#Authentic Korean Food

[wanghousekoreancafe]

🌟 Discover Korea’s 10 Most Famous Street Food Dishes! 🌟

Dive into Korea's vibrant street food scene with our latest blog post! 🍜 From spicy delights like Spicy Veg Ramen and Kimchi Ramen to the irresistible Hot and Spicy Chicken Ramen, Korean street food is bursting with flavor and excitement. Whether you're exploring a Korean Street Food Cafe or dining at the best Korean restaurant in India, these dishes promise an unforgettable experience.

Check out our blog to get the full list and find out where you can savor these mouthwatering treats! 🥢🇰🇷

[imissthembutitwasntadisaster]

this essay is going to be absolutely genius if I'm not talking rubbish

[foodweate]

@인왕별장

[moon-as-acolyte]

Korean BBQ is not a sauce it is a cooking technique. Most American versions of K-BBQ “sauce” is just ketchup w soy sauce and brown sugar mixed in.

It’s likely trying to be a version of bulgogi marinade, but like if all the actual good flavors had their identities stolen by the Heinz ketchup company

pLus the flavors of bulgogi come from a marinade not a sauce. Meaning. The uncooked meats are marinated and then cooked NOT cooked and then sauces

The only sauces my 80 year old Korean grandmother allows on her cooking are gochujang and soy and if we put too much of that on her food she’ll go “What is something wrong with it?”

No grandma no I just wanted it a little spicier.

“Ohhh okay I didn’t season it?”

No grandma I’m sorry no grandma please don’t make me something else, no grandma why are you hand rolling one hundred egg rolls you have arthritis, why are you breaking out the wok?

Anyway.

If you want an actual Korean sauce go to the closet Asian market you can find, look for what looks like a bright red butter container, let it sit in your fridge for two weeks, smell it, if it makes you go oooo baby it’s good to go

[harlequinfrog]

one of my friends is trying to learn how to cook so i'm teaching him my favorite recipes and today we made sundubu jjigae together. it was a bit of a mess because i hadn't made it in a while but my god!!! stews that could make you forgive your father

[pineyw00dsshesquatch]

The more I learn about food the less I'm inclined to defer to 'authenticity' for tradition's sake and just try to research to an insane extent cuz I'm paranoid of being a culture vulture. I'm a pasty bench who cooks a lot of Tex Mex, so I'm always quick to point out who I learned what from and that it's just one way out of buckets of techniques, methods and ingredients. Not matter what I'm goddamn cooking, tbh. I just want to make zero claims that I have any goddamn authority besides "cook TX good". My style is Texas gawdammit.

My husband's family have been in central TX for a few generations which is distinct from East TX where we are now and I have no idea what regions of Mexico his family is connected to cuz TX is big but Mexico is HUGE and just WAS Texas for a long ass time. Texans who pretend Mexican influence isn't integral to our state are garbage trash and deserve to be carried off and devoured by the Lechuza owl woman of legend.

I have never had corned beef and cabbage but a side of my family is actually Czech so they put sausage in that shit, though my grandpa was born and raised in Ohio and got here (Texas) as quick as he could. I know he used to make his own sausage, and I'm crushed I never got to learn from him before he passed. My dad has taught me how to smoke brisket with the vertical pit my grandpa made from a propane tank tho. Some of the best meats etc TX is known for is from that magic of immigrantion and swapping techniques, methods, ingredients etc.

Second wave European immigrants like Germans and Czechs infiltrated the TX Hill country so you'll get billboards for Kolache bakeries and smoke houses out there. West Texas, where I have spent the least time, does incredible things with dove breasts and jalapeno cream cheese. Where I live now is bumped up on Louisiana so there's a lot more Cajun and Creole influence here than the rest of the state. Cajun and Creole are their own dense microcosm of 2 differentiating cuisines/cultures from literally dozens of different cultural groups crammed into one little state shaking out their distinctions over the centuries. Captain Ben Sisko's dad will tell you, Creole is NOT Cajun!

