I don't know how this place stays in business but you get free pork bulgogi with each bowl of naengmyeon that you order. I mean the meat is overly processed and sweet and the noodles are just alright, but if you are hungry and cheap, here is the place to go. It's out Jongno-3ga exit 6 and make a left.

Dried Frogs from Jegi-dong

Last week, I did several tours of the Oriental Medicine Markets and here is one of the more unusual things that I found: dried frogs. I think they make a medicine from them. It looks like it is right out of Macbeth, right?

I was lucky enough to interview the famous Aeri Lee of Aeri's Kitchen. She has one of the top youtube channels for Korean cooking. I was able to interview her via video from Seoul. Here it is and definitely check out her site.





"Aeri Lee is a young Korean mom who has a half-Korean half-American son. With a passion for cooking and teaching, she has shared Korean recipes and language lessons on her blog aeriskitchen.com and her YouTube channel since 2008. She is surprised that so many people around the world like Korean food and culture and she feel honored to share her heritage with
them."

My friend has a restaurant in Tokyo and he is looking for some chefs and cooks to come work with him. It's a good paying job with the opportunity to live and work in one of the most exciting countries in the world. If you think you are qualified, read the description below.

Cheers,

Dan

Managing Chef:

Cafeteria located in Minato-ku with predominantly foreign patrons
seeks a full time Managing Chef for immediate start. This is a unique
opportunity to join a rapidly expanding hospitality group with
multi-country presence. Visa sponsorship is possible for qualified
candidates.

Position: Managing Chef
Type: Full Time, 17 - 18 days/month; holidays include Japanese and
some American holidays
Start: Immediate need
Salary: JPY230,000 - JPY280,000

Responsibilities
*Oversee daily operations of cafeteria and kitchen
*Manage a staff of three
*Daily menu formulation
*Inventory management, maintain vendor relationships
*Special events/catering services & client relations/development

Skills/Experience
*Minimum 3 years experience in a chef role
*Fluent English required, native English speaker preferred

Please submit CV’s to joonou@gmail.com


Asistant Chef:

Cafeteria located in Tameike Sanno with predominantly foreign patrons
seeks a part time assistant chef for immediate start.

Position: Assistant Chef
Type: Part time/ 40 hour work week, weekdays only
Start: Immediate need
Location: Tameike Sanno
Salary: Negotiable

Responsibilities
*Preparation of cold items
*Some pastry experience preferred

Skills/Experience
*Fluent English required, native English speaker preferred
*Must have valid Japan work visa

Please submit CVs to joonou@gmail.com

Spicy Fish Soup

It's the perfect cure for a hangover.

These are the fine doctors from Belgium that were brought over by LEO Pharm. Thank you so much for joining us on our night dining tours. We went to many different Korean restaurants while eating and drinking the night away. If you are in Korea and are interested in our tours, here is our website. www.ongofood.com

The next Fermentation Celebration will be on June 18. I am looking forward to this! Here is some information if you would like to be a participant. Our company, O'ngo Food is hoping to participate and we'll be giving gift certificates for our tours and cooking classes. Here is the info:

Korean Banquet Noodles with Clams

LSG Sky Chefs in Korea

Today has been an excellent day for me and our company. We have had the pleasure of doing cooking classes and culinary tours for the LSG Skychefs. These are the chefs responsible for many of the inflight meals on major airlines such as Delta, Korea Air, Asiana, Northwest, and Lufthensia. They are in Korea for their Culinary Excellence Workshop. They are learning about Korean Food at the source. Hopefully, they will take these influences and incorporate them into their own cuisine.

Yesterday we had a cooking class in order to make 20 different dishes with Professor Jia Choi. This morning we went to the fish market to taste most of the sea. This included skate, live octopus, a variety of raw fish, jellyfish salad, king crab, sea worm, and a variety of shellfish. Then we were odd to Hansung Kimchi factory. We saw the whole operation there. We are now off to our famous Night Dining Tour. It has been a great day.

Dan

LSG Skychefs in Korea

LSG Skychefs in Korea

LSG Skychefs in Korea

Who needs a truck when you have a cart? The street carts in Jongno have been putting up some original stuff these days and you could spend a whole afternoon munching and walking along the way. Here are some of the more interesting carts I have encountered.

