Hi all, My name is Irene and I'm a 20 something girl in Korea and I wanted to introduce some of my favorite eats. "Tokki Jeong" is one of the hottest restaurants in Gangnam area. Their concept is ‘Home style Japanese Food’. The whole restaurant looks like modern Japanese house which is really cool. I recommend this place as for a date since the price range is from 5,000 won to 18,000 won so it’s not that expensive but you can make your girlfriend or boyfriend happy with the good atmosphere and delicious food. I went there with my girls though.
The menu is quite diverse from Korokke, fried vegetables, fired meats (Sutbul Gui), Japanese style of soup to Cream Curry Udon. First, I recommend to try Korokke for an appetizer. Especially if you or your partner are sharing, you should order this. It’s very crispy inside and it is full of mashed potato. It is especially delicious with the white cream sauce but... the biggest reason why I'm telling you to get the app is that it takes a pretty long time to get your food. Every single main dish takes over 15 minutes to cook them.
For the main dish, Cream Curry Udon is their best seller. It’s just simple. White cream sauce is poured over the Japanese Curry Udon. It might be the smoothest Curry Udon in the world. Honestly, I was worried it could be greasy and fatty because of all the cream, but I just couldn't resist; it's just too good. All of my friends were yelling ‘yummy!’ when they tried it. Now it’s one of our favorite dishes.
I also recommend the Sutbul Gui, the grilled, fired meats. You can choose between the pork and the beef but you can also order half and half. The pork is quite spicy and the beef tastes like Bulgogi. But they are directly chargrilled so you can taste the deep taste of meat. I ordered half and half with rice topped with green onion. It’s served with soy sauce, so you could pour the sauce on your rice.
How can you get there? Go out to exit 4 of Sinnonhyon station and go straight then you will find the alley between Wooribank and Ritzcarlton Hotel. Go into the alley then just go three more blocks, finally you can find there on the right side! And one more tip. As is said it’s very popular these days, so you may see the very long line in front of the door. So if you don’t wanna be one of them, just download a restaurant reservation app ‘Sunbuni’ and make a reservation!
Trying to make some healthier life choices so I am on the Yevo Superfood diet. The food is easy, healthy and fast. I have to live long to take care of my Hazell after all. I eat one or two of these a day and then have a normal meal. It's been working so far and I have lost 3 pounds plus I have more energy and mental clarity. #yevo43korea #healthy #superfood
There is Triple Cheese Therapy which has cheddar and Gouda dusting and stuffed with cream #cheese. The double cheese therapy is without stuffing. The Autumn Sweet potato is stuffed with potato. I got an old fashioned with a red velvet and a @manhattandrip #coffee. #korea #bizarrefoods #seouleats
My wife loves them so I was lucky enough to pick some up at gyeongdong market for 1,000 won each so I made guacamole, avocado chia seed shake, and California Bibimbap with brown rice, organic greens and a red wine citrus dressing. Wife was happy. #cooking #avocado #lunch #seouleats
My wife told me something something quite revealing today. She said, "Women are expected to sacrifice for their children. They should breast feed their babies, they are expected to make the baby food. They are expected to watch and take care of their children all the time from the cradle to the grave." Growing up in America, I figured that was both of the parents jobs. She told me, "In Korea, the burden of child rearing is mainly on the mothers. Fathers are supposed to support the family financially."
On trips to the supermarket, I realized that most supermarkets do not have baby food. You know the little jars of peas, carrots, apple sauce and all the other stuff. Most women in Korea make their children's baby food themselves. My wife has a special machine (which I will have to show you later) that will steam and then mince the food into natural baby food. We are also very careful to have organic and pesticide-free products for our child.
Since my baby was about 6 months we have been starting to feed her solid food. We started with just rice. Then it was rice with some beef. Then beef with rice and broccoli. Today she had some peas (which she loved) and then we made her some apple sauce. It was simply an organic apple that we ground down and served. Simple, healthy and delicious.
I really admire this idea of child rearing and I think that it must help set the foundation for healthy eating growing up. Also, not having processed food will probably stop Hazell from having food allergies and other problems as she gets older.
Here I am with Chef Marco Züger as we go on a food adventure in Korea. He eats live octopus, top grade beef, black chicken, and...turtle soup. How can this Swiss Chef Fare? Watch to find out. SHOW MORE
Woe is me. I live a life of decadence, a quite sedentary life where I shoot food, eat and talk about it at great length. The world of a food writer is for the young and hungry. Now when I started, I had a metabolism and I could eat and not gain a pound. Now I must decline invitations in droves for dining out every night can be devastating for the waste line. When you think and live food all the time, you are inclined to eat. You are conditioned to eat past the point of satiety. This is not a good thing. Anyway, I have decided to give it up.
Just kidding. But I am making some changes. I am exercising in the morning and the evening and I walk as much as I can. I have found my tools to fight the bulge to be a kettlebell and a fitbit walking tracker. The first few days with the kettlebell were tough for I realized that I haven't used some muscles for a long time (especially in the ab and stomach region). I am finding youtube to be a good trainer and as I get stronger, I feel I will increase my time exercising. I am also taking breaks at work when I get up and stand and work or walk around.
Health is really important. Especially since now I am married and I have a daughter. I know people say guys can let themselves go once they get married, but that's not true. Although I have life insurance and all that, it won't be enough to support them and I would not want to have my wife and daughter to grow up without me.
The other main thing I have been doing is cutting down the drinking. I read that your liver can completely regenerate in two weeks if you let it rest. I did that and now I rarely drink at home and I try not to overdo it. This has been the best thing to lose weight because when I drink, I want to eat.
So...we all need balance in our lives. Too much of a good thing becomes normal after all.
Daniel Gray is a Korean-American Adoptee that returned to Korea in 2005 to rediscover his roots. He is a Korean food expert that has appeared on Bizarre Foods, Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain and more. He does food tours, events, and consulting in Seoul and owns two restaurants: Brew 3.14 and Brew 3.15 in Seoul.
