A message sent to me by a Korean who left Korea long time ago

I would like to share this email with all my blog readers, sent by someone living in Nethelands. She allowed me to post it on my blog.

Hello Maangchi,
This is Soyoung on the other side of the screen. Thank you for your cooking tutorials on YouTube. After living in the Netherlands for almost 30 years, I am starting to miss Korean food very much. I have a Dutch family (so they can’t cook Korean) and the Netherlands isn’t Korea-orientated. So I have to cook it myself with a help of cooking books and internet.
There are some Korean food things I remember when I was little. Maybe you can help me with the recipes?

-Rice cake in different colours with a sweet paste inside (I think bean paste)
– A meety thing on a wooden stick, warmed up in broth (I think), I have no idea what it is , but I still can smell it.

Maangchi, I hope all is fine with you and see you on YouTube. Over and over again! :-)
Right now I am making Kimchi…

Kind Regards,
from Soyoung
The Netherlands

My reply is below:

hi, Soyoung,

Your email makes me feel emotional. I wish I could live near you and cook together sometime.

“Rice cake in different color with sweet bean paste inside”: I know how to make it, sure I will make it someday and mention your name at the beginning of the video.

“meaty thins on a wooden stick”, haha, I think you are talking about “fishcake” called in korean as
odeng.

I can imagine you miss some food that you tasted when you were young in Korea which means you miss all about Korea.

Can I post your email on my blog? If you are ok, I would like to share your touching story with others .

ok, thanks again,

from Maangchi

Here’s the email I received from her this morning:

Hello Maangchi,

It is what you said: Odeng! I recognize it http://seouldailyphoto.com/201
It is fish..aha…that’s why I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Rice cake, sweets for the sweets :-). I have tasted some Chinese but these were sweeter and stickier.

“I can imagine you miss some food that you tasted when you were young in Korea which means you miss all about Korea”
It is remarkable how someone you don’t personally know can “read” you better than the ones who are closer by.
Your sentence really hit me emotionally. Yes, I do miss Korean food & nature.

Please feel free to post my mail on your blog.

Love ‘n Peace on a slice of Dutch cheese,
S (-_-)