Mission To Find Kimchi Ingredients

I spent my morning driving down to Massachusetts to find a few of my key ingredients for our kimchi. I strictly import pepper powder (gochugaru) from South Korea, However, I source Korean fish sauce and Korean salted shrimp (saeujeot) from a big Korean grocery market in the USA. It is quite a journey for me to find specific ingredients, because there are few to none markets in Maine that sell specifically Korean fish sauce and salted shrimp. I have looked at many other fish sauces. However, most other fish sauce have sugar or MSG added, while Korean products have only two simple ingredients (Fish sauce: anchovy and salt, Salted Shrimp: shrimp and salt). So, today was the day I drove all the way down south to source these two important ingredients!

Going to this Korean market always makes me feel like I am back to Korea. Surrounded by kind Korean-speaking people, familiar snacks, and food. While I was there, I also got some our family’s favorite Korean snacks and ramen (it’s like mac and cheese for me growing up in Korea). Check out my cart in the picture- my cart was full of Korean food!

I drove back home that afternoon and enjoyed a Korean snack that I grew up with back in Korea with my two kids.

I am honestly not a big fan of driving more than 2 hours, but this trip was much needed trip for me. Now I am ready to make batches and batches of kimchi to serve to all the kimchi lovers in Maine!