Korean Slate

Chuseok or Chusok (Hangul: 추석; Hanja: 秋夕) is celebrated on the 15th day of the eigth month of the lunar calendar. This year it falls on October 3rd according to the Western calendar. That’s Saturday!

What you see in the picture is my hand being dwarfed by a gigantic Korean shingo pear, one of the traditional fruits laid out during the holiday. This one pear will set you back $2.99 American.

Round fruits like grapes and humongous Fuji apples are other holiday favorites. Watermelon, cantaloupe (“melon”), pineapple, chame (muskmelons?) and even bananas show up on the table too. The more, the merrier!

One of the special foods prepared during the Chuseok holiday is songpyeon (송편), a crescent-shaped rice cake that is steamed on pine needles. Then of course there’s the now ubiquitous bulgogi and also mandoo, which are dumplings, and noodles called japchae.

Be sure to visit one of the Korean supermarkets in Los Angeles to snap up seasonal treats like those crispy rice thingies and especially song-pyeon!!!