Kebab? No, It's a Falafel Sandwich

Yup, since I couldn't eat any meat....hmmm just ordered this vegetarian falafel which was delicious. hmm so yummy. I never thought that I could go into a Turkish kebab restaurant since it's always like a no-no for me to go inside. Of course, the only reason was no other than me being a vegetarian. I have been so oblivious that there are other menu I could choose from. Better yet, I could actually order things without meat in it. 

Well, it's my preconception of Kebab is all about...what Kebab restaurant is all about. This kind of thought kept me from even...stepping my feet inside the restaurant.

So, every Friday after Friday prayer, lots of my friends just cannot wait to go in line and order their favorite Kebab. It's halal, to give it a plus...advantage. 

Then....a whole new world of possibility just opened up for me: Falafel. Veggie Falafel.

Jajanan Hari ke-4

The fourth day of snack order! we got to fulfill the need of some tourists visiting Korea^^ of course, what we make is 100% halal. insyaallah.^^ kosher...kosher..kosher.

We mad "kroket" hmm I wonder what it is in English. *spelling check please^^

It's filled with tuna, sweet corn, cheese, and other chopped vegetables...^^ 

plus....fruit pudding .....and brownies....with some overcooked ones^^ㅋㅋㅋ

ok..that wrapped up our 4th edition of snack preparing activities at home...

from dusk till dawn.^^

Hyosowon: The 1st Vegetarian Restaurant Ever!!

Well, I really never thought that there would be this fully-booked vegetarian restaurant in Seoul. Not that I am being oblivious or anything, it is just that I did not bother myself trying to search for one.:) 

WEll..with the meat-eating culture so rampant:-) (sorry for my language)...in Korea, I just thought that it's a slim chance for me to even find one-I mean the veggie restaurant. 

But I was wrong...

Then..came along the day when Mr. Lee cw...asked us to have lunch together. At first..I was adamant since ..going out lunch taking along my whole family would only mean....one thing: making sure that all the food is halal and then...making sure that all of us can eat the food....:)

to our suprise...Mr. Lee took us (literally) surprised us by taking us to this ....vegetarian-restaurant. 

It's lunch time..and we got to wait for our turn to be served...well, it's buffet, of course.

But..we were so oblivious of the fact that even vegetarian restaurant has become somewhat an IT-thing to hang out in Seoul--at least for some. 

well...it's been a year ..wait..more I guess...the last time we met..was like in 2012 in Spring..so..it's a good thing that we could meet him again. Well, he used to be teaching at our university back home in Jogjakarta.

so..he was like...'Wow the kids have grown up...!" 

okay..this is the interior the restaurant where we savored our first all-vegetarian-food-restaurant.--> Hyosowon. 

After having our lunch, we're now ready for another adventure... 

oh..right..it's December and the Christmas-season was like all over the place.

where were these taken? at Sadang station!

Baked Veggie-Cheese-Filled Potato

What could be more tempting way to heat up our palate and tummy in a cold evening like this? My wife made a great potato filled with cheese and loads of veggies and baked them. 

It was still steaming with the heat as it was fresh from the oven.

so hot that the my lens got blurred by the moisture...and mist that emanated from the heat. 

and...served with chilly sauce, mayonnaise, and a spoonful of tomato ketchup..

hmmm a great dinner. 

Dinner? well, sort of.

Halal Restaurants @ Itaewon

Itaewon: dubbed as the multicultural space where international restaurants are scattered around the neighborhood to cater the need of both Koreans and expatriates residing in Korea...or even tourists visiting Korea. 

It's nothing sort of spectacular or anything. I pass this neighborhood once a week at least...so..the sight and sound or the mere existence of halal restaurants to suit the need of Muslims in Korea...are out of my curiosity since they look as a natural thing to be. Well, halal restaurants near the Masjid...what's so unique about that? 

But then..when it comes to considering that this happens in Korea, one should remember one thing..that it used to be like 'finding a needle in a haystack' to find any halal restaurant. So..the flourishing business of halal restaurants in Itaewon should be deemed as a progress in motion for Muslim community in Korea. 

Next to Western chain food or vis a vis other global brands, the existence of halal restaurants specializing in Muslim-friendly food is a good way to acknowledge the fact that Korea has indeed embraced Muslim culture.*

*Though I got to admit that this should spread in other areas as well (not exclusively in Itaewon area).

Halal Logo

the round logo with 'Majelis Ulama Indonesia' inscription that circles it is a common sight in almost all food products in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries (esp. Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Philippines, and even Vietnam). 

Even a home-made or medium-sized industries that mostly produce food products like the one above. 

Or even a coke or soft drink of International brand like Sprite above. Although sometimes I wonder as to why even a soft drink needs a halal label. But, for sure that all food and beverages are required to have a halal label on their products. It is in accordance to Islamic law as well as ( I think) to soothe or to raise the customers' confidence ...psychologically.^!^ 

Even Danone's Aqua....a mere drinking water is also required to have a 'halal label' from Indonesian Ulama Council.

Anyway...

I just hope that Korean food products also have a chance to see their possibilities of having this kind of label, considering the increasing number of Muslim foreigners residing in Korea.

I am sure that this will eventually help Korean products be more acceptable for wider international market.

Halal Cosmetics....

Never thought that I would find this in Korea. Well, what do you know..

As for the food, Muslims in Korea usually go to Itaewon 

where halal restaurants are lining up just around the area. 

But, for Halal cosmetics in Korea? Well, I guess this is one solution. Daeduck Lab. * Need to scroll through what this company has to offer.

Never thought about it before, though.

For those living in Indonesia or Malaysia or any countries where majority Muslim do not need to worry about their cosmetics (since most of them have halal label on them), this halal cosmetics is an everyday 'encounter'. 

But, what about in Korea? Sometimes or most of the times, we never (do not want to) consider of this issue?

So, it is a very interesting thing that a Korean company raises this issue.