Dan

Dragon Bread stuffed with Bulgogi (a tad sweet)  or Sweet Potato and Walnut

Bubble Tea

Donuts and Corn

Koma Kimbap

Sausage and Hotdogs

According to the Korea Herald, during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897),  "Seobingo ― the government office in charge of the royal ice box ― would share ice with fellow officials, who would enjoy it finely crushed and mixed with fruit for a granita-like dessert." 

Main Ingredients

• 1½ Cup Crushed Ice
• ⅛ Cup Milk
• 3 Tbsp Red Beans for PotBingSu
• 2 Tbsp Condensed Milk
• 1 to 2 Tbsp Crushed or Chopped Pineapple
• 3 Tbsp Chopped Watermelon
• 2 Tbsp Sticky Rice Cakes for PotBingSu
• 1 to 2 Tbsp Corn Flakes

My Ode To the Subak Ba (Watermelon bar)

6 years past and I still remember thee
A mirage, a pyramid in the summer's heat.
Your red and green promise of refreshment made me seek you out amongst the freezebox.
A weapon against the humid onslaught of summer's blade.
I removed you wrapper to reveal your holy triangle.
I bit the tip, the light flavor of watermelon filling my jowls.
Another bite and I could feel the nutty flavor of peanut.
Mmmmmmmm
Oh, you tart, sassy bar
Your citrusy rind tastes just as good as your fruit
Even your black seeds were edible- a bit of chocolate.
You are still my favorite but I wait till summer to have you.
'cause that is when you sing.
That is when you shine.

This was a random sign that I saw as I was heading back to the HBC. It's a long winding rant with a cryptic message. Who is the mysterious "The Press?" Is there an underground Fight Club society in Seoul where embittered expats release their angst through their fists and poetry? What does it mean to "choose rice?"

I need answers!

Or a new distraction.

Dan

HBC Music Festival

Suffice it to say, everyone survived the rapture. If it had occurred I don't think anyone would have noticed at the the HBC Music Festival. It was a great night with lots of food, cops, and alcohol. I got my brews at the Pinoy Mart and they had noodles and spring rolls for sale.

I tried to go to Casablancas, but they were completely sold out.

It was a fun night with lots of crazy, happy weigukin.

Cheers,

Dan

The Local

Look Mom, no hands!

Superman!

www.theoatmeal.com

A major US Cable TV network seeks "Restaurant Expert.”  Premise of the show: You will travel around to different struggling restaurants and give them tough love in order to help them improve.  Imagine kitchen/restaurant boot camp. Food safety & restaurant management expertise is a must.  Former Health Inspectors highly encouraged to apply. Looking for a personality blend of the restaurant savvy & strength of character of Gordon Ramsay meets the cool, unique appearance of Billy the Exterminator. Genuine Southern accent is a plus. Male (though female submissions will be reviewed, too) appearing between ages of 30-50's.  Big & strong personality. Please submit a short video (max 5 minutes) highlighting the following: Kicking butt in the kitchen (your own kitchen is fine.) Show us your BIG personality, your LOUD personality. You're not afraid to swing the bat and tell it like it is, even hollering.  Moaning and groaning about things not being right in the kitchen.  Throwing things and pushing things out of the way out of sheer frustration is good! Let's hear some professional lingo with regards to restaurant terminology-show us you know your stuff. e.g. "What the HELL is going on in here?” "Are you kidding me?!” "What were you THINKING?" These are some good lines to include. Please submit to Jennie Berger via www.yousendit.com to email address casting@lusidmedia.com, or send a direct link to a website or upload a link to YouTube. Video submissions should be received latest June 3, 2011 (US time) but ASAP is better.

Ritual Coffee Finca Monte Rey Prada

These days, I'm doing the right thing in the morning and I make breakfast and then enjoy a cup of coffee before heading to work. I have decided that I don't need to bust my back to make sure that I am at the office at 9am. 10am is a good time for me to start, unless I have meetings. It's good to be the boss because the only person that might say something is my business partner (luckily, she doesn't get in to later anyway). I thought it would be best to lead by example, but my employees are very responsible, so there is no need.

I said before that I thought that the cupcake trend was something that would never really take off in Korea. It might have some appeal, but for the general public, cupcakes are just too small and expensive. Cupcakes in Korea have been regulated to a niche market.

Cow with Boy Lantern at Bongeunsa Temple

Yesterday, I had a city tour and we went to Bongeunsa Temple. The temple is perfectly laid out and it is especially beautiful these days because the lanterns are still up from Buddha's Birthday. Here are some pictures I took. I recommend you check it out in person. It's right across from the COEX near Samsung Station.