Alien's Baked Goods!

I love presents (readers please send me some). Technically, this wasn't a present, but at the Vegan Bake Sale at Suji's Restaurant I donated 27,000 won towards the cause and I got a gift set in return from Mipa of Alien's Bake Shop. I did this "Omakasi" style, so I asked Mipa to surprise me and surprise me she did. I got a loaf of delicious pumpkin bread and out of this world banana bread. I also got a couple of macaroons, tropical fruit biscotti, and an orange walnut brownie- oh, my goodness, delicious.

My Dad

I get my work ethnic from my Mom and Dad. My Dad was the guy that would work 60 hours a week at his company and still be up at 6am on Saturday morning to work on the yard. We had the best maintained yard in our neighborhood. I tried to get up and join him but I really liked sleep and Saturday Morning cartoons. I think I probably complained most of the time outside when I was younger, but now I miss it. It would be nice to wake up in the morning and work with nature. I wish I wasn't so prissy back then. I was always worried about bugs and dog poop and dirt.

I also get my sense of adventure from my Dad. My father was born to hard working farmers in Tennessee and he worked his way through school and later joined the military where he traveled to Vietnam. He was a Green Beret Communication's expert and he has seen stuff many would never see. His nickname in the military was "Geek" and he has survived some of the toughest terrain known to man. He would joke he knew 100 different ways to kill a man, but deep down, I knew he actually did. I remember one memento he had, a metal fork with a twisted prong. He said during one battle he had to pull out his own molar because the pain was making him moan in pain and either he pulled it out or someone in his company would have had to kill him. He would joke about this (that's just the way he was), but I am sure it was a horrific situation to be in.

My father served his country faithfully even though in one battle a grenade took part of his hearing (he has to wear hearing aides to this day). He has never had any regrets and he has ingrained in me American pride.

My father is 65 now and happily retired in Florida. I am proud to be his son.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

Love,

Dan  

Cheryl Jennings and me

Cheryl Jennings and Chef Hyejin

I am starting to think that our company is onto something with this whole culinary tourism thing. Our company is growing quickly and we are getting quite a bit of press. Journalists are people and (luckily) they have to eat like everyone else. They have been joining our tours and asking for our cooking classes for stories to do on Seoul. Last month we were asked by Greg Derego if they could feature us in a story for ABC7 San Francisco.  San Francisco is a favorite city of mine so our team was delighted to host them. Emmy award winning journalist, Cheryl Jennings, her husband, and Greg's wife joined us for a Kimchi and Bulgogi cooking class and our night dining tour.

I would like to thank them for contacting us and I can't wait to see the footage. My friends in San Fran, let us know when it airs!

Dan

The Man with the Plan, Producer Greg Derego

Our Night Dining Tour Guests

Filming at Kwangjang Market

Writen by the itinellate Inglish Teechr

Written by Daniel Gray Picture from various sources. Click on the pictures to find the source

Korean Food in Hawaii

With all this talk about "globalizing Korean cuisine" I think that we need to give props to those that are already doing it their own way. These Korean chefs are striking out on their own and localizing the food or promoting dishes that the locals already find appealing.


One of my guests called me the "Taste Whisperer" because before I start the tour I ask food related questions and try to find the taste that people are searching for. I do that or I try and pick dishes that are exciting and delicious for them. Now each guest is different and it is a kind of a game for me to try and pick dishes that will excite them.
The last few months have been fun because we have been getting a number of Hawaiian visitors on our tours (I don't know who has been recommending us, but thank you!). These guests had tried Korean food- or they thought. They even knew what the names of the dishes are such as jeon, sundubu, kalbi, and chiggae (I was really surprised they knew how to pronounce chiggae). Sure the food looked the same but they said it tasted much differently. They said that in Korea the food was spicier, sharper, and crunchier- overall, they said it tasted better here.


During the course of the conversations, I ask guests what kind of Korean food and restaurants they have in Hawaii and I learned that there are quite a number of different restaurants. It seems to be a hot cuisine, but the presentation of Korean food is quite different.

Yuchun Black Noodles

One restaurant that a guest mentioned had "Black Naengmyeon." They said they have very dark noodles that were quite soft like soba and not as chewy as Korean naengmyeon. They then poured a cup of broth with ice over the noodles. The said the broth in Korea was a bit saltier and tastier than in Hawaii.

Meat Jun

A few of my Hawaiian guests have asked about Kalbi Jeon or "Meat Jun", which I have never heard of. They said that it is marinated beef that is egg battered and pan-fried. This sounded quite intriguing and I wondered why they didn't do this here. 


