Alcohol in Rice Cake

I have been shot by a few curious readers whether rice cake or tteokbokki is permissible for Muslim.

"Hey, just wanna ask if tteok are generally permissible for muslim to eat? Always thought that they contain soju/alcohol...Thanks" - on Crazy Tteok in Hongdae

~by anonymous

Under my investigator mode and some lurking over here and there on Naver and Google search engine, I found some answers:

• what kind of alcohol was put in rice cake


• the term used in Korean for alcohol in food


• how much is the alcohol content in rice cake (in this case: SOGA brand)


• is rice cake permissible for Muslim?

Rice Cake, brand: Soga from Pulmuone   

Image from E-Mart

 

Picture 1: Alcohol put in rice cake is called as 주정

 Picture 2: 발효 알콜 - alcoholic fermentation process

Research 1

Alcohol put in rice cake is called as:

• 주정 (Picture 1) - Ethanol


• 알콜 (Picture 2) - Alcohol

Based on this question,  on Naver; the question was answered in detail.

주정(酒精): 알코올의 한 가지. 술의 주성분으로서 주로 녹말로 만드는 무색투명한 액체.

Ethanol (酒精): one kind of alcohol. Of alcohol as a main component to make mostly colorless and transparent liquid starch.

Research 2

A detail research on alcohol: Alcohol - The Myth and The Realities by Dr. Mian
N. Riaz (He has a Ph.D. and presently working as food scientist
with Texas A&M University in Texas.)

Dr. Mian N. Riaz said:

"Alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol) is usually made from starch,
sugar and other carbohydrates by fermentation with yeast; also,
synthetically from acetylene or ethylene. It is clear, colorless,
very mobile, flammable liquid; a pleasant odor; burning taste;
and miscible with water and with many organic liquids. It is hygroscopic
and relatively nonionic. Ethanol has a slightly sweet taste and
a characteristic aroma."

 "ethyl is the best-known alcohol and the one that concern us most,
as it is the principal alcohol to be found in all alcoholic beverages."

"
There is no any difference between ethyl alcohol and ethanol.
Both are the same thing except two different names."

"Muslims don't have to worry, if they find a
food label statement which says "sugar alcohol."

" The non- alcoholic drinks may not be entirely
free from alcohol, as there is no known process that will extract
all the alcohol from an alcoholic drink.(2)
The small traces of alcohol make the labeling of the beverages
an issue."

"From the above discussion, it is clear all alcohols and liquors
are not same. Some are intoxicants and some are not. Often, alcohol
and liquor are used simply as a description. Therefore, Muslims
should not be confused or worried with terminology. However, if
any intoxicant liquor or alcohol is used in any product then we
should avoid that product. In Islam, all intoxicants are Haram whether
they are in liquid, solid or in any other form and in any quantity."

Research 3

Yahoo Questions: What foods contain ethanol?

"Ethanol CAN be obtained in foods through fermentation. Many
fruits and/or other foods with sugars can ferment in the presence of
yeast. However, this process normally doesn't happen because the food
would need to be in a container that allows CO2 to be released, yet keep
oxygen out. Oxygen effectively stops the process. A good example of
this is bread. Many leavened breads produce a small amount of ethanol
through the yeast reactions."

Research 4

You may read more about Ethanol here.

Research 5

I have personally sent an email to Pulmuone for the rice cake's brand SOGA.

Please ignore my bad Korean.

This is the reply from Pulmuone's representative.

"

안녕하세요.

풀무원이샵 담당자입니다.

풀무원에서는 유통기한을 연장하기 위한 합성첨가물을 사용하지 않기 때문에...

저희 떡, 면 등의 제품에는 유통기한 확보를 위해 주정을 사용합니다.

말씀하신 떡제품에는 떡중량의 0.4%정도의 주정이 사용되며,

이는 대부분 조리과정에서 휘발/ 제거됩니다.

대부분 알콜알레르기가 있으신 분들도 제품에 사용된 주정이 문제되지 않는 수준이므로 

제품 이용에 문제는 없으실 듯 합니다만....

안내드린 내용을 참고하셔서 제품이용을 부탁드립니다.

감사합니다."

Translation (I tried to translate it as best as I could):

"Hello,

I am Pulmuone's representative.

In order not to use synthetic additives to prolong the shelf-life of Pulmuone's product, we use alcohol instead to prolong the shelf-life of the products for example rice cake, noodles and etc.