What makes so much of the "authenticity" harder is thanks to white supremacy, many specifics are just lost to time. My husband only recently found out from his great tió, that his great grandfather was Apache who went through state assimilation and had his name changed. A cousin on my side has a Creole grandmother who was apparently insistent she was French Creole and 'nothing else'. I ain't saying she was fibbing, just pointing out that she made such a a distinction. Creole is usually associated with Afro and indigenous folks compared to Cajun though it is absolutely not a rule, but people still carry a negative association for poop reasons. To reiterate, I am white, my ancestor got to come across the pond and keep fuckin 'Hvizdos' where my husband's ancestor was US born and forced to assimilate. People way more researched and knowledgeable than me have spilled ink on these phenomena that are infinitely more useful. I just love the multicultural history of my state and how it's specialized our food and want to honor the people who've lived here over the centuries when I cook.

You sure AF can't get a Boudin Kolache (a Czech yeast roll filled with Cajun dirty rice) anywhere but here in East TX. I also goddamn love Viet Cajun food, IM SO GLAD ITS CRAWFISH SEASON PASS ME THE MUDBUGS!

what if i told you that a lot of “Americanized” versions of foods were actually the product of immigrant experiences and are not “bastardized versions”

[luphorics]

ill never get tired of korean soul food holy FUCK

[wangramen]

How Do You Cook Restaurant-Quality Korean Ramen in Your Own Kitchen?

Korean ramen has taken the world by storm with its bold flavors and diverse options. While restaurant-quality ramen is delicious, you can easily make it at home! Whether you're a fan of spicy ramen noodles, classic chicken ramen, or the unique tang of kimchi ramen, these homemade recipes will help you create delicious, authentic Korean ramen without leaving your kitchen. Let’s dive into some simple and flavorful ramen noodle recipes you can whip up quickly!

Why Make Korean Ramen at Home?

Making ramen at home allows you to experiment with different flavors, adjust the spice level, and add your favorite toppings. You can use instant ramen noodles as a base and build your ramen dishes with fresh ingredients. The versatility of Korean ramen makes it a go-to comfort food for any occasion.

Essential Ingredients for Homemade Korean Ramen

To start, let’s cover the ingredients you’ll need for the ramen noodles. Here’s a list of items commonly found in most ramen noodle recipes:

Instant ramen noodles – Choose your favorite Korean ramen brand - Wang Ramen and many other brands.

Broth – Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth serves as a perfect base for your homemade ramen noodle soup.

Protein – Add boiled eggs, chicken, or tofu to your ramen for protein.

Vegetables – Common vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, green onions, and bok choy elevate the dish.

Seasonings – Garlic, ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, and gochujang (Korean chili paste) bring authentic flavors.

Toppings – Finish your Korean ramen bowl with sesame seeds, nori (seaweed), and a dash of chili flakes for extra heat.

Recipe 1: Classic Chicken Ramen

For a warm, hearty meal, a chicken ramen bowl never fails. Here’s an easy recipe you can try at home:

Ingredients:

1 packet of instant ramen noodles

2 cups chicken broth

Cooked chicken breast (sliced)

1 boiled egg

1/2 cup spinach

1 tbsp soy sauce

Green onions (chopped)

1 tbsp sesame oil

Instructions:

Boil your instant noodle bowl in chicken broth for about 3-4 minutes.

Add soy sauce and sesame oil for seasoning.

Top with sliced chicken, boiled egg, spinach, and chopped green onions.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Looking to buy some authentic Korean ramen? You can easily buy chicken ramen online for this recipe.

Recipe 2: Spicy Kimchi Ramen

This fiery dish is perfect for anyone who loves the bold flavors of kimchi. You can buy kimchi ramen online or make it from scratch using this recipe:

Ingredients:

1 packet best Korean ramen

1/2 cup kimchi (chopped)

2 cups vegetable broth

1 boiled egg

1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)

1 tsp sesame oil

Green onions for garnish

Instructions:

Boil the ramen noodles packet in vegetable broth until soft.