Guests have been very surprised with the variety of side dishes and they particularly liked the kimchi which they said tasted sharper with more crunch. One guest was particularly in love with the turnip kimchi because they liked the cubes of turnip in a spicy sauce.


Another concept they have all over the islands that are very popular are the Korean takeout joints. They said that these are small places that you go in and order 3 different vegetable side dishes from the "Veggie Bar," then they pick a meat (bulgogi, spicy pork, fish, etc), and a type of rice. They box them all up and people take them home. This concept is seems to be a more customizable "dosirak" concept like Hansot.

Best Drive-in

Written and Photographed by Troy Zitzelberger

M Burger Itaewon

For weeks now I have been searching for a real burger. I have been looking for something juicy and delicious instead of these bland overly sauced burgers that lack bite.  When a new burger joint opens I am always a bit critical, but on a stroll on a glorious Seoul afternoon I stumbled upon M-Burger. It is located where the old Fat Panda Chinese takeout place used to be.  Now you may be wondering; what does the M stand for? Massive, monstrous, mars, miscellaneous, mamacita, or perhaps mashisoyo: honestly, I have no idea.

M Burger Itaewon

But however you decide to spin it, the burger that I ate was all of those things and more gently placed in a bun: with two wooden spikes holding it together. After sitting down on the veranda, we were greeted by the owner Michael, a kind and ambitious LA native. His menu is creative and exciting. I was particularly drawn to the Juicy Luicy: a burger stuffed with cheese in the center. He also has a BE (Bacon and Egg Burger), Spicy Jalapeno, the "Real Deal Bulgogi Burger, and a Turkey Burger. He said that the BE (bacon and egg) burger is their number one seller and that their version of the Bulgogi burger is more unique than you’ll find anywhere else in Seoul.


However, he recommended the Juicy Luicy (₩11,000) and my mind was made up. Those who haven't seen Travel Channel in the US, the Juicy Luicy is fashioned by placing a lump of cheese between two patties, molding them together around it, and placing that bad boy on the grill. This creates the world’s most epic cheeseburger: The JL was justifiably named, it was possibly the juiciest burger I have ever eaten and done just the way I like it: a little pink in the middle of each patty. Now at first sight it appeared to be all bun, which in my book is always a no-no. My philosophy is ‘the more meat the merrier’. However, once I grabbed the bun it all proved to have been an optical illusion and I had been pleasantly fooled. My next surprise was that the massive patty was topped with caramelized onions, which added a subtle sweetness that nicely complemented the greasy burger, and with just a hint of mayo. After first bite I decided what the M stands for, Mashisoyo Burger… and delicious it was. I recommend you give them a shot. They have a lunch special from 11-2pm for only 9,000 won.

M Burger
Seoul, Yongsan-gu Itaewon 2-dong 532-bonji
서울 용산구 이태원2동 532번지

M Burger can located down the hill and across the street from subway line 3, Noksapyong station exit 2.

Troy Zitzelsberger originally hails from Michigan but has lived in Chicago, New York City, Germany, and now Seoul. He is working as an actor (really, no joke) in Korea and he humbly calls himself, "an unofficial food critic." You can find out more about Troy here.

Itaewon Egyptian Sandwiches

Nestled in the heart of Itaewon, right outside of Spy Club, this is possibly the only food cart in all of Seoul with Egyptian food on the menu. After one of my late nights, having already consumed a burger earlier in the day, I decided to try something new. And as luck would have it, I stumbled upon a late night eatery that I had never seen before. I approached the counter interested in what exactly an “Egyptian Sandwich” consisted of. It turns out that it’s pretty much a doner on a roll. There was chicken, beef, vegetable and lamb to please my heart’s desire.

Wow! We have a blurb in BBC's Olive Magazine as the place to cook or to take a dining tour in Seoul. Thanks Marina for the mention.

Dan

I did a food tour in Hongdae last night and I was just happening to pass by Hongdae Park when an impromptu drum line just exploded. It was awesome! I just love the big guy to the left with the sunglasses: he has so much energy that he looks like the world could explode any second!

There a great number of great entries for the Ashley Cheeseman Oktoberfest contest. I think it was a very difficult decision for Mr. Cheeseman to pick a winner (I'm sure he pondered this over a great many number of beers.

And the Winner for a pair of tickets to the Oktoberfest party on September 23rd-24th as chosen by Mr. Cheeseman is...

Eastmeetsmacon with his acrostic for beer!

