Best comercial kimchi?

[Sonoran Dude]

Hi I am an old time member of the Mexican and Barbecue groups... I was
pointed here for some Indian recipes but my question is for kimchi...
did I spell it correctly?

I love hot and spicy foods and we have a Ranch 99 market in phoenix with
a refrigerated section with many different labels of Korean foods.. any
labels you would recommend for a spicy traditional experience? I
understand that it is served with rice but do you serve it hot, cold or
at room temperature? What is your favorite entree to serve with it?

Thanks in advance!
B

[gtr]

Post by Sonoran Dude
Hi I am an old time member of the Mexican and Barbecue groups... I was
pointed here for some Indian recipes but my question is for kimchi...
did I spell it correctly?
I love hot and spicy foods and we have a Ranch 99 market in phoenix with
a refrigerated section with many different labels of Korean foods.. any
labels you would recommend for a spicy traditional experience? I
understand that it is served with rice but do you serve it hot, cold or
at room temperature? What is your favorite entree to serve with it?

Traditionally it is served as a side-dish, at the beginning of the meal
with other side-dishes of savory and pickled items. And it is refilled
during the meal as it is eaten along with the main meal, whether it is
a rice dish, soup, stew or grilled fish.

If you like kimchi, I would suggest you go to Ranch 99 and try the one
on the upper left. Then work your way down to the one on the bottom
right. You'll probably find many that you like for different reasons.

If you haven't yet tried kimchi I would suggest the same methodology.
It is served chilled out of the ice box or at room temperature. It
is, after all, a pickle of sorts.

[Steve Wertz]

Post by Sonoran Dude
Hi I am an old time member of the Mexican and Barbecue groups... I was
pointed here for some Indian recipes but my question is for kimchi...
did I spell it correctly?

Kimchi or Kimchee.

Post by Sonoran Dude
I love hot and spicy foods and we have a Ranch 99 market in phoenix with
a refrigerated section with many different labels of Korean foods.. any
labels you would recommend for a spicy traditional experience?

The best commercial kimchi, IMO, is made by Freida's - the
specialty produce people. Unfortunately they don't sell it where
I live now. I don't see it on their website, either, but I'm
pretty sure it still exists.

Post by Sonoran Dude
I understand that it is served with rice but do you serve it hot, cold or
at room temperature? What is your favorite entree to serve with it?

Kimchi is a side dish (aka "panchan"), often eaten all by it's
lonesome - or with rice for whimps. It can be served at room
temp or, as I prefer, right from the refrigerator cold. It's
also made into a soup/stew with tofu and pork (kimchi chi-gea).
Then there's kimchi/mung bean pancakes (bindaeddeok), which I
still haven't quite perfected at home.

There are a mind-boggling number of kimchi brands. Some of the
best stuff is made right in the Korean grocery store. I've lived
all over the US, and it seems each locality has it's own brands
of kimchi. And I'm doing my darndest to try them all. I also
make it at home - mostly cucumber and/or daikon kimchi.

Also, if you ever spot moung che at the Chinese grocer, grab
some. It's the Chinese version of kimchi. Sweet and very
garlicy. Very potent stuff.

-sw

-sw

[Sonoran Dude]

Post by Steve Wertz

Post by Sonoran Dude
Hi I am an old time member of the Mexican and Barbecue groups... I was
pointed here for some Indian recipes but my question is for kimchi...
did I spell it correctly?

Kimchi or Kimchee.

Post by Sonoran Dude
I love hot and spicy foods and we have a Ranch 99 market in phoenix with
a refrigerated section with many different labels of Korean foods.. any
labels you would recommend for a spicy traditional experience?

The best commercial kimchi, IMO, is made by Freida's - the
specialty produce people. Unfortunately they don't sell it where
I live now. I don't see it on their website, either, but I'm
pretty sure it still exists.

Post by Sonoran Dude
I understand that it is served with rice but do you serve it hot, cold or
at room temperature? What is your favorite entree to serve with it?

Kimchi is a side dish (aka "panchan"), often eaten all by it's
lonesome - or with rice for whimps. It can be served at room
temp or, as I prefer, right from the refrigerator cold. It's
also made into a soup/stew with tofu and pork (kimchi chi-gea).
Then there's kimchi/mung bean pancakes (bindaeddeok), which I
still haven't quite perfected at home.
There are a mind-boggling number of kimchi brands. Some of the
best stuff is made right in the Korean grocery store. I've lived
all over the US, and it seems each locality has it's own brands
of kimchi. And I'm doing my darndest to try them all. I also
make it at home - mostly cucumber and/or daikon kimchi.
Also, if you ever spot moung che at the Chinese grocer, grab
some. It's the Chinese version of kimchi. Sweet and very
garlicy. Very potent stuff.
-sw
-sw

Great advice you guys... You seem to have a well rounded palate Steve...
Good to see you in this group as well. I will check the moung che out
too. I was watching Anthony Bourdain on his Korean show the other
night... they had everything but the kitchen sink in the Kim Chi...
including oysters... yum! Tucson sucks for Asian Markets... The old
Grant/Stone market is just nasty and smells of an unclean meat
department. There is one on the south side that isn't too bad. Ranch 99
in Phoenix may be a big corporate giant but they do have fresh product
and a lot of variety.

[n***@pacbell.net]

Post by Sonoran Dude

[ . . . ]

Great advice you guys... You seem to have a well rounded palate Steve...
Good to see you in this group as well. I will check the moung che out
too. I was watching Anthony Bourdain on his Korean show the other
night... they had everything but the kitchen sink in the Kim Chi...
including oysters... yum! Tucson sucks for Asian Markets... The old
Grant/Stone market is just nasty and smells of an unclean meat
department. There is one on the south side that isn't too bad. Ranch 99
in Phoenix may be a big corporate giant but they do have fresh product
and a lot of variety.

While Jun tends to favor the more local (Thai) Bangluck Market, we
frequently hit the Van Nuys Ranch 99. They have a great selection of fresh
produce, seafood and meats, as well as a wide variety of frozen and
packaged products. Their prices are also great.