As the referred rice cake products (SOGA - in my email), from the total weight of the rice cake (which is 600gm of rice cake) 0.4% is the alcohol perused (about 2.4 gm). Most of it (volatile alcohol) will be removed (evaporated) after the cooking process (for example: after making the tteokbokki)

Most people who have alcohol allergy; in other words will not have any problem using the products (from Pulmuone) because of  the alcohol level perused in the products.

We would be glad that you could use our products after the information given as reference. 

Thank you"

Sinchon Uncles' Tteokbokki

The only food that I have missed terribly after I left South Korea - 떡볶이 tteokbokki!!

And...the reason why I only write a review on Sinchon Uncles' Tteokbokki ....now, after so many months. *sigh*



I have been dillydallying and try my hardest not to salivate over pieces of delectable pictures....again and again *dem!! frustrated mode*. This is so killing me softly...

Why am I wearing winter clothes?! O-O

Feia and me visited Uncles Tteokbokki on 21.02.2013

엉클스(Uncles) in Sinchon 신촌 is infamous for serving tteokbokki with a wickedly huge, tender in the inside but crispy on the outside fried squid 통오징어 튀김 (tong ojingeo twigim).



I am so thankful to KBS documentary - VJ특공대 for having the restaurant in their show. The documentary (다큐) has been my bible for finding good and reliable 맛집 all around South Korea other than Wingspoon food portal.



Anywhooo...surprise...surprise!! Uncles' Tteokbokki is situated just next to that famous-spicy-sambal-sotong restaurant - Gosami!!



Why have I never realized this little gem before.....? *sigh* When it comes to food in Sinchon, it is always just Gosami in my subconcious mind but now...ahah! Another light bulb...^_______________^



Direction....no problemo; just next to Gosami.

Feia suggested 복숭아쿨피스 (Peach Koolpis*...ohoho..pun aside)

I thought the juice went really well with the tteokbokki. You might need

to try one yourself to vouch for the taste too!

Here is the review for 복숭아쿨피스 (Peach Koolpise) on Naver blog but it is entirely in Korean. 

I was like...seriously?? seriously, a review??!!....hehehe..

If you're linguistically challenged by all means, read it. Practise reading Hangul more and get your lazy bum away from oggling at KPop idols!! Hahaha...*me talking to me self ya know...*



Now..now...don't deviate from the REAL story...let's talk more about this tteokbokki shall we?



The taste? Heavenly

The portion? Enough for 2 people ( I swear that Feia gobbled most of the portion away...heheh...just joking Feia)

The ambiance? Kinda inviting, we loved the place for sure.

The price? 3,800 won per pax for the tteokbokki + 6,000 won for ojingeo twigim (fried squid) and 3,000 won for the juice. (price may change). Our total = 16,600 won.

Almost cleaned plate..except for one or two pieces of rice cake left.

Although I am a tteok-bo but I just couldn't finish the hearty meal.

More mouthwatering revealing pictures of this superb Uncles Tteokbokki in Sinchon - A review by Orange

Crazy Tteok in Hongdae

This restaurant was recommended by Feia and she brought me and her sister for lunch after a leisure walk on a cool and breezy winter day around Hongdae Graffiti stretch.

t

Nadiah and Feia in front of the Crazy Tteok.

This was during winter 2013..around February.

The restaurant's ambiance is quite good, playing with red and yellow as the principal color of a pot of spicy tteokbokki. Nyammmmm!!

Don't forget to wear your apron!

The tteokbokki we had was quite delicious. The seafood portion was aplenty but somehow... lacking at least to my taste bud but Nadiah and Feia loved it. We ordered the seafood tteokbokki set and it came with tempura or twigim set.



I emphasized 'quite' there just because I still prefer 먹쉬돈나; the one in Samcheongdong area. Other 먹쉬돈나's franchise in Myeongdong or Sinchon were not that delicious as compared to the one in Samcheongdong.



As you know, taste is pretty a subjective matter. Some people like it, some people don't. However, you should give this restaurant a shot if you ever have a craving of tteokbokki and happened to be around Hongdae area.



If you come during lunch hour and choose the set menu, fish roe fried rice with cheese is on the house.

Don't forget to try the Coolpis juice (쿨피스). Pineapple flavor is a great complement of this dish.



