Anyone here know about Korean customs? My husband is bringing home some

[hedgehog]

fellow engineers visiting from Korea. Should I offer them some cookies? Soda? I know at least some of them will be trying my husband's home brewed beer. Are Koreans lactose intolerant, or could I offer cheese and pretzels with the beer?

I forgot to add - i have several kinds of black tea in the house, plus some Korean green tea.

[MiddleFingerMom]

1. A lot of people assume that visitors from another land...

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...would like something familiar and comforting.
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Some certainly do... but if YOU were VISITING in a foreign country,
wouldn't you want to try something you might never again have the
opportunity to try?
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Do what YOU do best -- what YOU think most people from this country
would enjoy -- (probably not something exotic that we have -- but
something they could go home and tell people about that people in
THIS country enjoy as a snack/hors d'oeuvre.
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I faced that decision when I first lived in Europe... could stick
with hamburgers and mac and cheese, or I could just try EVERYTHING
(almost) that culture had to offer.
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I am SO glad I chose the latter.
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[hedgehog]

2. That's a good thought. I'm mainly trying to avoid inadvertently

insulting and/or poisoning them.

[MiddleFingerMom]

4. This might help.

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Maybe some good cole slaw (if you're not just interested
in finger foods) as an American version of Kimchi (kimchi
is DELICIOUS and very spicy -- all the way to eye-watering).
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From the site:
There are no food taboos, although Buddhist monks may practice
vegetarianism and observe other food taboos.
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http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/South-Korea.html
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I didn't do more than skim the food section, but there could
be other helpful things at that site.
.

[hedgehog]

5. Thanks - that answers the dairy question at least.

:toast:

[mzteris]

8. not to mention -

it would be impossible to prepare it like "momma used to make", ya know?

As a picky eater growing up, I learned to try foods I'd never had because I had no preconceived notions about how it was "supposed" to taste!

The only other thing I would add is that - as with any guests - have a large enough variety so no matter their "preferences" there is something for them to eat. The husband might ask them though if they have any dietary restrictions/requirements - like being vegetarian... nothing's worse than getting somewhere and having nothing on the menu you can eat. (Speaking as a vegetarian...)

[edbermac]

3. I heard Koreans like dog meat.

Of course, you don't have to be THAT hospitable.

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. Awwwww... that li'l doggy looks...

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...disturbingly YUMMY!!!
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I just GOTTA stop dieting.
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[mzteris]

7. cute pic... n/t

[HopeHoops]

9. One word of caution: ginger snaps are considered "hot".

After many occasions of eating with our Korean friends and being shocked at how spicy some of the dishes were, and that their young children didn't seem to notice, my wife got out ginger snaps when they were at our house. They thought they were screaming spicy and couldn't understand how our kids could snarf them back without wincing. It isn't like they don't use ginger, but I don't recall anything with a significant ginger flavor.

I agree with an earlier post - try something you would normally serve to American friends to give them a taste of American food that doesn't come from a chain restaurant. Also, go easy on salt. If they want more they can always add it.

[rcrush]

10. I'm half korean and I'm lactose intolerant

I don't know if all Koreans are. Probably not? :shrug:

They will like the tea and beer probably.

[hedgehog]

11. How far does the lactose intolerance go? Like if I made some cookies with butter in them,

would that be a problem?

I'm thinking it's going to be more like a pretzels and beer occasion. I think I'll lay in a stock of pickles as well. I'm a teetotaler. Do pickles go with beer?

[LynneSin]

12. How about sharing some of your customs with them

I don't know about Korea but I had a friend from Japan visit and she enjoyed some of the things unique to our area (at the time I was still in Philly area).

If they want Korean they would have stayed at home

[RandomThoughts]

13. I want to go to Japan some day, Korea maybe some day.

But I think that mooney guy is there, and that's what I think of when I think of Korea, and his crowning himself in 2003 in senate room, claiming to be king of the world, as it is said he did, and I have not heard him deny it, shows something pretty bad in my view.

...I get a little judgemental when thinking of him, for some reason, might have to think on that, but still don't like what he is reported to have been doing.

[geardaddy]

15. I've been to Seoul and Inchon

and it was cool.

I loved the food and the soju.

[SteppingRazor]

14. I suggest barbecue.

Koreans have their own barbecuing tradition, so they might get a kick out of sampling American barbecue. Take'em out for some Kansas City-style short ribs! :9

[geardaddy]

16. Excellent idea.

I love bulgogi and kalbi.

So, they should love short ribs.

[SteppingRazor]

17. Thanks! Oh, and one other thing for the OP. Since beer is easily the best beverage for BBQ...

I'd suggest just going with a typical domestic. Korean beers, like American, use rice in the brewing process, so your Korean visitors will probably dig a typical Budweiser but might be a bit weirded out by something really bitter or hoppy.

[hedgehog]

18. Barbecue sounds good.

[TK421]

22. That is a fantastic suggestion n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

19. Offer them local delicacies - I see you're in NY state, so some Hennepin beer would be great.

Or whatever brewery is near you.

Plus whatever you might normally eat, and/or is considered a special local delicacy.

As to lactose intolerant, they probably are - but you can likely still get away with some of that awesome NY Cheddar, or cookies with butter. Mostly what will cause a problem is if you give 'em a big glass of milk, or food in a cream sauce.

But generally, the process of turning milk into cheese or yogurt destroys the lactose enough that it won't bother people. Not always - some are still sensitive - but usually.

You can also just do something American - cook up a big steak, make an apple pie (or rhubarb or blueberry or pumpkin, and so on), bratwurst, hotdogs, hushpuppies, corn on the cob, stuff like that.

They might get excited about sauerkraut.

If you have any Inneskill ice wine, serve that. You will show them great honor.

[DevonRex]

20. When are they coming? I can ask someone I know who's been living

there for quite a while.

[MajorChode]

21. Building faulty oil drilling platforms?

Does that count as a custom?