Red Bean Paste Fishies
Today's archival photo is of lovely little goldfish-shaped stuffed waffles. Their real name is Bungeoppang or BungeoBbang or Bungupang, and are a Korean street snack. Shaped to resemble a Crucian Carp and filled with red bean or azuki bean paste, they are also similar to the Japanese Taiyaki (which are shaped to resemble sea bream). Bungeoppang are said to have been introduced to Korean during the Japanese occupation in the first half of the 1900s.
I found these delightful Fishies at the Galleria, which is a Korean Superstore on Yonge north of Finch.
The Galleria is just filled with food goodies. These fish waffles are made at a hot-dog-stand-esque booth in front. The waffle iron is circular and rests on a gas element. They pour the batter in from a large kettle (see in the back left), scoop in a big dollop of red bean paste, then pour another bit of batter on top before closing the lid and starting the fishies cooking. This is the first time I've seen them lined up cooling. I assume this is to keep them crisp.