Stir in the gochujang and sesame oil.

Add chopped kimchi and mix well.

Garnish with green onions and a boiled egg.

For an easy preparation, consider buying spicy Korean ramen online to enhance your home cooking.

Recipe 3: Vegetarian Ramen

For a lighter, plant-based meal, this vegetarian ramen recipe offers a delicious, healthy alternative:

Ingredients:

1 packet of original ramen

2 cups vegetable broth

Tofu (cubed and fried)

Mushrooms (sliced)

Bok choy (chopped)

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

Instructions:

Cook the ramen noodles in vegetable broth.

Add tofu, mushrooms, and bok choy while simmering.

Season with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Serve in a bowl and enjoy your ramen noodle soup!

For the best results, search for the best instant ramen noodles online to add to this dish.

Where to Buy Korean Ramen

Ready to make these delicious dishes but don’t have the ingredients? No worries! You can easily find a variety of ramen flavors to fit your taste preferences. Whether you’re looking to buy spicy Korean ramen online, buy chicken ramen online, or even purchase kimchi ramen online, there are plenty of options available. For example “WANG RAMEN” provides the Korean Style instant ramen in 3 Variants. You can easily get that on Online platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. 

Tips for Perfect Homemade Ramen

Customize the spice level – You can control how spicy your ramen is by adjusting the amount of gochujang or chili oil you add.

Add protein – Incorporating eggs, chicken, tofu, or even pork can make your ramen a more filling meal.

Experiment with toppings – From crunchy sesame seeds to fresh green onions, the toppings can make all the difference.

Check ramen price – Look for deals when buying ramen in bulk. Whether you’re purchasing in-store or shopping online, the ramen price can vary depending on the brand and quantity.

Best Korean Ramen and Instant Noodles to Try

When it comes to choosing the best Korean noodles, look for ramen that has authentic flavors and high-quality ingredients. While the ramen noodles price can fluctuate based on availability, investing in a good ramen brand is always worth it for the quality and taste.

If you're ever in a pinch and searching for spicy ramen noodles near me, or want to purchase the best ramen brand online, the convenience of instant noodles will always be there for a quick, tasty meal. Look out for your favorite ramen noodles packet near me and start experimenting with different homemade recipes today!

Conclusion

With just a few simple ingredients, you can transform ramen food into a restaurant-quality dish at home. Whether you're craving spicy ramen, chicken ramen, or something lighter, the versatility of instant ramen recipes makes it easy to experiment and perfect your cooking. The next time you're looking for a quick and satisfying meal, give these recipes a try and enjoy the flavors of Korean ramen from the comfort of your home!

[wiitzend]

had some bibimbap and gimbap and i had to stop myself from eating the entire thing in one sitting.

[matejavrckovic]

Tteokbokki

[hannieehaee]

Svt & learning to cook food from s/o’s homecountry (aka not korean food). A different culture & food for each member would rlly cool

making you a meal from your country

content: established relationship, fluff, foreign reader (non-korean), etc.

wc: 872

a/n: this was such a cute concept omg!! i picked the food items and the home countries at random btw sorry if i got some dishes wrong pls lmk if there's any corrections i should make 😭

masterlist

seungcheol -

he wouldn't be able to stand your homesickness for even one second, feeling too sad at your sadness and deciding to do everything in his power to make you feel better. he'd ask around for traditional south african dishes leading him to make you some chakalaka while you were at work. the hours of trial and error wouldve been worth it the moment he saw the happiness in your eyes at his efforts.

jeonghan -

being quite used to simply ordering takeout whenever he so pleased, jeonghan was not used to cooking at home too often. however, if his sweet s/o wanted some homemade tom yum soup, then he'd deliver! after a quick call to mingyu (and an hour or two of messing around in the kitchen), he'd be ready with your food. he loves thai food, so this would be a win-win situation for him.

joshua -

he knew you sometimes missed australia and were unable to go back and forth as you pleased, so josh would occasionally indulge you in making meat pie for you, following a recipe you'd once made for him early in your relationship.