Ooopss..before I forget, you have to choose the spiciness level (from Level -1, 0 and 1 as told by Feia...weird level though..hehe). Trust me, level 1 is spicy enough.



매운 단계는 일 단계로요.

Meun dangye nen il dangyeroyo.

Spiciness level is level 1.



As usual, the magic sentence:



고기나 햄을 빼 주세요 / 고기나 햄을 놓지 마세요

gogi na ham el pae juseyo / gogi na ham el nochi maseyo

Please remove meat or ham / Please don't put in meat or ham





How to go to Crazy Tteok?

Go to Hongik Station, Line 2, Exit 9. Right after walking out from the exit turn left and walk until you find a small park and you might see some youngsters busking their own music.



Then take a right turn and make sure to look at the stretch of shops on your left just before the main road, Crazy Tteok is situated on the second floor above 'Oleavage'

Nipong Naepong Restaurant at Ewha University

On my last hunt for Jjamppong in Hongdae, I found another worthy restaurant to try near Ewha University through Naver (Korean search engine).



Being a freelance tour guide, it's becoming a situation for me to vary the restaurant that I will visit. This is because the problem is with me! ^^ Hehehe..



My guests would find it an amazing experience to savour Korean dish but for me who had the same meal like once a week at the same restaurant?? A big big issue. Hot issue. ^^



I was even asked by the cute waiter in Gosami "Aren't you sick of our food?" That made me think...hmm..kinda, but Gosami is good!! Two thumbs up!!



This time I found a gem. Nipong Naepong.

They serve fusion jjamppong and pizza.

They also have set menu:

Set 1 - 2 types of jjamppong, a pan of sweet potato pizza and a soda for 21,900 won

Set 2 - 2 types of jjamppong, a pan of garlic pizza and a soda for 20,900 won



Tip: The jjamppong serving is huge. I think it's better to share the set menu for 3 to 4 pax.

Warning: Just avoid Alaska ppong as it contains meat.

Sweet potato pizza, cha ppong, Italia ppong (like carbonara) 

and Thailang ppong (like fried udon).

The Chappong (Chinese jjamppong) is kinda spicy and have level of spiciness from Level 1 to 3. My advice is to stick to level 1. It's spicy enough. Trust me on this one. Hehehe.



I love the ambiance in Nipong Naepong Ewha University's joint. Feia had been to Myeongdong's joint but the ambiance was not as great as in Ewha she said.

With Feia and Syahir's family. See that huge portion? I ordered

one jjamppong each and we couldn't finish everything. T_T

So far I had been there with 2 groups of my guests and with Feia too and all of them vouched the food was quite good and I think they suit Malaysian's palate.



From the 6 types of jjamppong served, one of them contains meat - Alaska ppong. I asked the waiter to exclude meat if they cook it but she was kinda reluctant. So I just stick to my five other menus which she told me contain no meat, just seafood.



My favorite: Spanish ppong - cause it's not spicy and Thailand ppong - cause I just miss Mee Goreng Mamak. T_T

Huda, Acik Salamah and Baby Fateh couldn't keep

his eyes off from the delicious sweet potato pizza.

However as usual, you have to remind them these secret passages:



고기나 햄을 빼 주세요 / 고기나 햄을 놓지 마세요

gogi na ham el pae juseyo / gogi na ham el nochi maseyo

Please remove meat or ham / Please don't put in meat or ham



How to go to Nipong Naepong?

Ewha University joint - go to Ewha University subway station, line 2, exit 3. Walk down the main road towards Ewha University and turn right on the first junction. Walk up the hill about 20 meters and the restaurant is on your left.

Myeongdong joint - go to Myeongdong subway station, line 4, exit 8. Walk on the junction on your left until you find Basic House clothing shop on your right and then turn left into the alley in front of the shop. Nipong Naepong is on the second floor.

Mouse Rabbit Super Junior Yesung's Cafe

Love..love..love..*can I just sing?* lalala...lalilulila...

Such pretty voice Yesung has and such a pretty cafe'.



Thanks to Feia's suggestion, we went to Yesung's Mouse Rabbit Cafe' after visiting Seodaemun Prison on a bright snowy day. Wait...the cafe' and the prison are not related by all means. Don't get me wrong.

