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Showing posts from 2011

Fine Cuisine at Min's Club

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Min's Club in Insadong Salmon Gravlax at Min's Club Min's Club is a historical house that used to be the home of nobles. Built in the 1930 it has a Korean traditional exterior but with a modern interior. The space has higher ceilings and larger rooms than most regular Korean houses so it is a comfortable place to have a meal. The rooms are cosy. The wood framing is easily seen from the inside. The place is well lit as well with numerous windows around each room. The must have been a bit drafty because the windows are covered with unobtrusive clear plastic. As traditional as this place looks, they serve contemporary European food with Korean flair. Here you can get Salmon gravlax with a bit of dill cream or a bed of acorn and mung bean jellies with seasoned beef and salad, they have neobiani (a marinated Korean beef) as well; but here it is on a single plate accompanied by a dollop of mashed potatoes and a ray of deodeok (bellflower roots). The main dish comes with a

Revisited: OK Kitchen

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Sashimi Platter at O Kitchen Tuna Platter (Susumu's Dinner) Susumu Yongari Whenever I go to O Kitchen I feel like I am visiting old friends. Well, the friends that I would really like to meet: artistic foodies that can hold a decent conversation while juggling knives. This is a place I have visited extensively and so I will let the photos tell the story. The menu during my last visit was: /An Assorted Sashimi Platter that included Sea squirt, halibut, mackerel, snapper and more /A Polenta Cake with soft boiled quail egg /Persimmon Sorbet /A Pastrami cold plate with garden grown carrots /Seafood Pasta with Ugly Ravioli /Chicken Four Ways /Fish Four Ways /Dessert Platter that included Persimmon Pie, Beet dessert topped with Gorgonzola Ice Cream and Chocolate Souffle with mint cream /Coffee Garden Grown Carrot Fish Four Ways Chicken Four ways Dessert Chocolate with Espresso Ice Cream and Mint Cream Beet Souffle with Gorgonz

Tapas and Wine at 48th Street in Cheongdam, Seoul

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Cheongdam is where all the rich and fabulous people hang out and one place in particular that is quite nice is 48th Street by Cheongdam Intersection. This place has multiple stories. The first floor has a cafe like atmosphere with a very interesting arrangement for seating. The seating feels like it is something out of an MC Esher painting. Here you can get coffee or food. The food at 48th Street is contemporary European. You can get pastas, steaks, grilled fish and fresh salads. There is nothing new age, modern or fusion here. They do classic combinations using good ingredients and good technique. What I found quite nice here was that: 1) they are open 24 hours 2) they have a decent alcohol selection 3) they have a decent tapa's menu that is delicious and won't break the bank I often host guests south of the river (Gangnam) and it is quite nice to sit some place that isn't sleazy or overpriced to have some wine or whisky and good conversation. When I went I ha

12th Day of Christmas: 12 Hanging Santas

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Korean Hanging Santa Korean Hanging Santa Korean Hanging Santa On the 12th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 Hanging Santas 11 Korean Christmas Trees 10 Pairs of Funny Socks 9 Maids a Dancing 8 Christmas Cards 7 Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 6 L ocks for a fence 5 Christmas Cakes! 4 pairs of socks, 3 doggy outfits 2 Silly hats And a Santa that bows at me.  See the other days of Christmas here: 11th Day of Christmas: O'ngo's Christmas Tree 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 10: Funny Pairs of Socks 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 9: Maids a Dancing 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 8: Christmas Cards 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 7: Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 6: Locks 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 5: Christmas Cakes 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 4: Animal Cellphone cases 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 3: Outfits to Humiliate your Dog 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 2: Silly Christmas Hats 12 Days of Korean Christ

11th Day of Christmas: O'ngo's Christmas Tree

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On the 11th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me 11 Korean Christmas Trees 10 Pairs of Funny Socks 9 Maids a Dancing 8 Christmas Cards 7 Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 6 L ocks for a fence 5 Christmas Cakes! 4 pairs of socks, 3 doggy outfits 2 Silly hats And a Santa that bows at me.  See the other days of Christmas here: 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 10: Funny Pairs of Socks 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 9: Maids a Dancing 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 8: Christmas Cards 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 7: Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 6: Locks 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 5: Christmas Cakes 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 4: Animal Cellphone cases 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 3: Outfits to Humiliate your Dog 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 2: Silly Christmas Hats 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 1: Bowing Korean Christmas Santa The president of our company, Jia Choi,