jun -

he'd had indian food before and loved it, so it did not take any convincing for him to decide to make you some indian street food. he'd do it out of his own volition pretty often, actually. by now, he had mastered the art of various dishes, specially panipuri, which he would frequently make for you, and sometimes he'd even share some with his members.

soonyoung -

if he sensed you growing homesick and missing your usual chinese cuisine, he'd go out of his way to seek out jun or minghao to ask what food may make you feel a bit better. he'd then take on the task of making you the most delicious street breakfast, jianbing, knowing it wasnt too difficult a task for him and that it was a meal you'd often have in your youth.

wonwoo -

wonwoo was quite known for his lack of ability in the kitchen, but that would not stop him from making you some laksa whenever you were feeling particularly homesick. despite not knowing how to make any other singaporean dishes, he'd have specifically mastered at least one in order to take care of you in such a domestic way whenever the opportunity arose.

jihoon -

never having been one to cook much (he'd much rather stick to washing dishes), he'd struggle a lot through making you some pastéis de nata for your anniversary, deciding to make a korean-portuguese fusion of meals to celebrate your relationship. ok, maybe he called mingyu over to help, but the joy in your eyes as you shared the meal with him had made it worth all of mingyu's nagging as he followed his instructions to the letter.

seokmin -

he's never been to spain, but he's had a few spanish meals throughout his life, so he'd quickly understand why you'd often complain about the lack of authentic spanish food near your shared apartment. would take it upon himself to learn how to make paella in the most perfect manner imaginable just to see a smile on your face.

mingyu -

making a pizza from scratch was easier said than done, but mingyu had taken on the task the moment you let him know of the fomo you felt at seeing him and his best friends explore your country of origin, italy. you'd watched nana tour happily, but still felt a bit off at knowing you couldn't be there with your boyfriend. but fear not! mingyu was about to bring the authentic italian experience to your door!

minghao -

he's been to the united states so many times by now that he just knows american food by heart. wouldnt even need a recipe to know how to make you some classic barbecue on a sunny afternoon. would even make an entire day out of it, grilling under the sun while you sunbathed next to him.

seungkwan -

seungkwan has always thought himself to be quite a good cook. or at least he was quite good at making korean food. japanese food was another story. he knew how badly you missed homemade sushi, never enjoying any from your nearby restaurants. he'd have to ask for your help at some point, but the end result would be the two of you sharing a nice moment making a meal together, so it all went according to plan.

vernon -

he doesnt know how to cook neither korean nor american food, but you best bet he'll try his hardest to make you traditional vietnamese food in the form of bun cha and bánh xèo. it looked easy and like it tasted good, how hard could it be? would try his bestest but eventually need to ask you for help completing the task. a+ for effort, though.

chan -

he already loves mexican food, so making it for you wouldnt even be something you'd have to request from him – he'd just do it on his own! he'd already mastered all types of street food, eventually opting to make you menudo, knowing how much you enjoyed that meal as a child.

[malusokay]

How to be like Song Ji-a

Hey babes! I’m so excited to start my little “it-girls series”, of course, starting with no other than my favourite girly, Song Ji-a. She has it all: beauty, style, and confidence. In this post, I’ll show you how to embody her energy, break down the key elements of her style, summarise some of her best advice, and give you all the details on how to be a bit more like her. <3

Ji-a’s energy:

Confidence is key: Ji-a exudes confidence no matter what she’s wearing or doing. Take some inspo from her and start by showing yourself some extra self-love to build your confidence! :)

Be true to yourself: Ji-a never tries to fit into someone else’s mould, and neither should you! Embrace your unique style and show off your personality through your beauty and fashion choices.

