When living abroad one of the things we missed is food aside from our love ones. In Korea there are few Asian stores that sell Asian food items you can mostly find them in a place where there’s an Asian community.  Anyway, while working with my documents to be notarized I have decided to pay a visit at the KC Filipino store just beside the Han Bi Sa notarization office. It is not my first time in the store, my friend and I already ate there when I did my passport renewal.  I think this was my 4th time at the Filipino store, the third time was when I bought polvoron the other day, but this time I want to eat local Filipino viand.

I was happy to see that there’s cooked vegetables left “pakbit” so I have ordered for takeout and it cost ₩5, 000 for a small serving, it  doesn’t even meet the ₱10. 00 cooked vegetables in the Philippines but it doesn’t matter because this is Korea so the price is different.  I’ve ordered one serving of “papaitan” too which I forgot to ask how much. Seeing buko salad for sale I have asked and ordered 2 servings, ₩5, 000 each per serving. It was been a long time since I had this dessert and I just want to treat myself for a job well done in document notarization and one step closer to travel to Europe.

[Pinakbit and 1 serving of buko salad]

Well, looking at the Filipino local items in the store the impulsive shopper me just ask and buy items that I think to be useful.  I have bought a PH Care Feminine wash for ₩12, 000 a little expensive than the ₩8, 000 PH Care Feminine Wash in an Asian store in Itaewon station exit 3, if I am not mistaken about the exit. I have bought my last bottle from there with the help of a friend and I am little lazy to drop there or in the Asian store in our place. I saw Victoria’s secret cologne as well, but when I asked it is kind expensive for me I can buy them in less amount online or in Hyehwa.

Anyway, I was asked what is my job just to start a  conversation like if I am a factory worker, I laughingly replied I am PAL (read palamunin), I am not allowed to work because I am in dependent visa.

[Papaitan before and after removing the soup]

When I saw Ponds facial foam I have bought it too for ₩10, 000 although I knew I can buy them in gmarket for 1+1 in the same price, I am just in a happy mood because I can finally apply for Schengen visa.  When I pay at the counter the total cost of my order is ₩48, 000 so it seems one serving of “papaitan” cost ₩11, 000.  Exiting the door, I saw monggo beans and I bought one for ₩5, 000 I have thought of cooking monggo beans at home.

That’s my shopping haul a little bit pricey,  probably if I bought Korean food, there’s more food in my bag, but Filipino food is a food I can’t eat every day in Korea so I have no choice but to spend and Hyehwa informal Filipino market is only around on Sunday and Wednesday is far over to Sunday. So when my husband asked me how much do I spend on my shopping loot, I didn’t tell an amount I just said cheap, I might get scolded or be called crazy for spending too much despite it is my own money and not his.

Well, I have read once from online community of Filipinas in Facebook that it is a bit expensive to buy in KC Philippine store , I guess because of its location and it is a restaurant with a store unlike in Hyehwa informal market (see Hyehwa shopping here) where viand only cost ₩5, 000 per serving is a market and only open during Sunday. Not sure how much does it cost to dine in Kusina Filipino Restaurant in Seoul, I should try it next time.

I went to downtown today to buy frozen chicken breast, my husband ate boiled chicken breast as part of his work-out meal. I have to go to downtown because they’re not available at the supermarket around us, while waiting for the bus going home I decided to walk inside the World Food (Asian Store) beside the bus stop. I have thought I would just buy Filipino foods for my weekly supplies rather than buying the same food all over again in NongHyup Supermarket.

I have enjoyed looking around and I didn’t notice that I already have a lot of food in my basket but still I went to the vegetable freezer to check if they have Filipino vegetables and I was happy to see that they have string beans, water spinach and bitter melon. It means I don’t need to go to Seoul just to buy these vegetables.

When I pay in the counter the owner handed me free pork noodles which I am thankful with.

On our last shopping day I bought chicken and sprite so I can cook chicken adobo with sprite but unfortunately my husband drink the can of sprite when we had a spicy BHC chicken. So instead I cooked my adobo with string beans and kangkong, I also added the ladies finger because they’re getting old. I bought these vegetables on Sunday at Filipino market in Hyehwa. I just thought it would be easier if I cooked them together rather than separately as I am also planning to cook the vegetables in soy sauce.

Cooking this is just like the normal adobo you just need to add the vegetables when the chicken is already tender. I just used half of the chicken so I will not get tired of eating adobo.

As I am blog hopping today I just felt dizzy then I suddenly remember I am not eating yet,  so I immediately get up the bed and find something to cook in the fridge. What I found is 184g of pork, so  I fried it with its natural oil and chopped some onions, I made my own version of Sisig. Mixing the meat with lazy lime, black pepper, soy sauce  and a little dashed of salt. My grandfather usually prepare Sisig way back then when he is still alive to be there “pulutan” as a child I love tasting what older people eat even sometimes they’re going to tell me, it is not allowed for kids and it will makes me sick.

If you don’t know yet according to Wikipedia  Sisig is a Kapampangan term which means “to snack on something sour”. It usually refers to fruits, often unripe or half-ripe, sometimes dipped in salt and vinegar. It also refers to a method of preparing fish and meat, especially pork, which is marinated in a sour liquid such as lemon juice or vinegar, then seasoned with salt, pepper and other spices. That’s why its popular to Tarlac, because it was originated in Central Luzon.