Angie Does Fish Soup and the Cheonan Orchestra

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My first experience in Cheonan was an adventure. The plan was to get lunch and then see the Cheonan City Chungnam National Orchestra performance at the Cheonan Museum. I stopped to eat at Eomeoni Bapsang. This is where the adventure began.

Despite the language barrier, I ordered our lunch and enjoyed the baseball game that was on the TV. Once the meal arrived, the restauranteur realised that neither my husband nor I had any idea how to cook and eat the soup. He was very patient with us and showed us how to adjust the temperature, how to remove the bones from the fish, and gestured for us to wait to eat.




Once we got the all clear, we dug into the most delicious fish soup I have ever eaten. I was not sure of all the ingredients and was hesitant to finish the meal. Before I got cold feet, the chef came out from the kitchen and offered an encouraging smile as I shovelled spoonful after spoonful into my mouth.

I was unsure about an ingredient in the soup that resembled brains. I picked it up with my chopsticks and gestured to the chef as if to say, "can I eat this?" She smiled and shook her head yes. I devoured it in one bite. It tasted like a chewy delicacy to be enjoyed and savoured. I later learned that it was not the fish brain but discovered that it was milt, the reproductive gland of a male fish.


After lunch, I made my way to the museum. I asked the reception desk where the performance would be, and she gestured a large set of doors to the right. I had about an hour before the Orchestra began, so I walked through the exhibit hall and learned a great deal about Korean history. The museum is also home to a large children's section with several interactive exhibits and projects.
The orchestra performance was just as magical as lunch had been. The 50-minute performance showcased several traditional Korean instruments, and we were even treated to a solo by the conductor, Hwang In-kun. Not only was I in awe of the performers, but I also marvelled at the audience as well. The majority of the audience consisted of families with young children and a large group of teenagers. I was humbled by so many young people enjoying the art and culture of Korea.

Watch video here

After the performance, I walked through the hills behind the museum and worked up an appetite for dinner.












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