My food buddy, Laura of Ajumama can be seen in the ABC News Video. She's kicking some but in Columbus, Ohio. If you are in the area you should check out her inventive and sassy Korean cuisine. Follow her on twitter at https://twitter.com/ajumamacbus

Dan

From May 25th to June 9th, the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Peroni Beer, along with several top quality local Italian restaurants, will be hosting an Italian Food Festival. Yesterday I joined the Press Launch Event and go to meet these wonderful chefs, and with the Italian Ambassador, at Spasso Italian Restaurant in Gangnam. Each restaurant will host a custom set menu featuring food from a certain region in Italy. Prices range from 60,000W to over 120,000W.

I want to give a special nod to Chef Sommariva Franco from Trattoria da Franco who kindly invited us to the event. A great guy, and great chef.

Here is the information, will some pictures of the launch event following.

Click here to Download the Brochure





 

Here's the press letter:

Italian Food Festival in Korea

From May 25 to June 9 2012 in Seoul

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea and seven Italian restaurants in Seoul, all members of the Chamber and its Food & Beverage Committee, will hold for the first time in Korea an authentic Italian Food Festival, with the aim of presenting to Korean consumers typical dishes of the Italian regional cuisine.

From May 25th to June 9th 2012, each of the seven involved restaurants is going to offer their customers an exclusive course menu including typical and authentic dishes from a specific region of Italy, prepared and selected by their own chefs, and the cost of the set menu will range from 45,000 to 120,000 KRW.

The restaurants joining the Festival are “Buon Posto” in Chungdam-dong, “CasAntonio” in Itaweon, “Elea” in Gocheok-dong, “Esclusivo” in Apgujeong, “Italian Grill Spasso” in Chungdam-dong, “Paolodemaria Fine Trattoria” in Sorae Village, and “Trattoria da Franco” located in Bongcheon-dong, near Seoul National University.

All the menus will present a series of different courses, following the Italian proper serving order, and they will also include an “Aperitivo” offered by Italy’s super premium beer Peroni Nastro Azzurro. In Italy, the “Aperitivo” ritual is a relaxing prelude to winding down for dinner, by combining delicious, bite-sized food with refreshing light alcoholic drinks, such as beer Peroni Nastro Azzurro.

The Embassy of Italy in Korea is also supporting the festival, and H.E. Sergio Mercuri, Ambassador of Italy in Seoul, said: “the ‘Italian Food Festival’ will soon take place with the support of some of the most well known Italian restaurants in Seoul, of the outstanding brand Peroni and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea. This event will be an important opportunity to promote the image of Italy as well as our regional cuisine and culture. Beyond the worldwide famous and imitated pizza and pasta, our country has an important historical tradition and a valuable heritage considering the regional food culture that has to be fully recognized and appreciated for its great value. “

For further information about the Italian Food Festival, it is possible to contact the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea at itcck@itcck.org or 02-402-4379. Reservations for the event can be made at each restaurant.

The regions of Italy represented by the restaurants will be:

Buon Posto: Veneto
Chungdam-dong, www.buonposto.com) 

CasAntonio: Puglia
124-6 www.casantonio.co.kr)

Elea: Campania/Napoli
7F, 2001 Outlet, 76-41 Gocheok-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul (tel. 02-2687-1311, website: www.elea.kr) 

Esclusivo: Emilia Romagna
B1, Lump Bldg., 626-78 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (tel. 02-540-5542, website: www.esclusivo.co.kr) 

Italian Grill Spasso: Sicilia

Dosandaero 64 Gil 14, 1F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul www.thespasso.com)

Paolodemaria Fine Trattoria: Piemonte
Seoraemaul 91-3 Banpo-dong Seocho-gu, Seoul (tel.02-599-9936 , website: www.paolodemaria.com)

Trattoria Da Franco: Toscana
206, Daewon The Osuperium 1 Danji, Bongcheon-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul (tel. 02-887-2825, website: www.dafranco.co.kr)

 

 

And some photos from the launch event.











 

Apparently Armani makes some damn delicious chocolate. I was hesitant to take some and Chef Franco saw my hesitation, grabbed a large handful, and sent me away with it. Score.









 

The Italian Ambassador.



 

The dashing young Adam Sandburg impersonator on the left is the Peroni Beer Ambassador. Chef Franco on the right.

it

It makes you wonder how legit the rankings are because I am in an empty restaurant at 8pm on Wednesday Night that has 2 open cans of paint on the floor with a loud worker on his phone. There are about 8 tables that can sit four people each.



the food came out quickly and it was good. I got the veggie curry (7,000 won) and basmati rice (3,500 won).

I admit. The curry and rice is legit. They are very good. The rice is aromatic cooked perfectly and worth the 3,500 won. The curry is thick, buttery and with rich flavor.



My meal is finished has I am waiting to see how long they will let me seat before asking if I would like a desser or tea. I would like milk tea (1,500 won) 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes... Eventually I just ask for them to come here. The tea is good but I don't think it deserves to be the number 1 restaurant in Korea. My pick would be Jungsikdang.

Jyoti Indian restaurant
1.5 stars (good food, good price, service could be improved.)

Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 118 Sinchon-ro

http://m.google.com/u/m/-952ao

it tastes pretty good with the mango juice and tapioca balls. Yum. You can find them at mango six. Locations all over korea.

This is a new bibimbap concept restaurant in the Yongsan Station shopping complex by the Cgv theatre. It is an upscale take with bibimbap starting at 10,900 won. You get rice cake to start and a minimal number of banchan (3). The interior is stylish with good lighting and music. It has a bit of Japanese flair.

The rice bowls come out in a hot bowl places in a wood box. The Nakji bibimbap is nothing world changing. It is the same type of bibimbap you would get but they put the octopus in a fried flower bowl. The taste is good. A tad spicy and it has the regular veggies like bean sprouts, bracken carrots etc


The soba salad is quite good. We hot the large (11,900). The taste is refreshing with a bit of hear from the wasabi soy dressing. The meat was juicy and well marinated as well for being so thin. The salad with iceberg lettuce, celery leaves, and cilantro was a nice touch. Oh, just to note. The large 대 is not super big, I would recommend that if you are having a meal.

Overall, good concept and fairly good execution. It's pretty much like Bibigo with a new name.

Stone Pot Kitchen
Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 338 Hangangno 2(i)-ga

http://m.google.com/u/m/-L4Ggu

Tasting notes.

Drinks are sweet but very inventive. I got a blue margarita with sharks in it. The sharks were filled with strawberry daquiri. Good drinks and great if you are in a festive New Orleans mood.

I ordered the couples tasting menu (~30,000) We started with the Oysters Rockefeller. They were cute but needed more seasoning. The green bread crumbs that try battered it with didn't make it amazing. The Po boy sandwich tasted great. I loved the spicy remolade and the veggies on the bread. I don't know if it was homemade bread but it was very good. The star of all the dishes was the chicken gumbo. It was flavor rich with cajun spices, okra, dirty rice, chicken and sausage. It was thick gumbo i prefer, but the flavor was spot on with the right mix of cayenne, celery salt and garlic. The gumbo is proof that chef has some skills.

We also got a shrimp course and the shrimp came out plump and poppy and the breading was crisp.

There was one little problem. The oysters Rockefeller had a little piece of plastic in it. We brought it up to the staff and they quickly reified it. They offered to replace it or take it off the bill and they were very apologetic.

The atmosphere is great as well but the chair seating is a bit cramped and the chairs make a lot of noise.

Anyway, I would recommend this place if you are looking for some Cajun in Seoul.

Pier 17
Rating: 2.5 stars (good food and atmops

I am having lunch at the Shabu Shabu Bar at CJ Foodville and it is awesome. You pick whatever you want off the moving belt such as veggies, beef, seafood, noodles, dumplings and more and then cook it at your own personal hot pot. I love the variety and the energy of this place. I have tries a half a dozen combinations and I am still having fun. For 22,000 won it is worth the food and the fun.

CJ Foodville at IFC Plaza
Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 23 Yeoeuido-dong

http://m.google.com/u/m/xsQZqr

Two Hands Burger
Yep, it place is aptly named because you do need two hands to eat these burgers. At first grab the burger juices, condiments and maybe egg yolk (or chili) ooze out as you take a bite. The patties are chargrilled, the buns are whole wheat and toasted, and the fillings piled just right. I recommend their mushroom burger that has plenty of mushrooms and cheese and their Le Vert Burger which has bacon, egg, cheese, veggies and burger. Their seasoned fries make a nice accompaniment (that and a beer).

Haebangchon
Yongsan-gu Yongsan-dong-2-ga 45-10
02-6401-7705

Manseok Dakhanmari
It’s all about the broth. Here rich chicken broth is flavored with oriental herbs, mung beans, and spices. This broth is then used to cook a whole chicken. One of the best parts of this place is the sauce you make to dip the chicken in. You get fresh greens that you add mustard, soy sauce, and chili paste to your liking. Their dakgalbi and their dakbokkeum tang is spicy and quite good as well. You can even add noodles or dumplings after you eat the meat so you don't waste any of that wonderful broth.

Insadong
Jongno-gu Insadong 136 bonji
02 723 8286

Zen Hideaway
This stylish restaurant in Myeongdong has calming energy in a wide-open atmosphere. The interior has Japanese lines but with a Thai edge. The food is an interesting blend of Asian and Italian. Here you can get pastas with a spicy seafood sauce or salmon salad with a peanut sauce which is unfortunately named “salmonera.” Their crisp Roma-style pizzas are an excellent choice as well such as their ricotta chicken and broccoli and their apple Gorgonzola. If Thai is more your thing, they have noodle dishes and soups. If you prefer Japanese, they have sushi. It is a place that will impress whoever you take here.

Myeongdong
Jung-gu Myeongdong 2-ga 52-13
02-776-1461

I was over at the National Museum of Korea to see the Art in America Exhibition. The show was well thought out and had some great representative pieces from all over the country. I was especially happy to see some pieces from the Philadelphia museum of art. I remember seeing some of the pieces there when I used to visit in my younger days.

The building has very impressive architecture and I would highly recommend you make a visit. There is also a huge wing that houses their Korean collection.

National Museum of Korea

Address: 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로, 137
Yongsan-gu, Seobingo-ro 137

http://m.google.com/u/m/-JJmQ0