Take care of your body: Ji-a is all about that healthy lifestyle, so hit the gym, try a new workout, and fuel your body with nutritious food to boost your energy and confidence. You can also motivate yourself by buying cute matching workout sets!! <3

Stay on-trend: Ji-a’s always ahead of the fashion curve, and we’re here for it. Keep an eye out for the latest fashion and beauty trends, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different looks to find your signature style. <3

Ji-a’s style:

Simple but chic outfits: Ji-a rocks effortless, minimalist looks with a twist. Get inspired by her style and try adding a pop of your interests to your outfit with bold accessories or unique cuts.

Flawless makeup: Ji-a’s makeup is seriously on point, and yours can be too! Play around with colours, shimmery glitter, and dramatic lips to add some extra charm to your look! :)

Skincare is key: Ji-a swears by her skincare routine to achieve that radiant complexion. So, start taking care of your skin and try out some new hydrating products to get that glow.

Cute Hairstyles: Try out some playful and cute hairstyles or accessorise with some fun hair clips. Don’t forget about your hair care!!

Details, details, details: Ji-a pays attention to every little detail, from her nails to her jewellery. Add some extra touches to your outfit with statement jewellery or cute nail art!! <3

Elevate your lifestyle:

Self-care is everything: Ji-a emphasises the importance of self-care, so take some time for yourself to unwind and recharge with some yoga, journaling, or a good book!

Stay positive: Positive vibes only! Surround yourself with people who uplift you, practice positive self-talk, and write down daily affirmations to keep that positive mindset. :)

Follow your passions: Ji-a is all about chasing her dreams, and you should be too! Pursue your hobbies or dream career, and don’t be afraid to take risks.

Be confident: Ji-a is all about owning your unique qualities and quirks, so let your true self shine and don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Be kind: Ji-a is known for her kind and generous personality, so spread some love and kindness wherever you go.

How to channel your inner Ji-a:

Embrace minimalism: Ji-a’s style is all about simplicity, so try decluttering your space and simplifying your wardrobe to achieve that clean, chic look.

Not everyone will like you, and that's okay: Even Ji-a has had to deal with haters and jealous people in the past (the whole fake designer thing lol...), yet she stays confident and continuously does her thing! You can do that too!! <3

Try out some K-beauty: Being Korean, many of her favourite beauty brands and products are from Korean brands. Experiment with some K-Beauty products to get that glowing complexion! :)

Be yourself: Above all, Ji-a is known for being authentic; whether she’s on camera or in public, she seems to radiate a sense of self-assurance, which spreads confidence and inspiration to others! Stop worrying about what others might think, you're beautiful <3

As always, please feel free to share your own suggestions in the comments and let me know who you want me to write about next! <3

✩‧₊*:・love ya ･:*₊‧✩

[fuckingrecipes]

How does one actually build a useful repository of recipes for different cuisines? Like, I have the Silver Spoon which is a pretty good cross section of Italian cooking. I know more than enough variations of the typical french mother sauces to get the principles without a need for a recipe. I know from various Euro cuisines particular flavors that pair well I could build a dish around (like, I could make a goat cheese and caramelized onion soup without the need of someone telling me a recipe). I don't have any such data sets for other cuisines, and you know the recipe website world is a hell scape.

Tried and true method is: Cook often, try new things, and save it if you like it.

Get a blank notebook (or a 3-ring binder) and collect recipes yourself as you try them. You can write recipes in by hand, or print them off & punch for the 3-ring binder.

Go to restaurants which serve food you want to explore, and take a picture of the food, record the name of it on the menu, and note some of the ingredients that you can identify in it.

If you live in a small town with not many places that serve 'foreign' food nearby, get off google. Use DuckDuckGo or Brave as a search engine. They have very few ads and the search algorithm prefers when you get to the point in your recipe blog, rather than dicking around with your life story.

Do a little tour on your world map. Focus on countries, search for food from that country, then search for specific kinds of food from that country. Search for things like "Authentic Turkish Stewed Chicken" "Traditional Brazillian Goat Recipe" "Hong Kong Street Food Recipe" "Collection of Taiwan Recipes" "25 amazing Korean dishes" "10 best Cajun Soul Food Recipes" "Dominican Republic Cuisine Recipes"

Go watch cooking tiktoks that aren't european-centric; go out of your way to find them.