But Yesung can always imprison me in that cafe'. I'm all yours...hahah. 이 아줌마 참...ㅋㅋㅋ



The location might not be so classy like Apgujeong or Sinsadong but the cafe' speaks for itself. Once I'm inside, I didn't want to leave.



Seriously. Especially the basement.

The basement has a fireplace (not real) and rose petals covered floor. Such a detailed man. Feia told me Yesung personally threw in the idea for the interior design of Mouse Rabbit Cafe'.

Anyway, what is it with that cute name for a cafe'? Aigoo...such a cutie.



There was no sight of Yesung but I saw two elderly managing the counter. They could be Yesung's parents, no? Another two young ladies were helping them. Maybe they are his relatives. If Yesung was the one taking our orders, I could be out of my mind. Thank gawddddd...hehe.

Cappuccino, green tea latte, Crepe and marble cheese cake.

Thanks Feia for this delicious treat!!

As usual, I had my cappuccino, nothing too great but I kept raving about the ambiance to Feia. I hope she didn't get bored due to my relentless compliment on Yesung.



Wait a minute..I have only known one Yesung's song that is from Cinderella's Sister's OST. ^^ 더 찾아봐야지...ㅋㅋㅋ



How to go to Mouse Rabbit Cafe'?

Go to Konkuk University Station (건대입구역), Line 2 or 7, get out from exit 2, walk towards your left and go straight. The cafe' is after you pass three alleys on your left.

Once you found this building (like SangSang building in Hongdae), 

walk through this alley and Mouse Rabbit Cafe' will be about 10 meters away.

This Naver blogger: Woni, caught Yesung in action at Mouse Rabbit Cafe'. She's so lucky!

Sonppong - Jjamppong and Pizza in Hongdae

Do you remember Ahn Jung Geun?



Nahhh...he's not a K-pop talent. He's a patriot! Wow...sounds cool right?



But this is cooler..look at what I found!! A restaurant bearing Ahn Jung Geung's infamous hand sign 'extracted ring fingger'.

That sounds so wrong and gross for a restaurant..it is not a 'bloody' restaurant. Ooppss sorry for the pun. Sonppong restaurant is a cool place to chill out and meet friends.

I definitely love the food and the ambiance.



I was actually looking for Jjamppong in Hongdae via Naver search engine and I found this restaurant. Not that hard to find, if you have been to Hongdae and know where the location of Coffee Prince Cafe' is.

Sonppong's  are fusion jjamppong with pizza as another dish. The setting is simple, the ambiance is inviting and the food was done just right.



You have to remind the waiter to remove any meat or ham though like this:



고기나 햄을 빼 주세요 / 고기나 햄을 놓지 마세요

gogi na ham el pae juseyo / gogi na ham el nochi maseyo

Please remove meat or ham / Plese don't put in meat or ham



I love the original jjamppong that they serve. It reminded me of Tomyam..ok..not that close cause it's not that spicier, no sour taste but the overall taste is balanced in this jjamppong and I quite love it.



The only pizza that I can eat is the sweet potato pizza. Nothing too great cause I love Pizza School sweet potato pizza better.

We took a set menu: jjamppong + pizza + soft drink for 2 pax is 16,000 won.



How to go to Sonppong in Hongdae?

Go to Hongik Station, Line 2, Exit 8 and turn right after the exit and walk towards the first junction in front of you.



Walk straight until you see a little park on your left, cross the first small roundabout and turn left passing all the BBQ restaurants.



Walk until you see the second roundabout and turn right at the junction.



Walk until you find the signboard for Wausan-ro 29 Da-gil and turn right.



It would take you about 10 minutes walk from Hongik Station to the restaurant.



This restaurant has been designed by 3plusdesign.

Sundubu Sesame Stew at Gwanghwamun

One of the privileges of learning and knowing Korean language is you have the ability to understand speeches in train..ㅋㅋㅋ and to some extend open to many options you could have while travelling in Korea.



But learning is not easy..as always. ^^



Anyway..that's not my point here..omigod..so that's why I always failed my essay test. Now I know that my teacher is always right! Huhu...



Anyways..*can 'anyway' be plural?* hahaha..so you see why I blabber so much on my intro.



I was famished cause I haven't had my breakfast and was out to assist Min Young on her quest to do Working Holiday in Europe. O-O...nope, I'm not going with her. Rest assured. I need more gold to go..not a typo. Yes gold aka $$$.