 B is for "Bring me a pint of your best."
 E is "Enjoy every gulp to the last."
 E is for "Empty - oh say it ain't so."
 R is "Refill - I'm not ready to go."

Everyone thank you so much for participating!

There are still a few tickets available so don't fret. This year's event will be taking place on September 23rd and 24th. The doors will open at 6pm and the midnight oil will be burned well until 1 am. Tickets for Friday or Saturday night can be purchased in advance for ₩ 120,000 or you can take a risk and purchase them at the door (email: oktoberfest@mail.grandhiltonseoul.com, telephone: 02-2287-7456). Be sure to mention Seoul Eats and you will receive a 20% discount (we love our loyal readers). So come prepared to celebrate all that is German with fellow Seoulites in what will prove to be another momentous occasion recorded in the history books.

I was running last week and I fell after doing a Rocky Balboa reenactment going up some stairs.

The first thing that ran through my head was, "damn! Crap! Oh, no! Sh!+, Sh!+,Sh!+,Sh!+"then it was, "Is it broken? Will my warranty cover it? Can I lose it and get it replaced? Oh, how will I function without my precious,,,

Sigh... it's a shame but I should not have been so shallow. My first concern should have been my body. I should have been thinking, "Am I hurt? Is anything broken?"

As long as I am healthy I can buy more iPhones or just get it replaced. But before this I should have had the foresight to not to have gone running at night without my glasses (I am blind without them) and then I shouldn't have tried to be Rocky Balboa. I am not Rocky Balboa, not even close.

I am lucky I didn't break my ankle or worse because then I would be in real trouble- not just for myself but for my company, friends, and family.

Yeah, not very smart. I have no one to blame but myself.

I will keep the little break for a while to remind myself to have a little foresight and to remind myself of what is important in life.

Dan

Originally published in the July Issue of Seoul Magazine

Mama African

Mama African: Spicy Meat Stew with Yam

The restaurant invites you in with a royal blue sign in yellow script and the place has an American cowboy parlor feel with their wood panel walls and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The customers inside are boisterous and upbeat as they let off some steam from their long day. Entering the restaurant, we got a few odd looks but the music and the conversation kept flowing.


Nigerian cuisine often has yams, cassava, plantains, rice, and meat and fish curry-like stews. The food is also very fun to eat since you make a little shovel from the steamed, white, pounded yam and use it to dip into the dishes. I recommend you try the egwusi stew that is made from ground melon seeds that give this dish a tapioca-like texture. It is a yellow curry-like stew that has some meat and fish. The sharp taste of the green leaves balances out the savory taste of this dish.

 I also liked the “white rice with stew.” The red stew had lots of chunks of beef and the tomato red sauce had a spice that had a refreshing like vindaloo.

I would also recommend their Jollof rice, which is a flavorful jambalaya-like dish with chunks of meat and veggies.

And you can’t go wrong with the fried plantains, which taste like a banana and yam fused together and fried.

Mama African
Yongsan-gu, Itaewon 1-dong 127-17
010-9191-3362
English and English Menus available Prices: 5-10,000 won per plate

Directions: Go out Itaewon Station (line 6) exit 4 and cross the street. Make the first left after Taco Bell and walk up the street. You’ll see Mama Africa on the left.


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Here is your North Korean Ray of Sunshine Today. It is an amazing video and I love the song that accompanies it.

Maple Tree House Itaewon

This place on a Friday night is packed with a mixed crowd of Koreans and International people. The interior design is great. It feels open for the walls are trees that are some what opened and the copper exhaust suckers that hang from the ceiling adds class.

The menu is reasonable, not cheap, but for an upscale BBQ restaurant it is ok. Hanwoo grade 1++ starts at 35,500 and American USDA Prime starts at 31,000 won (10% VAT not included).  There is Woo Sam Gyup which is supposed to be a "beef bacon" and they have marinated short ribs (which I was warned against by a fellow foodie).

Besides abeef they have Jeju Black Pork (15,500) and Chilean jowl, loin cap and pork belly (all 11,000 won).

There is also wine on the menu. A bottle of Blue Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is 30,000 won and they also have Lou's No. 1. Of the list the Dona Javiera Carmenere looks most enticing (33,000).

I was able to study the menu closely for my friends were late. I have to say that management was incredibly patient since my guests were over 45 minutes late. They asked me to move to a different table, but that wasn't a big problem.

So once my friends came the dinner service started.