Go down a list of spices and pick one you've never tried before. Look up where it's traditionally used, and try to find some dishes that use that spice!

Go to your Local Library and dig into their cookbook section. Every library has one! Look for cookbooks focused on cuisines you don't know yet, and try those recipes!

If you're cool spending money on this, go to Half Price Books or other book-reselling stores where you can find cook books at really low prices. Again, explore the cuisines you're not familiar with.

If you have grocery stores for other cultures near you, go into their grocery! Check out what spices have a shitload of different brands on display, and pick one at random. Seek out a recipe that uses that new spice you just bought.

And remember: Write that shit down!

You can always have a little guide at the front or back of your recipe collection that explains different spice blends, or explains key sauces, or anything else!

You can keep a little guide on how roasting spices changes them, and your experiments with that.

You can keep a list of bread recipes, or cooking hacks like how to make really good naan without a woodfire grill.

---

Personally, I'm forgetful. I forget sites exist, forget logins, and lose passwords all the time. I have about a hundred recipe collections across about as many websites, and I know where like, 3 of them are right now. Many of those websites have gone down, and my lists are lost forever.

The book of recipe & food-tips collection I've kept & used the longest - my Food Grimoire - is a physical item that I can misplace in my house but never truly lose. It can't have its server crash or website maintenance suddenly be abandoned and blip out of existence.

[alexanderwales]

Of the Korean words I know, most of them are either early beginner words (because I was trying to learn Korean before we did a trip there) or food words (because I like to cook). One of the very few Korean words I know is samgyeopsal (삼겹살), which means pork belly, and so I'm always happy when it shows up in a Korean show.

"Samgyeopsal!" I yell at the TV with the joy of a man who knows, at most, a dozen words of Korean.

Koreans seem to think of samgyeopsal as quintessentially Korean, at least according to a Korean documentary TV show I watched (Korean Pork Belly Rhapsody), and I kind of understand that, because at least in America, pork belly is not a cut of meat that you can always expect to find in the store. Instead, we turn it into streaky bacon (if you're American, we just call it bacon), which you can find tons of. I live in a relatively small city, so up until recently if I wanted pork belly, I would need to contact my butcher and see if I could grab a few pounds of it before they add it to the bacon pile. This changed in the last two or three years, for reasons that are opaque to me, and now the meat section at the fancier grocery store sells it in small quantities.

(This is some samgyeopsal ramen I made, with no claims that it's anywhere near authentic to anything from anywhere in Asia.)

But we were watching this Korean cooking show on Netflix (Culinary Class Wars) and they had an Italian chef using pancetta, which is an Italian salt-cured meat made out of pork belly. So of course they need to explain this to their (presumed Korean) viewers, who have probably not heard of pancetta before unless they have a particular interest in Italian cooking, so it gets described as being a type of cured samgyeopsal.

I loved this, of course.

I think it was the idea that this is objectively correct, pancetta is cured samgyeopsal, but at the same time ... samgyeopsal both is and isn't pork belly. It exists within Korean culture and its culinary traditions. When you say samgyeopsal, I have to imagine there's a whole host of things that someone from Korea might think of, different dishes they've eaten, a context that it exists within. And at the same time, pancetta exists within Italian culture and its culinary traditions, and so there's this translation thing happening where it's very clear that these references to the same object are not quite lining up, if only due to the weight of cultural experience and assumptions.

I have a ton of pork belly sitting in my fridge, which is going to become some bibimbap, ramen, and jjigae. But I think I'm going to reserve some of it and try my hand at making some bastard American-Korean-Italian carbonara.

[absolutebl]

Welcome to Tumblr BL Fandom - Here’s Your Primer

memes, insider trading & obsession meta post

The Death Stairs 

They haunt us. These same stairs constantly pop up in Thai BLs and we worry that someone is going to die on them (or fuck on them, or both).

