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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, July 24, 2009

A mandoo can be more than a mandoo


By Jeff Chung

The Chinese have potstickers, the Japanese have gyoza and the Koreans have mandoo, each similar — and familiar — variations of dumpling.

At the 8th Annual Korean Festival at Kapi'olani Park, however, a newcomer entered the food tent and set up a Mr. Mandoo booth at the end of the row. The line was long all day, and by 4 p.m., the vendor had run out of mandoo before everyone was able to taste it. A few people asked me what it was because it didn't look like the typical gyoza or mandoo you get with your house combo plate from your local Korean plate lunch store. This mandoo was as large as a hamburger and steamed, not fried.

If you watch "Princess Jamyung," you might have seen Prince Hodong staying in a hotel in Chinese territory where he was served what looked like a piece of large steamed white bread with some filling inside, similar in appearance to what locals think of as manapua or char siu bau: steamed bread with barbecue pork filling. Mr. Mandoo was selling a Korean version of manapua at the festival, filled with pork, kimchi and vegetable fillings like the type used in mandoo. It took one bite to get a huge chunk of filling, whereas in a typical manapua, it would take two bites to get to the char siu.

If you have traveled to South Korea and happened to visit a large department store, you might have noticed every basement level of department stores has a large food court and inside there will always be a mandoo as we know it, as well as "wang mandoo," which literally means "king mandoo" and is similar to manapua. It's always steamed and usually one or two pieces will really fill you up.

For those who didn't have a chance to taste the Korean manapua, I mean king mandoo, at the festival, you can try them at the Mr. Mandoo at 436A Pi'ikoi St. They have four different varieties of mandoo, and the prices start at $2.75 each. Call 589-0555 for more information.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'BRILLIANT LEGACY'

Episodes 13 and 14

Tonight at 7:45: Grandma hires a lawyer to draw up an official will, naming Eun-sung her successor, and announces it to the family in the lawyer's presence. And to prove Eun-sung is capable of running her company, she suggests Eun-sung take over a struggling branch and increase its revenue by 20 percent.

Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.: Hwan decides to challenge himself and goes to work with Eun-sung. Outraged by Grandma's decision, Jung and Hwan's mother decides to leave home and move in with Sung-hee. Eun-woo ends up playing piano at Hwan's friend's bar.

'DARE TO LOVE'

Episodes 15 and 16

Sunday at 6:45 p.m.: Due to extreme stress, Sul-ran starts sleepwalking. Soo-nam messes up yet again. Poong-ran starts work as an assistant writer. Soon-shin wants to be a part of Jang-mi's life and pushes him way into the family. Bong-sun tries to find a way to win Denny over.

Sunday at 7:45 p.m.: Yanti moves away, but Soo-nam doesn't know where. Soon-shin keeps coming over to see Jang-mi. Gum-ran and Soon-shin finally work out a deal. But Gum-ran's mother has different ideas. Bong-sun tries to win Denny over, but it backfires. Sul-ran starts letting her feelings out.

'PRINCESS JAMYUNG'

Episodes 28 and 29

Monday at 7:45 p.m.: Muhyul chides Hodong for defying him and letting Lahee go free. Hodong fights back and earns the king's fury. Lahee escapes Gen. Wu Naru with Hol and Jamyung's help. Do Sugi tries to kill Mo Yanghae, but Mo Haso stops him in time. Wang Jasil tries to kill Hogok to silence him.

Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.: Jamyung is taken to Jinyang Palace as a criminal. Wang Jasil has Do Sugi attempt to kill Jamyung before she arrives at the palace. The whole palace is turned upside down over what to do with Jamyung. Ilpum, Cha Chasung and Michu leave Goguryeo to join Jamyung.

'CITY HALL'

Episodes 11 and 12

Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.: As the mayoral election heats up, Joo-hwa resorts to dirty tactics in order to get her father elected. Mi-rae gets discouraged and thinks about quitting, but Guk motivates her to give one last-ditch effort.

Thursday at 7:45 p.m.: Mi-rae triumphs in the mayoral recall election with a dramatic come-from-behind victory. However, her former superiors and coworkers show hostility and resentment toward her. After helping guide Mi-rae to victory, Guk prepares to run for the National Assembly.