Today’s Crossword: Korean drama foods we are secretly obsessed with… Squid Game candy, anyone?

If you’re often glued to streaming sites, looking for the next Korean series to binge on, then chances are you are familiar with what’s on the table, too. Millions around the world have subconsciously developed a secret vocabulary of all things Korean.

It’s not selfie but ‘selca’, not noodles but ‘ramyeon’ – think of how the Korean wave, known as Hallyu, is a neat package of music, television shows, fashion and food.

Click start to play today’s Crossword, which quizzes you on K-dramas and their food cameos.

Last month the Oxford English Dictionary welcomed 26 words of Korean origin into its books, of which nine are related to food. Any avid fan would instantly perk up at the mention of ‘galbi’ (beef short ribs), ‘japchae’ (stir-fried glass noodles) and ‘gimbap’ (seaweed rice rolls). This shift is the tangible influence Korean pop culture has had on our lives, especially in the UAE where subtitled Korean dramas have been airing since 2007.

In her essay on ‘Consuming K-Drama Cuisine’ published in 2019, Jennifer Rachel Dutch, who is a UK-based author and academic, talks about how eating experiences on television resonate strongly with South Koreans since these occurrences are part of their identity. Then perhaps, because food is so intrinsic to Korean culture, it stars frequently on screens.

Dalgona horrors

Even amid the darker, heavier themes of Netflix-hit Squid Game, our masked antagonists are busy stirring vast quantities of sugar in preparation of a 1970s children’s street snack. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s guide book, ‘dalgona’ or ‘ppopgi’ is a sweet and crispy candy made from melting sugar and a pinch of baking soda, into which a picture is pressed with a cookie cutter.

Bungeoppang memories

Another show chronicles around a sweet treat. Action-packed melodrama Vincenzo sees the lead, a mafia consigliere, turn misty-eyed whenever he bites into a fish-shaped pastry called ‘bungeoppang’. A nostalgic relic from his childhood, Vincenzo’s favourite snack instantly became a hit with the international crowd.

Can I get an ‘A-A’?

And we’ve wondered endlessly about the cold dark beverage our screen protagonists are obsessed with. Iced Americanos are quintessentially a Korean coffee drink at this point, and also a hit with the general South Korean public. If you want to give this bitter, low-calorie, affordable drink a go, ask for an ‘A-A’ (pronounced ah-ah), which is a phonetic abbreviation of iced Americano. (When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)

Korean BQQ

Then there’s the mouth-watering sizzling of the barbeque meat had on rooftops after a rough day, with the twinkling Seoul skyline as the backdrop. So many Korean dramas come to mind, but we’ll leave it to you to tell us about them.

Which K-drama made you the most peckish? Play today’s Crossword and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.