BL origin = unknown, we only recently started tracking them (but the actual origin of the death stairs is 99 Home Studio117, RPC6+JM3 ซอย รามอินทรา 117 Min Buri, Bangkok 10510, Thailand. It appears to be a house rented out for filming. Honestly? They should AirBnB that level of fame. I’d rent it, buy a cactus and a chili plant, just for the photo op.)  

Rain Makes BL Boys Sick

For which the only solution is a sponge bath administered by another boy with a bowl of water and a damp white towel.

We don’t make the rules, the BL gods do. 

origin of the rain=fever = cultural

BL origin for the sponge bath = 2014′s Love Sick

The gayest bridge in Thailand

The Rama VII Bridge has appeared in so many Thai BLs - boys kiss on it and in front of it... A LOT. 

BL origin = SOTUS 2016  

Honor the Crumbs

Side dishes given very little screen time always end up being everyone’s favorites (especially in the pulps). Also falls under side dish syndrome. This is mostly a Thai BL thing, since they’re usually the BLs featuring more than one couple. (Taiwan is getting there, tho.)  

BL origin = @heretherebedork

The Engineering Department is Gay (also Pink Milk) 

The hot Thai boy in the engineering smock (red or blue) is either gay or a chaos bisexual. There are no exceptions. 

BL origin = SOTUS 2016 

Korea’s BL bubble 

A world where queer is simply accepted and a hostile society doesn’t exist. ​

Origin, probably Strongberry’s 2017-2018 shorts, but best known starters are 2020′s Mr Heart & Wish You

Namgoong award for best wingman 

Supportive straight(ish) besties! Appear throughout BL history, but really reached peak awesome with Namgoong, so a collection of us just started saying “thank you, Namgoong” whenever this archetype shows up. 

BL origin, Light on Me 

Korea’s BL formula 

(1 short Kpop idol + 1 tall actor / random separation in the last half of the final episode) x a small cast = KBL (usually 6-8 episodes totaling under 2 hrs)

BL origin, 2015′s The Lover 

Korean male beauty ideals here. 

Korea figured out boys can kiss 

To be fair Strongberry always knew this and Just Friends? gave it to us in 2005, it’s just they forgot for a while. A long while. 

origin = Korean 2022 BL

speaking of... 

Dead fish kisses

This tradition carried for years by Japan’s light BL, early Thai BL like Love Sick, & then Korea. It took Thailand’s 2016 BL (specifically elder gods KarnNut & MaxTul) to start breaking this curse. Could be argued that Ohm in 2016′s Make it Right also paved the way (while BoomPeak exemplify dead fish kissing). 

origin = early 2000s JBL when it was still known as Live Action Yaoi 

Taiwan = the kings of high heat 

Taiwan always serves up the most consistent and authentic chemistry, kisses, and higher heat. Thailand has it as well, but isn’t as consistent about it. 

BL origin = 2017 HIStory franchise and every Taiwanese BL since (although Eternal Summer probably started it in 2006) 

Taiwan’s marriage equality 

Taiwan was the first to feature sanctioned gay marriage in a BL, the first to depict queer engagements - and they regularly like to remind us that it’s legal there. As they should. 

BL origin = HIStory 2: Right or Wrong 2017 

Thailand’s food = love

Lovers cook, serve, feed, and/or eat together. Always. At least something along these lines in every Thai BL. 

origin, well just Thailand in general (and Asia to be fair), but probably SOTUS & Love Sick 

Vietnam’s domesticity

Vietnam always depicts at least some of their characters in a home environment, with family life, adopted kids, and more.

BL origin = Tein Bromance Extra

Cactus baby (and chili plant younger sibling) 

Hilariously a cactus plant was deployed as a courting gift, spy device, and blooming representation of sexual awakening in MaxTul vehicle Manner of Death. Tumblr adopted that cactus baby. 

BL origin = Manner of Death 2021

What China Did 

Massive wholesale censorship curtailed/abruptly cut short multiple shows in progress in 2016-2017. Also resulted in rewriting and reshooting of those in production, and more weird and invidious things. This also showed up as a purge (and likely persecution) of Chinese queer vloggers on YouTube, the imprisonment of several danmai authors, and eventually the censored bromances we now get today. 

