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A Brief Evolution of the Barbecue

Barbecue is both food and a style of cooking food. Either way, it is as old as the Stone Age; must have began when man domesticated fire some half a million years ago. However, grilling food in your backyard happened only fairly recently. Like, well into the 1940s barbecuing can be found in campsites and picnics. But after World War II, it became the rage as the suburbs filled up.

Barbecuing is extremely popular in many cultures, relatively inexpensive, and easy-as-pie to do. Barbeque varies by region in the world and yet it simply involves meat heated indirectly over open flame. A variety of meats can be used – pork, beef, lamb, or chicken, ranging from thin slices to chunks to blocks of meat, and in some places, a whole animal. By itself, the meat is without much flavor, hence, overtime an assortment of sauces, rubs, and other flavorings were added to enhance the taste.

Modern times saw how much more enjoyable barbecue can be in terms of taste depending on the point when the flavorings were added to the meat, the role smoke plays as enhancer, the cooking temperature and cooking time, and even what equipment and fuel are used. The meat may be ground or processed into sausage or kebabs, may be marinated or rubbed with spices before cooking. Sauce or oil is applied before, during or after cooking, or any combination of these.

Korean BBQ in Lynnwood

Americans are born to love barbecue and many flock to our Korean BBQ restaurant in Lynnwood for the adventure. If you are in Lynnwood and craving Asian barbecue for a change, a visit to Arirang Korean BBQ might just be the adventure you’re looking for.

As is the case with many culinary traditions throughout the Asian continent, pork is a big part of Korean food. At our Lynnwood Korean BBQ restaurant, you can find the world’s favorite “other white meat” in many of our delicious Korean-style dishes. But when did pork emerge as a source of food, and how did it make its way to the Korean peninsula?

Humans have been enjoying pork since distant ancient times. Bones discovered in the area of south-eastern Turkey have shown us the earliest known evidence of pigs being cultivated for food, which dates all the way back to 8,000 BC. The practice evidently made its way to China at some point around 4,900 BC. The cultivation of pigs for pork spread to Korea and throughout the rest of Asia from there, and has remained a prominent part of many culinary traditions to this day.

At Arirang, you can enjoy pork in the form of our oh sam bulgogi, our sam gyup sal, our kalbi, and more. Come and get your fix today!

There are many great ways to enjoy tofu at Arirang’s Lynnwood Korean BBQ restaurant. Try some doo-boo kimchi (kimchi with tofu), a soon doo boo jji ge (tofu kimchi stew), or one of our doenjang dishes (soybean paste soup). It’s a common sight in many Asian-style restaurants, but did you ever wonder where tofu came from, and how it came to be such a big part of many culinary traditions?

Nobody knows for sure who invented tofu. Chinese historical records credit it to a prince by the name of Liu An at some point around 164 BC. Unfortunately, it was customary during this period to attribute important inventions to important political figures, so there’s no way to know for sure who the true inventor was.

Tofu apparently spread from China to the rest of Asia along with the propagation of Buddhist philosophy. The Buddhists wanted to make it easier for followers to embrace a vegetarian diet, so they popularized tofu as a source of protein. In this way it made its way to Korea, where it has remained a large part of traditional dining to this day.

Are you looking for a way to foster a younger, more vital look well into old age? You don’t need to resort to expensive cosmetic procedures. All you need is a diet rich in high quality nutrition, like the nutrition you get when you consume kimchi. There are many benefits to eating this classic Korean dish, including the following:

• Kimchi Fights the Aging Process: The fermentation process that goes into making kimchi leaves it packed with potent antioxidants. These serve to fight the agents that damage your skin, decreasing the appearance of age in your face.
• Kimchi Helps You Lose Weight: Kimchi is not just a low-calorie, low-fat food. The spices used to season it contain capsaicin, which boosts your metabolism and makes it easier to manage your weight.
• Kimchi Makes You Healthier: Kimchi is generally made with numerous superfoods, including garlic, ginger, and red pepper. These strengthen your bones, improve your circulation, and boost your immune system. This all adds up to a healthier body and a healthier appearance.

You can make kimchi a bigger part of your diet today by dining at Arirang Korean BBQ. Our Lynnwood restaurant offers many delicious ways to enjoy this old Korean favorite.