Yaw boh seh yoh!

That’s “hello” in Korean. Like many Singaporeans, I have been swept up in the Korean wave sweeping across Asia in the last few years. Prior to that I was a J-Pop fan. I still love J-Pop but the lack of airtime dedicated to it by our mainstream media is one reason for my acceptance, albeit ‘forced’ initially, of K-Pop.

A reason for my initial resistance to K-Pop was its, previously, synonymity with the ‘plasticky’ and fake looking props a la Taiwanese serials. What changed my impression was the visually stunning and more than authentic settings of Daejanggum or more popularly known to Singaporeans as 大长金. The fact that 大长金 chronicles, although historically inaccurately, the epic tale of a woman’s struggle against a feudalistic imperial and social system, is enough reason for me to follow it. Being a person who feels for the underdog who triumphs at the end of the day, this show was tailor made for people like me. Following 大长金 was my wife’s second offering of My Lovely Samsoon. Another wonderful Korean production.

TV serials aside, my taste buds have also started to enjoy all things Koreans. Kimchi has to be my favourite Korean dish. Leaving a sourish, spicy aftertaste in the mouth, kimchi is heavenly on its own, in soups, or taken with plain rice. That’s versatility for you.

Recently, I had the good fortune of visiting the Crystal Jade Korean BBQ and Ginseng Chicken. I had good memories of the restaurant since my first and last visit there some years back. My latest visit was a fortuitous one. Fortunate in that it was accidental since my wife, in-laws and myself were not able to make up our minds on where to have our dinner. In the end, my wife, with her insatiable appetite for Korean cuisine, came up with the fantastic idea of dining there.

Instead of ordering a la cartedishes, which I did in my first visit, we decided to take on the Set B Dinner Menu. At around $120, the set dinner for 4, consists of BBQ and several Korean dishes. Starting with the very delicious yet simple appetisers above.

The golden rimmed grill was a sight to behold when the waitress lifted up the wooden cover. Slightly oiled, the grill was heated up with a flick of a switch. As the oil started sizzling, plates laden with juicy meats started appearing on the table. There were thinly sliced beef, sliced pork shoulder meat, chicken fillet and this huge strip of beef, not sure which part it came from the cow, that ends with a huge piece of bone.

The smell was heavenly as we started BBQing the meats. My mouth was watering as the fat on the meat sizzled and crackled on the grill. My sensory apparatus were going into overdrive as my eyes, nose and ears pick up “tasty” signals. Quivering with excitement, my chopsticks began circling the helpless slices of meat. Holding me back was the need to maintain a cold and calm composure in front of my in-laws. Already having a reputation with them for being a “good eater”, taking the next step to the “greedy” level is not something I want.

Feasting on the well seasoned and perfectly BBQed meats were heavenly. Browned at the edges, the juices were locked into the meat by careful, yet continuous, turning of the meat on the grills. The meat literally melts in your mouth.

We were all stuffed by the time all 4 plates of meat were cleaned out. That’s only part of the meal. In quick succession, 3 other dishes landed on our table. There was the grilled soba fish, the Chicken Ginseng Soup and a dish consisting of fatty roasted pork and big slices of kimchi for wrapping the fatty morsels.

Shall not entice you further with their descriptions. Instead, I will show you a picture of the Ginseng Chicken Soup, plus the stuffing they cooked it with. In the foreground, we have the really tasty chicken soup with the tenderest of chicken thigh. Further back, you will see the stuffing which essentially consists of glutinous rice, chestnut, red dates, ginseng and some other herbs. The stuffing is really tasty. Can readily attest to that since I downed most of it while m wife and in-laws were distracted with conversation.

Not a drop of soup, sliver of chicken flesh, nor a grain of glutinous rice was visible after I went through the dish. Its as if the chicken, rice and soup never did exist. He… He…. Not everyone can eat as fast, or as stealthily as The Fieldmarshal.