Posts Tagged ‘California Market’

Gwaja from South Korea: Lotte Leaf Pie

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

자연을 닮은 립파이. The Korean says it’s filled with nature. Get it? Not only is it shaped like a leaf…

Lotte Leaf Pie from South Korea

I enjoyed eating this… Leaf Pie from the Lotte company of South Korea. The label also calls it a premium pastry pie. But mass-produced of course.

There are about 6 or 8 individually foil-wrapped leaf-shaped pastries in the box, which says it sells for 2,000 Korean won in South Korea. I was able to buy it at Gaju Market on sale for 99 American cents. Probably because the expiration date is October 2009.

Ingredients: wheat flour, margarine, sugar, wheat-gluten powder, butter, skimmed milk powder, maple sugar syrup, refined salt, mixed seasoning food, artificial flavor (butter), acidity controller, vitamin E, shortening, cinnamon powder, beata-carotene

Allergy information: contains wheat, soy bean, milk powder

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 3 pieces (29 grams). 2.5 servings per container. Each serving contains 145 calories, 80 from fat. Total fat 7 grams, 4g fromsaturated. No trans fat. Less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol. Sodium 65mg. Total Carbohydrate 19 grams, 1g dietary fiber, 6g sugars. Protein 2 grams. Percent Daily Values: No vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium or iron.

Manufactured by Lotte Confectionery Co., Ltd. Seoul, Korea. Tel: USA 213-688-8806. Korea 2-2635-8722. UPC 8 801062 248896.

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Lotte Butter Coconut Biscuits

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Had a hard time making out what this was from afar. The prominent Korean characters said it was 빠다코코낫 (bbada kokonaht). The coconut part I got but what’s bbada? Sounds almost like 바다 (bada), which means ocean.

Lotte Butter Coconut Biscuits

Closer inspection of the English lettering revealed that it was Butter Coconut Biscuits. Another part of the label said it was Biscuits with Honey. Whatever… I’ll try anything new and on sale, so I bought a box without checking the ingredients, which by the way contained high-fructose corn syrup (yuck!).

You’d think with such a sweetener, they would taste good, but these biscuits were unremarkable. Crisp in texture, but bland in flavor.

Most of the information on the box is in Hangul, but there was a square sticker on the back side listing the ingredients and nutrition facts in English.

Product Name: Butter Coconut 100g. Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, salt, leavening, (sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate), dry beta-carotene 10%, sodium bisulfite, wheat fiber, vegetable shortening (palm), margarine, corn starch, coconut powder, artificial flavor.

Allergy information: contains wheat and coconut.

Nutrition Facts. Serving size: 1/3 pack (33 grams). About 3 servings per container. Each serving: 125 calories, 40 from fat. Total fat 5 grams: saturated 4 grams, no trans fat. No cholesterol. 131 milligrams of sodum. Total carbohydrates 20 grams: 1 gram dietary fiber, 7 grams sugars. Protein 2 grams. Percent Daily Value: 8% vitamin A. No vitamin C, calcium or iron.

Net weight: 100 grams (3.52 ounces). UPC 8 801062 247035

Manufactured by Lotte Confectionery Company, Limited. Seoul, Korea. Tel: USA (213) 688-8806, Korea 2-2635-8722.

Lotte Original since 1979. Promise the Best. There’s a man dressed like a doctor on the side of the box holding up the box. He is identified as the head developer of these biscuits. Quote: “I made this while thinking of my family.” (High-fructose corn syrup???)

Anyhoo, the box says the suggested retail price is 1,000 Korean won. California Market is currently selling it for 50 American cents. These biscuits are not even filling, so don’t bother.

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Mandoo (Korean Dumplings) at California Market

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

On one side of the Korean supermarket California Market (Gaju Mah-ket)

MANDU: Korean Dumplings at California Market

HONG KONG MANDOO = 홍콩만두

I found the name interesting because the initials of Hong Kong, HK, also stand for HanKook, which means Korea. California Market’s chief competitor in this area of Koreatown in HK Super just a few blocks north.

The window sign says “Please knock.” When you do, it opens and you can ask for what you want. They sell fried dumplings, king dumplings (hwang-mandu, which could actually be “emperor” dumplings), steamed bread (jjinbbang), kimchi dumplings, pork dumplings, cold dumplings (neng mandu), shrimp dumplings (se-u mandu) and boiled dumplings.

Price seems to be $7 for a dozen. I’ll check next time I’m there. Mmm, you can probably just go inside the supermarket and order while enjoying the air conditioning, and even sit down to eat. You can buy a bag of mandoo (Aisle 7, frozen foods) and fix them up yourself at home.

The phone number shown (213) 385-2174 has been disconnected.
Gaju Address: 450 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

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California Market Parking Lot

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Parking Lot and Front Entrance of Gaju Market 가주마켓

Kaju Market - front Kaju Market - parking


Pictures taken from Oxford Street, parallel to Western Avenue, which would be behind in this picture. On the left side of this photo would be 5th Street.

This was early in the morning. Korean-American teens say that later in the day there’s an ajosshi (Korean man) who sells freshly made “small honey pancakes” — 호떡 hotteok right by the entrance.

You can see on one of the green signs above the entrance showing a row of Korean dishes that they serve on the premises. I’ve seen a few Korean customers inside enjoy bowls of noodles but I haven’t tried having a “dine-in” meal there yet. It just feels so cramped.

Address: 450 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

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California Market on Western Avenue

Monday, April 13th, 2009

This sign is on the corner of Western Avenue and 5th Street in the city of Los Angeles. Being north of Wilshire Boulevard, it’s technically not Koreatown, but we still refer to this area as Ktown.

Bosco Cake Salon at California Market

The Koreans call this grocery store Gaju or Kaju Mah-ket (Hangul: 가주마켓).

가주 is short for California State, as in the State of California, and 마켓 is the Korean transliteration of the English word “market.”

This store is cramped and sells Korean, American, Japanese and Mexican products at a markup higher than at HK Super, located just a few blocks north. Still, California Market has its charm. As long as you’re not claustrophobic, you can slurp down a bowl of noodles while sitting down inside. If you click on the picture, you’d be able to make out the stylistic logo of Bosco Cake Salon on the premises.

Store Hours: 7 AM to 2 AM (HK Super closes at midnight.)
Address: 450 S Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

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Ginseng Chicken Casserole

Friday, March 13th, 2009

삼계탕 (samgyetang) is Chicken Ginseng Soup. The traditional way of preparing it is to stuff a chicken with rice and boil the whole thing in a broth of ginseng, jujube and ginger. This mix makes it easy to assemble the ingredients!

Samgyetang Mix
화개장터 보신 삼계탕 재료

삼 (sam) means ginseng, 계 (gye) means chicken and 탕 means soup. Samgyetang is chicken ginseng soup!

Ingredients: Sweet rice, red dates, ginseng, dried chestnuts, herb
첩쌀, 대추, 인삼, 밤, 황기

NUTRITION FACTS: Serving size 2 ounces (57 grams)
5 servings per container, 15 calories (no calories from fat???)
Total Fat per serving: 15 grams. 5 grams saturated fat, no trans fat
110 miligrams cholesterol, 27%. 65 milligrams of sodium , 3%
13 grams total carbohydrates , 4%. Dietary fiber, 1 gram 5 %
1 gram sugar. 19 grams protein.

Net Weight: 10 ounces. UPC 7 00619 99089 0

Distributed by Young Chang Food, Inc. 1808 Marengo St., Los Angeles, CA 90033. Price at California Market: $5.89

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