Hmmm...I haven't been there for a while (over a year) and I've heard from some people that the experience has gone kind-of south. A friend called me yesterday asking me for a brunch recommendation in Itaewon and I said the Flying Pan, but with cautionary comments such as: "I haven't been there in a while; It's expensive; It's super busy; and For about the same amount of money you could just go to the Hyatt (35,000 per person).
Well, I heard back from my friend after the meal and he said the service was awful, the food was bland, and the pancakes were burnt and uncooked at the same time. Burnt and uncooked at the same time? How does that happen? It happens when you try and take shortcuts while cooking pancakes. If you pre-cook your pancakes, they tend to get dense and if you cook too many on the same cooking apparatus, then the heat won't be as hot and it'll take longer to cook.
I did ask him who he saw in the kitchen. He said all Koreans.
No, I'm not trying to be racist. I do distinctly remember that Flying Pan in its heyday had a women chef from South Africa and a (hispanic male?) in the kitchen. They used to make amazing food.
Has anyone else had a similar experience at Flying Pan?
OH, and here's my rant on BRUNCH! It's a freaking rip-off in Korea. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay 20,000 won for eggs benedict or for pancakes. For that money I can get a 3-course lunch at St. Ex, a 5-course lunch at OK2 Kitchen, or an amazing set at Zelen. Support the good restaurants and learn to make brunch at home (heck, I was making it when I was 10 years old.)
Well, I heard back from my friend after the meal and he said the service was awful, the food was bland, and the pancakes were burnt and uncooked at the same time. Burnt and uncooked at the same time? How does that happen? It happens when you try and take shortcuts while cooking pancakes. If you pre-cook your pancakes, they tend to get dense and if you cook too many on the same cooking apparatus, then the heat won't be as hot and it'll take longer to cook.
I did ask him who he saw in the kitchen. He said all Koreans.
No, I'm not trying to be racist. I do distinctly remember that Flying Pan in its heyday had a women chef from South Africa and a (hispanic male?) in the kitchen. They used to make amazing food.
Has anyone else had a similar experience at Flying Pan?
OH, and here's my rant on BRUNCH! It's a freaking rip-off in Korea. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay 20,000 won for eggs benedict or for pancakes. For that money I can get a 3-course lunch at St. Ex, a 5-course lunch at OK2 Kitchen, or an amazing set at Zelen. Support the good restaurants and learn to make brunch at home (heck, I was making it when I was 10 years old.)
but if I eat brunch at home and don't overpay, then I can't pretend me and my girlfriends are Carrie and her Sex and the City crew, and imagine we're powerful and free and empowered and independent and stuff.
ReplyDeleteOf course you can do that, but with the added plus of actually having sex after brunch on the table while watching your favorite sex in the city episode.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that place was way overrated. I went one time about 2 years ago, and that was my last. Service sucked, the food wasn't that great, and it was overpriced.
ReplyDeleteI was there a couple weeks ago and I thought the service was decent (not better or worse than anywhere else in Itaewon) and that the food was positively delicious. I did not have pancakes (had an omelet), but I, along with the two other girls I went with, positively loved it.
ReplyDeleteYou are right in saying it's a bit expensive, but what western style breakfast food isn't here in Korea?