Maple Tree House Itaewon: Woo Sam Gyeop

We started with some thick cut Chilean pork belly which they cooked over charcoal on a pot which sat right on the table. The pork looked very fresh: pink with a lucid ribbon of fat. It sizzled deliciously on the table.

Now the pot looked cool on the table, but I  don't think it was the best vessel for bbq'ing meat.  The oil from the meat starting dripping off the side and eventually leaked onto the pants of my guest! Maybe this was an isolated case, but this shouldn't happen.

At least the meat was good. The pork jowl that followed was tender and buttery and we finished with some beef bacon. This was ok. It was thin slices of beef that had lots of fat. It tasted good but I know that is is just like Chadol Baeggi (thinly sliced beef brisket) that was grilled on a pan.

The side dishes were nothing to write home about either. Nothing special. The watery naengmyeon we had last had green noodles and a crisp broth. Again it was just average naengmyeon.

Meh. I have had better, but it was far from the worst. The location is good (in Itaewon). The atmosphere is nice and so is service. It is a good place to take foreign guests or the squeamish. It is a fine starter Korean BBQ house.

Maple Tree house
* (1 star out of 4): Nice atmosphere and service. Lacks proper execution.
Www.mapletreehouse.co.kr
Itaewon: 02-790-7977

Maple Tree House Itaewon: Mul Naengmyeon

Maple Tree House Itaewon

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By Christine Park

D-Cube City

Lightning fast isn't that much of an exaggeration when describing how most things get done in Seoul. For the 10 million highly-wired, digitally connected and rigorously educated inhabitants of this frenetic metropolis, breakneck pace is the daily norm.

Seoul doesn't slow down for anyone, but this is probably why a war-torn Korea was able to pick itself up and become a global powerhouse in a matter of a few decades. Amidst the buzz of its cutting-edge IT developments, streamlined railways, or high-rise skyscrapers, it's hard to imagine today that Korea lived in sub-Saharan levels of poverty only a short while ago.

In search of ever faster ways to expedite processes and save time, Koreans are turning eagerly to one-stop multi-purpose complexes that combine department stores, supermarkets, bookstores, restaurants and theaters. Imagine being able to eat, shop, read, work, attend a concert, try hundreds of different street foods from all over the world, and even get a nose job, all in the same building complex.

In essence these herculean mega malls are triumphant monuments of the country's economic growth - a testament to the its meteoric rise out of the rubble - whose emergence is changing the way people are spending their time.

Construction of D-Cube in 2008

Guro Gu in 1960

Mega-malls are sprouting like mushrooms, especially throughout Guro and Yeongdeung-po districts. The newest of the bunch is D-Cube City: A 19800 sq.m. comprehensive culture complex built by Dae Seong Group that offers just about everything a modern Seoulite will need.

D Cube Dept Store

Inside this massive space, one can shop at the D-Cube Department Store, featuring global brands (most of them never before seen in Korea) like H&M, Zara, and UNIQLO. When all that shopping causes hunger and thirst, one can replenish at the theme restaurants which offer :0 over 4,000 different menus.

D Cube Food

D-Cube City is also home to the Sheraton Hotel, two different concert halls, supermarkets, bakeries, a pharmacy, an arts centre, a Pororo Theme Park, offices and clinics.

Here is my good friend and business partner, Jia Choi and she is making Sundubu, which is one of my favorite Korean dishes. She has lots of great tricks and gives you culture insight while you learn how to make this a very delicious tasting dish.


The video was shot by John and David from the new online video service, PSeight. You can see their website here http://www.pseight.com/.

If you see more great videos on their website. There will be more videos coming up featuring Chef Jia Choi PhD.

You can take classes with Jia at our cooking school at www.ongofood.com

Written and Photographed by Troy Zitzelsberger

Ankara Picnic

The first few times I walked by Ankara Picnic, I might have well have been blind. The size of this restaurant gives a whole new meaning to the term hole in the wall. If not for the long line I never would have known of its existence. There are only 6 stools so it’s basically standing room only, a Turkish flag on the wall, and the counter.
 
I found the simplicity of the establishment a relief; in my mind it means the focus is where it should be, on the food. At this point on my journey to find Kebab stardom, I have tried most of the establishments so my taste buds know what they are seeking: and I am happy to say they finally found it here.

 The only thing more simple then the décor is the menu; chicken kebab (₩ 4,000), lamb kebab (₩4,000), or mixed (₩ 5,000). The price is right, so how about the food. I ordered one of each. The first thing I noticed was that this is the only kebab establishment that puts the kebab in a sleeve making it easy to eat on the go. This may be due to their almost standing room only status, but it’s clever none the less.

