Mouthwatering Surprise: Love and Clams from an Unexpected Detour
Creatrip Team
6 months ago
The article links a famous Korean drama, “Crash Landing on You,” to a real-life culinary memory: grilled clams. In the drama, heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) crash-lands in North Korea and slowly bonds with Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin). A memorable scene shows local soldiers grilling clams (조개구이) over a coal brazier, and Se-ri is astonished by their sweet, chewy flavor and by drinking soju from a clam shell (조개껍데기). Curious, the writer visits a 30-year-old clam restaurant in Ansan, “Donghwan’s Clam Grill,” where a mixed basket of fresh shellfish — including horned turban, ark clams, scallops, abalone, oysters, and more — is grilled over coal. The owner stresses freshness and advises thorough cooking because of norovirus concerns. Tips include adding pizza cheese or dipping in spicy sauce for variety, but the pure sweet taste of well-cooked clams remains the highlight. The piece ends by reflecting that unexpected detours can bring surprising joys — whether love or the simple pleasure of a perfect grilled clam.