So before we checked out Working Holiday office, we went for a quick lunch but I have no idea on what should I eat today? You know...sometimes you kinda have this problem..right? Like..I don't wanna eat rice today..hmm..what should I eat...bla bla bla.



Since it was lunch hour, we decided to follow a group of men in black suits. Hahha..that was so random!!

See..all men in black. ^^

My justification: They are office workers so they must be going out for lunch now and they probably know where is a good place to have lunch.



BINGO!



We were right! ^^ I am so proud of myself.

Some of you might be scared to enter this restaurant. It looks like PAMA's restaurant (Papa and Mama) where there's no English menu and no foreigner ever stepped in.

But...I am so in love with their Sundubu Sesame Stew (영양순두부들깨탕 - yeongyang sundubu derkke tang) for 6,000won.

The taste is so heavenly. 고소하다...I love tofu and I love sesame. They are a perfect match made in heaven. I couldn't finish the whole thing..too much for my stomach. The side dishes are cabbage kimchi, radish kimchi, seaweed, peanut and achovies and spicy mackerel...nyamm!!

We were lucky that we didn't have to wait during lunch hour and this was after the storm...huhu.

How to go to 감미 가정식백반 (Gam mi Ka jeong shik baek ban)?

Get out from Gwanghwamun Station, Line 5, Exit 7 and walk towards Gyeonghuigung palace; about 400 to 500 meters. Once you pass the palace's main gate, the restaurant is just about 5 meters away.  

Mokmyeoksanbang - Hanok restaurant

It's a serene spot to dine. Maybe because of winter?



Hmm..I bet this restaurant will have breathtaking view in any season. That doesn't matter. Just go and dine here. ^^

I was glad that I chose a day when snowfall was predicted. It haven't snowed for more than a week and today it snowed pretty hard.



The snow drenched my coat alright but in exchange of magnificent view. Ahhhh...so priceless. Subhanallah.



I came slightly before lunch hour so the restaurant is not crowded...yet. The waiter asked me to pay for the meal first at the counter and then pick it up once I'm buzzed.

Hardly one minute and I was buzzed to take my Bibimbap.



This is one pretty Bibimbap..and I love the pungent smell of sesame oil. It's not too overpowering unlike some other restaurants.  Maybe they use better quality of sesame oil...hmm, I'm not too sure.



I love the gochujang sauce too. The spiciness, the sweetness, the saltiness are balanced. Once mixed with rice and the side dishes; wonderful.

The menu with price list.

Bibimbap is hardly a dish where Rain called it '개밥' in the Korean Drama - Full House ^^. However, I found that the bibimbap in Mokmyeoksanbang is quite tastier compared to other restaurants that I have tried.



The lasting memories that I have about Mokmyeoksanbang was the accompanying tea in the kettle. It's Nurungji tea (누룽지차). Nurungji is the crust of overcooked rice and the aroma is quite pleasant. I'm gonna miss this memory. T_T



Back home in Malaysia, I would just give the crust to the chicken but I learned a lesson here in Korea - not to waste food. When I was wwoofing, my host normally would put some water inside the rice cooker pot after she has scooped all the rice. This will be served after we finish our lunch or dinner.

How to go to Mokmyeoksanbang 목멱산방?



There are a few routes to go to Mokmyeoksanbang.



Route 1



The easiest way for me is, after you visit Namsan Tower, take bus number 02 from the base and once the announcement in the bus said: 남산산책로입구B코스 (Namsan Sanchekno Ibku B kose), press the bell.



It will stop near this entrance of Namsan park.

Walk up from this entrance until you reach the restaurant..about 5 minutes walk.



Route 2



However, since I have visited the Cartoon Museum and Animation Center earlier which was nearby, I will show the route from here.



Go to Myeongdong Station, Line 4, Exit 1.

Once you go out from the exit, just make a u-turn and then follow the route below.

You will see Red Cross building on your right and from afar after the traffic light is the Seoul Cartoon Museum on your left. If you walk a bit more you will pass by the Animation Center which is just next to Seoul Cartoon Museum.

Just trail the main road towards Namsan Cable Car Station until you see this staircase on your left.

Walk across the zebra-crossing and let's exercise..hehe. Slowly..counting the steps up. It's worthy for every painful step you take. After you reach the end of the staircase, turn right and walk until you reach the restaurant.



Check out this Naver blog by verygo2d for summer view.