Seoul Eats: February 2011

In art, Itaewon

Shots from the Leeum Art Museum

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, by Daniel Lee Gray

In chef hyejin, chicken

By Special Request: Dakgalbi

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, by Daniel Lee Gray

In cooking class, March cooking classes

March Saturday Korean Cooking Classes

Our next cooking class on March 5th is Kimchi and Bulgogi. If you love these two dishes and would love to learn how to make them, then this is your chance. It’s a great way to learn Korean cuisine and meet other foodies. You’ll learn Korean favorites such as Daktoritang, Bibimbap, Japchae, and Sundubu throughout the 2 month course. You’ll get a deep understanding of the culture and the techniques of Korean cuisine from our award winning chefs. First, you’ll see a demonstration from the chef, then you’ll have a chance to make your own, and then you’ll get to eat what you made.

March 5th: Kimchi and Bulgogi
March 12th: at 10am: Vegan Kimchi Class for the Seoul Veggie Club 3pm:Daktoritang and Vegetable Side Dishes
March 19th: Dolsot Bibimbap and Bean Sprout Soup

April 2nd: Banchan (Korean Side Dish) Class
April 9th: Mandu and Bibimguksu
April 16th: Sundubu and Seafood Pancake

The classes will be offered in English at 11am. You can sign up for 1 or all of the classes. There are 3 classes a month and classes cost 55,000 a person per session, but if you sign up for a month you can save 30,000 won- only 135,000 won (classes carry over if you miss a class, but let us know 24 hours in advance). The classes will restart in March. We are conveniently located in Insadong. You can find us by going out Anguk Station (Subway Line 3) Exit 4 and walk 2 blocks and make a left after Young’s Music and Pizza Haven. We are on the 3rd Floor in the building across from Crown Hotel.

You can sign-up by contacting us at ongofood@ongofood.com

O’ngo Food Communications
www.ongofood.com
Jongno-gu, Nagwon-dong 55-1
Nagwon-dong Zip 110-709
02-3446-1607

Korean Bank Transfer Information: If you would like to send payment in advance you can send us a bank transfer at Woori Bank 1005-480-990616 (Choi Jia, O’ngo Food Communications) 최지아 온고푸드커뮤니케이션 우리은

Come take a cooking class or take a Culinary Tour in Seoul! http://www.ongofood.com

Pictures are taken either with my Panasonic DMC-G2 Camera with 20mm Lens or with my iPhone 4G

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, by Daniel Lee Gray

In dessert, Itaewon

Dessert Destruction at Le Saint Ex.

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, by Daniel Lee Gray

In casablanca, haebangchon

Lamb Chili Moroccan Sandwich at Casablanca

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, by Daniel Lee Gray

In catering, chef hyejin

Pre-fire at the O'ngo Catering Party

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, by Daniel Lee Gray

In croquettes, fried foods

Packed with Tomato and Barley and Fried

Basil Cream Croquette at Fingerfood Bar

A croquette is the French deep fried pasty that is often filled with a bit of meat or fish and potatoes. The outside is crispy with nice bread crumbs and the filling is usually greasy spoon goodness. When I first came to Korea these were my go-to dishes because I worked at an academy and I would often have 10 minutes between classes to grab a snack dinner. The flavors varied but it could be kimchi and pork, spicy chicken, and curry. Now the curry ones were often the yellow packaged curry mix that has a slight semblance to real stuff mixed with a ton of MSG.

I got tired of them pretty fast and I never looked back. Well, that was until I discovered Fingerfood Bar (길모통이 칠리차차) near the backside of Hongdae (out Hapjeong Station Exit 5). The ajumma that runs the place is a little quirky and sassy. When we asked her if her basil and cream croquette was good she answered, "Of course. Everything I make is good." Finally, someone gives a definite answer at a restaurant!

We ordered a mix of her popular croquettes with beer: tomato, curry, and basil cream. The curry one was fine, but nothing different from what I had before. The basil cream was subtle and delicious. I didn't expect the creamy, basil flavor in a fried croquette. The best one was the Tomato croquette. The rich tomato and herb flavor was totally droolworthy. The secret to the croquettes is the barley. They add nice texture and pop to the croquettes.

Also, the place is very clean and well organized which shows the love and care the cook puts into the food. The prices are like what you would get at a streetfood cart (croquettes start at 1,400 won and you can get tteokbokki for 3,000 won). If you are thirsty, they have beer, mojitos, campari soda, or coconut milk.

Totally chill and very good eats!

Fingerfood Bar

Ph#02-322-8405

Directions: Go out Hapjeong Station exit 5 and make a right at the GIANT (brand name) Bicycle shop. Go down the street for about 7 minutes and you'll see it on the left.