BL origin victim = Addicted, Advance Bravely, etc...

Japan’s lanes 

Japan’s propensity to lean in favor of either

sweet, campy, and very low heat live action yaoi shot in a manga style with HEA, or 

dark, gritty high heat queer cinema and pinks shot in an atmospheric style with tragic endings 

BL origin, Boys Love 2006 & Takumi-kun 2007 

History of Japanese BL here and the weeds of Japanese BL here. 

#In Strongberry We Trust 

Small, queer, Korean production house Strongberry had been producing short form pro-queer KBL successfully for years, long before larger studios picked BL up. But when they transitioned to long form in 2022, we were a little scared they wouldn’t stick the landing. #InStrongberryWeTrust became our mantra.

BL origin = Choco Milk Shake 2022 

Faen Fatal(e) 

A side character, usually an ex-girlfriend but occasionally an ex-boyfriend, whose sole purpose is as a plot device to drive a wedge between the leads, or cause jealousy. 

BL origin = Love Sick

The Thai BL Pulps

Very low budget BL with terrible sound, crazy soapy plots, and earnest acting.

BL origin = Make It Right 2016 (term coined by @heretherebedork​ & self) 

The Mame effect 

AKA #oh mame must you? 

The mameverse features great characters, killer actor chemistry, and higher heat combined with terrible damaging tropes and non-sensical plot devices.

BL origin = TharnType (although technically started in Love By Chance) 

The 2 Moons Curse 

When a popular BL franchise struggles to survive over one season and keeps having to recast the leads. 

BL origin = 2Moons original 2017 

Dread Episode 11 

AKA Doom of Ep 11

Explained here. 

Golden Rules of BL 

Never trust: 

a Thai trailer, 

a Viki Category, 

a Vietnamese sub, 

an MDL description, 

a Taiwanese title, 

Japan, 

or a BL made before 2014.

Origin = me over the years 

BLoundary Test: has the seme ever respected a single boundary?

BLechdel Test. 2 ukes discuss something that is not their seme(s). Also uke indicates actual interest in sex in a relationship.

(source)

okay what did I forget? 

[icedsodapop]

It should go without saying that race plays a huge factor in all of this, but to state the unspoken: Being white means having systemic advantages people of color can only dream of. Not everyone with the skills to make delicious food will advance their career on merit alone.

It would be ridiculous to claim that people can’t cook whatever they want, and people criticizing cultural appropriation rarely make this point. But perhaps a better starting point is to question who gets to profit off of ethnic cuisines.

(...)

This creates a free-for-all situation where anyone who can manage to make money off of a type of cuisine may do so. We’d like to think that whoever makes the best food rises to the top, but there’s ample data suggesting that white people in the US have a much better chance compared to POC for things like accessing small business loans to start a restaurant or getting a ethnic cookbook publishing deal. 

(...)

At the end of the day, respecting and practicing authentic ethnic culinary arts may put a smile on the faces of POC. But materially, this branding benefits white food creators as they grow their businesses. @logagm has 2.7 million TikTok followers, enough to land lucrative brand sponsorships, attract TV deals, publishing opportunities, or investment in any Korean cooking business endeavor he may pursue in the future. While he cooks just like a Korean ajumma, a Korean ajumma making japchae on TikTok would likely not get the number of views — and the business opportunities they may help secure — he does.

“When a white chef profits off of the cultural capital of someone else’s culture, they should surrender some of that capital,” Adrian De Leon, assistant professor of history at the University of Southern California, told me in a phone call. 

We accept that when white food creators take the time to seriously study ethnic cooking, they are “paying their dues,” but what if white food creators literally paid their dues with money? Or hired and mentored POC to thrive in the industry? Or used their industry influence to lift up POC food creators from the same tradition? Or involved themselves in working with the communities that taught them how to make the delicious food making them rich?

Emphasis added by me