Originally printed in the May issue of Seoul Magazine. Reprinted with permission. Visit Seoul Magazine's website here. Chilly Cha Cha: A Fingerfood Bar Rating 2 Stars: Recommended (Modernized, Hip Gourmet Street food with Campari Soda's) The concept of Chilly Cha Cha seems to be a Korean street stall in Paris. The barley-packed croquettes they offer are gourmet with such variations such as tomato, basil and cream, curry, and even corn. Of course, they have your standard Korean street fare as well such as tteokbokki, u-dong noodle soup, fried octopus, shrimp, etc. To accompany your snacks you can have a crisp cold beer, but I recommend their minty mojito, their campari soda, or their makgeolli cocktail. Fingerfood Bar 400-11 Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong Closed Mondays 02-322-8405 Directions: Go out Hapjeong Station Exit 5 and make a make a right down the side street. Go Loco for Tequila at Mamacita's Rating 2 Stars: Recommended (Tall Margaritas, Great Tacos and Fajit...

For those that didn't have a chance to pick up a copy of April's Seoul Magazine. Here are some of the food places I wrote about. I recommend you pick up a copy because you'll get lots of great events and the maps will show you where all of the restaurants I mention are. Let's support the good restaurants in Korea, because I am tired of them closing because people don't know they exist! Dan Quick Bites: Seoul Digested Published in the April Seoul Selection Magazin e. Reprinted with Permission By Daniel Gray The Frypan: University Project Turned Franchise Hongdae University is known as the school for aspiring artists. The scene is eclectic and energetic and many of the restaurants and eateries reflect this idea. The Frypan restaurant was started as a school project by a group of university students. Their signature dish is boneless chicken breast that is breaded and fried served over a bed of freshly fried potato chips. It is like a battleship of chicken st...

This was originally published in the March Issue of Seoul Magazine. It is reprinted with permission. Cacao Boom Cacao Boom for a Drop of Chocolate Have you ever wondered why there is no Chocoholic's Anonymous? It's because nobody wants to quit. I must say that I am addicted to the hot chocolate at Cacao Boom. You can order it to the degree of thickness or flavor. I recommend the strong chocolate which comes in a small glass but each sip is like a shot of serotonin straight to the happy centers of the brain. There is also white hot chocolate for those looking for something sweeter and more buttery. For the adventurous there is hot chocolate with a shot of brandy or a sprinkling of chili powder. This is truly artisan made hot chocolate for it is made in a standing chocolate mixer that regulates the temperature and mixes it continuously to create the perfect texture. Also, be sure to grab a chocolate bar or two on your way out. Your friends will appreciate it. Cacao Boom...

This was originally published in the March Issue of Seoul Magazine . It is reprinted with permission. Reminis Cake in Seoul, Korea From Wedding Cakes to Chocolate Cakes: Reminis Wedding cake maker and spun sugar artist Yun-sun Goo and her team decided they wanted to share their craft with the public so they converted their baking studio into a cafe. In the back room they offer baking classes and continue to make cakes, but the front of the house is now a cafe where can get a chocolate slice to quell your sweet tooth. The chocolate creations are exceptional here. The giant wedge of chocolate cake has rich granache over a foundation of chocolate sponge cake with crisp cookie shattering on the bottom. Now if you have the time (about 20 minutes), I recommend their chocolate souffle. Right out of the oven, the melted chocolate is in a flux of solid and liquid and it sits on a crisp tart crust of…chocolate. It is truly heaven on earth.  Reminis Cake in Seoul, Korea Reminis Ca...

This was originally published in the March Issue of Seoul Magazine . It is reprinted with permission. Cup and Bowl in Itaewon I am an early bird and I love getting a good cup of coffee and a baked good to start my day. The only problem is that most coffee places don't open until 10 or 11am. During my morning walk, I saw that the quaint Cup and Bowl in Itaewon was open at 8:30am so I decided to give it a chance. Inside was the scent of fresh cookies and scones baking and the lingering scent of coffee. This little cafe is known for their soups, but their fig and pecan scone was quite fine and their deep flavored espresso with a thick head of crema was just what I needed to get my day rolling. Cup and Bowl Yongsan-gu, Itaewon-dong 57-16 T (070)-4190-3642 Directions: It is up the hill across from McDonalds in Itaewon. 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 Len...

Originally Published in the February Issue of Seoul Selection Magazine. Retro Oven in Gangnam Pain De Chocolate Quick Bites by Daniel Gray Retro Oven Redux My favorite bakery in Seoul has gotten themselves a new location, but quality and attitude have not changed. The owner, Pak Cheol-woo, is a born baker: he is humble, diligent, and precise. Every loaf and roll that comes out of his oven are marked for greatness- they are not just one of the nameless many. His crusty country loaf will hold its own against any meaty sandwich and his cloud-like ciabattas are great right out of the bag. The stars of the bakery are his German-style soft pretzels, pretzel croissants, and his many layered (I counted 29 layers in mine), flaky, buttery pain de chocolate. Oh, and they are generous. If you stick around, you'll get sample after sample of their delicious bread. Retro Oven Gangnam-gu, Nonhyeon-dong 254-22 02-544-9045 Go out Gangnam-gu Office Station (Line 7) Exit 2. Turn around ...