Re-creation of Seoul Sausage Kimchi Balls

This week on pandagrub we are going to try to recreate Seoul Sausage's kimchi fried rice balls.

 The panda in the picture above is named Owo. Owo is sitting with the ingredients needed to make the kimchi balls. He is sitting with 2 cups of cooked white rice, 8 ounces kimchi, panko bread crumbs, 2 cups cheddar cheese, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese.(We used the mozzarella cheese in the Italian rice balls.)

 Owo is about to mix the kimchi, rice, and cheddar cheese together.  

 After mixing the kimchi/rice mixture the roll them into balls. Make sure to squeeze them very tightly while rolling. Now that we have rolled them into balls, Owo is going to dip them in egg wash (beaten eggs and 2 tablespoons of water) and the roll them in panko bread crumbs.

 First roll the kimchi balls in eggwash. 

Then roll them in breadcrumbs and get ready to fry them.

 This is what the kimchi balls should look like after you take them out of your fryer. Owo used a deep saucepan filled with 3-4 inches of oil.

These were the best things Owo and I have ever tasted on pandagrub. The kimchi balls were perfectly seasoned, very crispy, and spicy. 

We also made a dipping sauce out of 1 cup of mayo,1 tablespoon of Japanese miso dressing, the juice of one lemon, and red pepper flakes. For more information click here.  We thought that these rice balls tasted just as good as the ones we ate at Seoul Sausage!  We also made another version of rice balls called arancini!  They are Italian rice balls. 

 For the arancini, Owo and I used 2 cups of cooked rice, 1 egg, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Then we did the same steps as the kimchi balls rolled them in egg wash and breadcrumbs and then we fried them.

Owo and I also enjoyed these rice balls because of the melted cheese and perfect seasoning. Make sure to dip the balls in marinara sauce. For full information about these balls click here. 

Restaurant Review: Busboys and Poets

Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile. I've been out of town on the east coast. This week on pandagrub we are going to be doing a restaurant review of Busboys and Poets.The address of Busboys and Poets is 1025 5th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

The twin pandas in the picture above are named Plum and Blossom. Plum is on the left, and belongs to my Aunt Tina, and Blossom, who belongs to me, is on the right. They are sitting with my dish, the grilled chicken panini. I thought that this was one of the best paninis that I've ever had because the chicken was cooked perfectly and the bread was crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside.

 Now Plum and Blossom are sitting with my Aunt Tina's dish. She ordered the homemade meatloaf. She especially enjoyed the garlic- herb mashed potatoes due to their perfect seasoning.

Plum and Blossom are now sitting with my dad's dish, the shrimp and grits. My dad enjoyed the shrimp as it was cooked perfectly and because it was engulfed in a creamy cajun sauce. 

 Plum and Blossom are sitting with my brother's dish. He ordered the blackened salmon. My brother enjoyed the perfect seasoning on the salmon and the delicious wild rice.

Now Plum and Blossom are sitting with the final dish of the day, my Aunt Doris's dish. My Aunt ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes. She thought that the chicken was very moist and tender. She also thought that the mashed potatoes were superb.
Busboys and Poets is a special restaurant because it's a haven for progressive political and social movements. In addition to serving great food they also have great community events. I enjoyed this restaurant and my trip to Washington, D.C. and I hope that I can go there again. Just by reading the menu I learned about a poet named Langston Hughes, here is one of his poems.

I, Too

BY LANGSTON HUGHES

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America