26 September 2019 · thesaint-online.com
Arts and culture
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Oppa ‘K-Pop’ Restaurant A review of the most recent addition to the St Andrews culinary scene
With the opening of Oppa, the restaurant scene in St Andrews continues to expand across new cultures and flavors. I remember my days as a first year, looking at the limited restaurant options in St Andrews. I remember feeling underwhelmed, when eating out meant having only a burger, pizza or the occasional curry. Now, only three years later, the change in this town is well noticeable. St Andrews now offers foods from Scandinavia to Japan. You can find yourself in a quiet intimate restaurant or just as easily in a vibrant pub with live music. We even have an all plant-based restaurant. I never saw the day we would have that. Considering the mere size of St Andrews, these changes are incredible. It truly feels like the town is beginning to reflect the diversity of the population it caters to. Oppa is just one of the many other restaurants contributing to this change, bringing the tastes of Korea and Japan to St Andrews in a new, lively setting.. It offers both an extensive take away and sitting in menu, both of which bring new food opportunities to St Andrews. In terms of take-aways, Oppa possesses a variety of sushis, sashimis and poke bowls readily available in their fridge, and made fresh daily. In addition, you can make your own sushirito, customize your own poke bowl, or request a variety of buns. So next time you’re queuing at Pret for the mil-
spicy stew with a variety of vegetables, tofu and/or meat. It is a salty and savory broth with an orange red color. It is served in a hot bowl. Whenever jjigae comes out from the kitchen, it looks almost menacing, something to conquer. That is exactly what I did, or tried to at least, and it was delicious. With this soup, along with many other of their dishes, they ask you about the level of spice you want. I thought I was pretty good with spice, so I confidently asked for a medium spice level. Warning: it was pretty hot – temperature and spice wise. I was fully sweating and my nose was running, but don’t let this discourage you. Even though my mouth was on fire, the broth was so flavorful . My
friend next to me was in the same sweaty, runny nose state as me. So this felt like something of a bonding moment. If you like spicy food, this will definitely be the meal for you. It comes with a side of purple rice that pairs very well. Portion wise, the piping hot bowl I received was pretty substantial. I took the rest home and added ramen noodles to it for lunch for the next day.. Every time a waiter brought food out from the kitchen, I couldn’t help but turn my head to every outgoing dish. With that in mind, Oppa is one of those restaurants where there are so many appealing options on the menu, that you already know you’ll be coming back to try more. I vowed to myself that when I return, I would try the bibimbap. This is a Korean rice bowl with an assortment of vegetables and m e a t in a
Photo: Olivia Hendren
beautiful, multicolored arrangement. However, I also told myself I would try their assortment of noodle soups, as well as their sushi variety. So it looks like I’ll be making many trips to Oppa. Another new element that Oppa
“I turned
my head to every outgoing dish
“
TAYLOR TEE Food Editor
lionth time, know that you have Oppa right across the street as an option to spice up your lunches! Oppa also offers a diverse and exciting sit in menu. There you can order Korean classics such as Jjigae, Bibimbap and Mandu. Not familiar with these dishes? That’s alright! The waiters are very helpful. Not very good with spice? They can accommodate! Not sure how to eat it? They’ll give you advice! There are a variety of steaming hot rice bowls, sushi, noodle soups and more. It has been a tradition with my extended family to get Korean food whenever we meet up. We’re not even Korean, just huge fans. So when I heard there was a new Korean sit down restaurant in St Andrews, I could hardly believe it. The first time I went, I tried the pork belly jjigae. I was off the walls w h e n I read t h a t t h e y h a d one of my favorite Korean f o o d on the menu. This is a
brings is its ambiance. It gives off a modern and hip vibe. The walls are decorated with urban artwork and hanging plants. The music is very fun and lively. During dinner hours, the restaurant is usually packed with groups of students, all enjoying the various options. I highly recommend it as a great place to try new foods amongst friends. Oppa definitely has a lot to offer. If there’s one thing for sure, you’ll definitely be seeing there.
Embracing ‘Hygge’ this Autumn ANNIE SMITH Editor-in-Chief OLIVIA HENDREN Co-Arts and Culture Editor With it being the end of September, there’s a good chance you have all your boxes unpacked in your new place and you’re starting to get settled. However, being unpacked isn’t the same as being settled. Just because your things are in place doesn’t mean you’ve had a chance to make it feel like home. Hygge (pronounced Hoo-ga), the newest trend for home decor, is a Danish and Norwegian word to describe a feeling of coziness combined with wellness and contentment. To ensure you have a warm home that you look forward coming back to at the end of a long day, we’ve gathered the best tips from the Hygge lifestyle to help you create a cozy living space, whether you’re living in student halls or a rented flat. MOOD LIGHTING Nothing is more uncomfortable
than the harsh yellow-tinted ceiling lighting in your new place, which always seems to be either too bright or too dull. Instead of even turning this on, why not invest in other lighting to brighten your space and keep things cozy? Fairy lights are a go-to solution for mood lighting, available for just a few pounds at Primark or Amazon. However, for those who don’t support the fairy light trend, a large lamp can brighten up a space just as well, and RGB lights are perfect for anyone wanting to change the actual colour of their lighting with the quick click of a remote control. RUGS It’s out with the bland burgundy carpeting your landlord picked out, and in with an element Hyggeapproved. A rug is the perfect way to make your space feel a bit more cozy, and it will completely change the atmosphere of your room more than you can imagine. Not only does it distract from your otherwise discoloured flooring, but it also sets the tone for a room and makes the space more inviting. After all, if guests come over and you’ve run out of seating, would they rather sit on the off-green carpet
of your flat or a soft, comfortable rug? THROW BLANKETS Similar to the thought pattern of rugs, throw blankets are a physical embodiment of Hygge, as they’re an invitation to comfortably snuggle up in your living room and relax. I would recommend finding throw blankets that are soft to the touch, not too expensive if you want them out for guests to use, and relaxing colours, such as pinks and purples or greys and whites. Make sure to designate throw blankets for particular areas of your living space so they can sit as a cozy decoration when you’re not using them. DIFFUSERS/CANDLES We’ve addressed ways to make your space look and feel like home, so it’s equally important that it smells like home, too. Nothing says “welcome home” like opening the door to the scent of freshly baked cookies or clean laundry, and you don’t need either in your home to achieve that. Instead, splash candles or diffusers (depending on preference and whether candles are allowed by your landlord) around your home and feel
your shoulders come down when you enter a place that smells good after a long day. PLANTS Houseplants are another great way to keep your room cozy and help you with adulting. Nothing is more attractive than knowing that your potential crush can keep a plant alive. Some easy to care for houseplants include snake plants and dragon plants which are also among the list of houseplants that produce the most oxygen. Succulents are another great choice as they are sold at Tesco, are relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of shapes and colo u r s . Succulents require lots of light and very little watering. However, if you are looking for something more advanced, then an orchid could be the plant for
you. Orchids are beautiful and require very little care, but beware that overwatering can kill them faster than you might think. Plants can also be helpful for your wellbeing during the gloomy winter months. Owning a plant that lives indoors forces you to open your windows each day and maximize the sunlight in your bedroom. Seeing your plants thrive is incredibly satisfying and will encoura g e y o u to keep up these good habits.
Photo: Pexels