This is the first installment of Bryant Backyard Border Bouncing.  See our “About” page for details.

Our first country….Korea!  We were fortunate to find multiple books on North and South Korea at the library.  Some were more for younger kids and some for older, but we got something out of each.  We learned a few simple phrases, but they weren’t easy to remember!  We talked a bit about the war between the two countries, and the differences between them now.  While going in to about as much detail as one would with small kids, we explained that some parts of the world do not have the freedoms and luxuries that we do, while those living in the bordering country actually have lifestyles much like ours.

While there are several options in the surrounding area, we chose Bando Restaurant, on the far northeast side of Indianapolis.  The goal was to try as much as possible, but at the same time, find dishes the kids would eat.  Possibly my favorite part was the assortment of appetizers set out for each restaurant patron upon arrival.  I could have just snacked on them all night.  Some were more savory, with some being quite spicy.  I particularly enjoyed the fish cakes and the various varieties of kimchi.

Here’s what we ordered:

For the girls:  Gyoza – dumplings filled with meat and veggies with dipping sauce, and Kimbap, a Korean variety of sushi

For us:  Ttok Bokki – spicy rice cake with fish cake and mixed vegetables (very spicy, which I loved), and bulgogi – broiled marinated tender beef with green pepper and onion, both dishes that Korea is known for.  Ours came with shrimp and vegetable tempura.

The girls enjoyed some things more than others.  The oldest did pretty well with all of it, and the youngest really enjoyed the Kimbap.  Unfortunately, the middle daughter slept from the time we left the house until the time we got home, over two and a half hours.

What we really loved about the experience was the service.  We had multiple people (I believe many were family) helping us throughout, and they all loved the girls, were really good with them, and were very tolerant of and helpful with their messes.

On the way home, we stopped at Saraga, an amazing large international grocery store on our side of town, to pick up a few things for Sunday’s dinner.

Sunday dinner was also delicious, if I do say so myself!  We made another dish that Korea is known for:  Bi Bim Bop.  I used marinated mushrooms, green bean kimchi, and seaweed salad from Saraga, and made my own pickled carrots, sautéed spinach with garlic, seared tofu, cucumber and sprouts doused with sesame oil and seeds, and homemade sauce, made of tamari, brown sugar, rice vinegar, honey, and gochujang, a chili pepper paste that can be found at Asian or international grocery stores, and has recently been spotted even at major grocery stores in town.

Bi Bim Bop, literally translated, means “mixed rice.”  Cooked rice is topped with all of the ingredients, a fried egg, and sauce, then mixed together before eating.  I was personally a huge fan, and will be making it again.  The girls did well eating some of the elements, but not necessarily all of it together.  We also came across a YouTube video of a kid’s book called “Bi Bim Bop!” by Linda Sue Park, which the girls have requested to watch several time since.  It really tied it all together.

While I would like to have done a bit more exploring on YouTube and reading to them about the country, it was a trial-by-fire for this first go-round, and we’ll add on more for our next country.  Coming up next:  Brazil.  Stay tuned!