12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 10: Funny Pairs of Socks

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Korean Socks Korean Socks On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 10 Pairs of Funny Socks 9 Maids a Dancing 8 Christmas Cards 7 Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 6 L ocks for a fence 5 Christmas Cakes! 4 pairs of socks, 3 doggy outfits 2 Silly hats And a Santa that bows at me.  See the other days of Christmas here: 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 8: Christmas Cards 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 7: Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 6: Locks 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 5: Christmas Cakes 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 4: Animal Cellphone cases 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 3: Outfits to Humiliate your Dog 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 2: Silly Christmas Hats 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 1: Bowing Korean Christmas Santa

Step into Seoul and Win a Trip for 2!

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Hey Seoul Eats Readers! My friends are launching an interactive movie about Seoul, where the viewers will have a chance to win a trip for two to Korea!  Here's the info and be sure to share it with others. Dan Step into Seoul a 24 hour epic adventure ‘ Step into Seoul’ is an online experience where one navigates Seoul's greatest landmarks and attractions through an interactive movie with four selected facebook friends. The plot for this movie includes 11 mini-adventures, where the main character will be following a series of clues instructed by their friends, to complete scavenger hunt-like tasks. This virtual exploration is meant to stir the imagination of travelers, and put the viewers in an experience of a visitor having an exciting 24 hour adventure in the city of Seoul. Once the viewer completes the movie, the traveler will have a chance to win a trip to Korea, along with one selected friend from the movie, where the real adventure begins. Link onto the

12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 9: Maids a Dancing

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Girls' Generation Christmas Girls' Generation Christmas Girls' Generation Christmas Girls' Generation Christmas On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 9 Maids a Dancing 8 Christmas Cards 7 Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 6 L ocks for a fence 5 Christmas Cakes! 4 pairs of socks, 3 doggy outfits 2 Silly hats And a Santa that bows at me.  See the other days of Christmas here: 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 8: Christmas Cards 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 7: Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 6: Locks 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 5: Christmas Cakes 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 4: Animal Cellphone cases 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 3: Outfits to Humiliate your Dog 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 2: Silly Christmas Hats 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 1: Bowing Korean Christmas Santa Come take a cooking class or take a Culinary Tour in Seoul! http:

12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 8: Christmas Cards

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Korean Christmas Cards On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me 8 Christmas Cards 7 Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 6 L ocks for a fence 5 Christmas Cakes! 4 pairs of socks, 3 doggy outfits 2 Silly hats And a Santa that bows at me.  See the other days of Christmas here: 12 Days of Christmas: Day 7: Paper Lantern Christmas Trees 12 Days of Christmas: Day 6: Locks 12 Days of Christmas: Day 5: Christmas Cakes 12 Days of Christmas: Day 4: Animal Cellphone cases 12 Days of Christmas: Day 3: Outfits to Humiliate your Dog 12 Days of Christmas: Day 2: Silly Christmas Hats 12 Days of Korean Christmas: Day 1: Bowing Korean Christmas Santa Dan

A Lesson in Pain: Hongmi Spicy Chicken Feet

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The Mistress of Pain at Hongmi Dakbal I asked my Korean friends why they would want to eat something so spicy that it burns going down and later going out. They said that it relieves stress and that it feels good. Hmmm...about a week ago I went to Hongmi Dakbal located over by Sinsa Station for a video shoot. This place is famous for their extremely spicy chicken feet. I am an adventurous eater, but even I cringe at the idea of chicken feet. First of all, there isn't that much meat on them and I always imagine the little claws getting snagged in my throat. The feet are first washed (thank gosh). Then they are parboiled and later stir-fried with chili powder. The chicken feet here is spicy. It's so spicy that my mouth burned the whole time. I can't really describe the flavor of it except burny. There is little meat on the chicken feet and as you nibble, the heat ignites your entire head. The burn started from the corner of my mouth and went to my temples. From the