)
- Posted 3 years ago
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iheartkorea America My profile page
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I personally love his show, because he has a unique personality and he is willing to try anything (and I mean anything!!) Don't take the things he says about the food so personally, he's always like this in every country even states here in the U.S. So it's not like he's just picking on Korea. If you keep watching up to(1:20 - 2:10), he has nothing but positive things to say about South Korea.

In order to capture the attention of those watching his show at home he does say weird things about the food, but that's why we watch it!! Bizarre Foods wouldn't be the same if he didn't try the grosses and strangest foods from all over the world, and wave his arms around while eating it. Lol. But his doing that does not turn us away from eating all Korean foods. At least not anyone I know who watches it.
- Posted 3 years ago
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alibsam Seoul My profile page I'm a fan!!
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I found this episode appalling. I've been living in Korea for going on three years and live in the university area he went to for the street food. His behavior was embarrassing to say the least and most of the stuff he ate no one ever eats. Even my Korean friends said they never tried most of that stuff when I made them watch it.
- Posted 3 years ago
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Hanmin ë¯¸êµ My profile page
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Ayie, I hate how so many people often view Korean food as they explain it in the beginning of this video. Korean food is different yes, but it's so delicious! All of my friends think so after trying it for the first time. Even if it was a tiny bit stinky...
- Posted 3 years ago
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