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We’ve challenged your children to become global citizens without leaving Lake County by grabbing a Passport to Flavor and taking our Global Dine Around Challenge for Kids. Find all the whole series:
- Passport to Flavor: Cuba
- Passport to Flavor: Italy
- Passport to Flavor: France
- Passport to Flavor: Japan
- Passport to Flavor: The Middle East
- Passport to Flavor: South Korea
- Passport to Flavor: India and Nepal
Today we are heading to South Korea.

Korean Restaurants in Lake County
Try Blue House Korean BBQ, 1484 Townline Rd. in Mundelein. My friend Margot, whose husband is part Korean, loves Blue House and gave me the scoop on this restaurant. What makes Korean barbecue so fun is that the meat can be roasted yourself on grills at the table. If your kids aren’t old enough to handle the grills safely, ask that your meat be cooked in the kitchen. Kids will think it’s neat to press the call buttons at your table whenever you need service.

Take the Challenge:
All meals are served with lots of free banchan, which are small appetizers. Margots’ kids like the boiled potatoes and some of the veggies. Place an order for mandu, which are Korean dumplings you will find are quite similar to Polish Pierogi. Mandu can be boiled, fried, or steamed and is served with a soy dipping sauce. More adventurous kids may be up for trying Bibimbap which is a rice dish that literally means “mixed rice.” Plus, “bibimbap” is just really fun to say!
Recommended Reading about Korea:

Dumpling Soup
by Jama Kim Rattigan
from Amazon: Marisa gets to help make dumplings this year to celebrate the New Year. But she worries if anyone will eat her funny-looking dumplings. Set in the Hawaiian islands, this story celebrates the joyful mix of food, customs, and languages from many cultures.
Before you go print out this coloring sheet to take with you and your children can learn about South Korea while they wait for their food!

By Loralie
Hainesville
When Loralie isn’t out exploring with her two pint-sized adventurers you’ll often find her in front of her computer plotting to take over the world (or at least Lake County.) She appreciates good friends, good food, expensive shoes and parents who make two lanes in the drop-off/pick-up line at school. Her spirit animal is The Hobbit. She invites you to join her on her quest for unique distractions, diversions and deliciousness in this county we call home.
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