 The chicken was tender, the lamb was surprisingly juicy, and the meat was plentiful. They also put the typical lettuce and tomato into the wrap as well as the atypical pickle which added a nice little tang to the mix. And then there was the sauce. Just like any kebab joint there are two to choose from. The spicy red pepper based sauce was hot, but not quite nuclear, and the yoghurt sauce was smooth and refreshing. With a big smile on my face, I left satisfied. I have finally found a kebab restaurant worthy of the title. 

However, before a Raja can be crowned I have one more establishment to dine at. The search continues… Ankara Picnic is located directly in front of the subway line 6 Itaewon stop, exit 3.
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Troy Zitzelsberger originally hails from Michigan but has lived in Chicago, New York City, Germany, and now Seoul. He is working as an actor (really, no joke) in Korea and he humbly calls himself, "an unofficial food critic." You can find out more about Troy here.

Come to Suji's to our Vegan Bake Sale. We have amazing baked goods from Mipa from Alien's Bake Shop, Saehee from Vegan Beats and a number of other bakers. All profits will be donated to benefit the Horn of Africa.

Location:Itaewon 1(il)-dong,Seoul,South Korea

Ashley Cheesemen of Grand Hilton's Oktoberfest

Written and Photographed by Troy Zitzelsberger

OKTOBERFEST!!! Grand Hilton Seoul September 23rd & the 24th. “Ein, zwei, zuffa…,” the Grand Hilton will be satisfying the hearts and livers of Seoulites once again with its annual Oktoberfest celebration. The policy of go big or go home is in full affect this year as the Grand Hilton has decided to go no holds barred. They’re bringing back a blast from the past with all your Deutsch favorites from last year along with some new surprises that will be aiming to please.

This past week I was lucky enough to sit down and have a lovely discussion about all things German with the man in charge, the executive assistant manager, Mr. Ashley Cheesemen. Hailing from England and having worked in the restaurant business since he "was a wee lad," Mr. Cheesemen has led a fascinating life. He studied the culinary arts and truly perfected his craft while living in Switzerland. He worked throughout Europe before finally making his way to Seoul. After a few years of working in various hotels and restaurants, Mr. Cheesemen found his place at the Grand Hilton. At this point, you may be asking yourself what makes him qualified to host the largest and most authentic Oktoberfest celebration in all of Asia? During his travels, he spent quite some time in Germany where he picked up the language and the culture (he speaks Korean as well). This coupled with the fact that he experienced the celebration first hand in Munich means that Mr. Cheesemen is more than capable of transforming the Grand Hilton’s convention hall into a boisterous Bavarian beer garden for a day or two.

You can still win a pair of tickets by writing a beer-focused, Cheesemanism here!

Now back to the celebration and what can be expected. You’re probably thinking, German celebration equals beer and sausage. If this is the case then you actually hit the nail right on the head, or will be doing so during the celebration (I’ll come back to this). However, there is much more to the proper Oktoberfest then the mere staples of a Bavarian diet.

Flying in directly from Munich will be the ‘Paulaner Oktoberfest Band’ which will be playing all your favorite German drinking songs. This oompa band has years of experience. They will have you jumping out of your seat and locking arms in brotherly love with your fellow neighbors while you chant the country’s anthems, joining in on a favorite past time.

Now back to the nail on the head; hammer and nail is one of the three games that will be taking place throughout both evenings. The other two are arm wrestling and beer chug. After all, it wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without the beer chug. To the victor goes the spoils but no worries, if you don’t win one of the games then you can still participate in the giveaways. There will be drawings both nights for Formula 1 tickets and round trip flights, as well as many more giveaways contributed by the generous sponsors.

Paulaner, the Munich brewery synonymous with German ‘bier’, will be supplying bottomless barrels of two of their claims to fame. First, their best seller, the hefeweizen: a German wheat beer that is made using specially produced top fermenting yeast which creates a very balanced taste-malty and hoppy, yet smooth. The trained and untrained palate alike are able to pick up hints of banana, lemon and spice. Next, we have their Autumn seasonal Oktoberfest Bier. It has a nutty, malty, and toasty flavor with just enough hops to balance it out. Each year, the Oktoberfest Bier recipe is slightly tweaked so you are truly drinking something unique. Now if this never ending supply of delicious beer doesn’t satisfy your thirst, you can also tip back a bottle of either Becks or Becks Dark.

Buying Tickets? Mention Seoul Eats and you will receive a 20% discount!