Entrance o
f Rodem
By Pearl Kang
Photo by Lisa Lim
Layout by Glenice Marie Manalang
Rodem is an exquisite Korean
restaurant located at the heights of
Tagaytay City that offers the “firsts” in
Korean cuisine. It is unique in the sense
that the side-dishes are beyond par
anybody’s gustatory delight. For one, the
ingredients are grown in the backyard
by the owner of the restaurant, Jo Byong
Koog, who happens to have his hands
full lettuce, sesame, spinach, green
onions, leeks, peppers, cucumbers,
bean sprouts, tomatoes, carrots, and
many more gardened vegetables. He
personally harvests, cleans, and sifts
the produce; he grows them pesticidefree and makes sure not even a drop
of harmful chemicals are used in his
harvests.
Rodem’s must-eat is definitely
Dwaejigalbi, well-prepared ribs covered
with sweet and savory sauce then
carefully grilled on BBQ oven to cook
tender and make a juicy meat out of it.
But Mr. Koog said before the meat is sent
to the oven, it should be well-fermented
with the sauce. The overnight process
retains the delicious favor smeared into
the meat. The sauce, on the other hand,
creates the yum part. It is made of honey,
sesame oil, grated ginger, sweet apple,
minced garlic, grated onions, and black
66
pepper. If you ask me what comes best
with Dwaejigalbi, I’d say it should come
best with lettuce, chili pepper, raw garlic,
sesame oil, bean paste, and a bit of rice.
Another recommended pick is
Mulnaengmyeon, Korean cold noodles.
This type of noodles is in demand during
summer and everyone goes crazy with
this icy cold soup of crispy noodles that
simmers the dreadful heat. The soup
is both sour and sweet akin to vinegar
cum honey. It is made from mushrooms,
dried anchovies, and dried kelp but
cooled down and nearly frozen before
serving. The soup is seasoned with
mustard, vinegar, salt, and sugar. It
comes great with toppings, such as slices
of cucumbers, pear, boiled egg, and
boiled beef. They are served in large
stainless bowls with a tangy iced broth in
order to preserve the icy coldness.
Rodem Garden is indeed full
of magic that heals us from the hectic
days. The place is a breather. It not only
nourishes our body, but also keeps our
tummies full.