After a long day with the family, the cool and slightly bitter milk coffee ice cream was what I needed. Plus it had a nice little kick of caffeine. For just 3,500 won it was just right. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1MRhnhc

With a friend I went to Yoon Sook-ja's Rice Cake Cafe to enjoy a bit of afternoon tea with some rice cake snacks. I have worked with Yoon Sook-ja in the past and I find her an absolutely delightful person. Her rice cakes are works of art and they taste delicious as well. I had the mushroom tea (it's the dark tea below.) This tea had Korean dates (jujubes), pine nuts, mushrooms, and other stuff. I really don't recall the name of the drink but after drinking it I felt a bit lightheaded. Now, this could be because of all the late hours I have been putting in lately, but it also could have had something with the tea. My friend's Pumpkin latte tasted like a Korean pumpkin. It didn't have espresso, so I don't think I would consider it a latte. It was more a steamed milk with pumpkin. I enjoyed it a lot more than the pumpkin spice coffee drinks in the states that have nutmeg and other craziness in it. Oh, and if you have a question on which rice cake to get, I reco...

I was scheduled to meet Dan near the Crown Hotel, but like most Korean address' I was unsure where "London Tea" was exactly located... until I looked up and voila, next to all the car repair shops there it was atop a small mound, quite easy to spot. Inside is an eclectic mix match of old world antique charm, handmade ceramic mugs, and a side of West Village Sunday brunch, simple & delicious. The owner and the chef work hand in hand to prepare not just a perfectly crafted meal, but also create an intimate atmosphere to enjoy a cup of afternoon tea. First we were welcomed with a delightful plate of the chef's rendition of the french toast: Cream cheese filling with fresh cranberries oozing out between two hefty pieces of brioche toast and of course what would french toast be without BACON :) Yes, please! Next up, caramelized apples wedged in a cheddar omelet, with a dash of mix green salad. Oh~ and look banana slices peeping through the golden crust of the pancake~ ...

Who's him? Why would you want some guy in your coffee or gelato? I feel like I'm in "Wayne's World. I would like a tall coffee with the cream of "som yung guy." Well, if you that's your thing then this place in Myeongdong is for you and the cream of is a guy named Kwon Sang-woo (권상우). He's a popular actor and model. He's the guy who's all over the face shop ads and girls love him for his hot body or "몸짱 (Mome Jang: Great Body)" Now his cafe is located outside of Myeong Station exit 6?- it's right by the Cinus building. The space is quite nice and the coffee ain't too bad. The only problem is that you see faces of the guy everywhere. And I mean everywhere, it's like Big Brother or something. There are pictures of him in frames all over walls and in the stairway up to the place. I vaguely recall seeing one in the bathroom, but possibly that's just me being paranoid. Now is it just me or is that just a wee bit too narcis...

I am a big fan of Brian in Jeollanamdo's blog and he keeps his eyes open to all things Korea. I would like to think of him as the Dark Knight of the Chosun.   Here's Brian and the LA Times The LA Times continues its good Korea coverage as of late with a piece on Boseong green tea and the famed plantations.     The Boseong region is to green tea what the Napa Valley is to wine. There are hundreds of tiny producers in the area. Visiting the plantations, I was struck by the pungent aroma of the leaves even before I caught sight of the fields. But it was the view that took my breath away. The soft rolling rows of tea plants stretching up along the hillside stood majestically in the morning fog.     Tea plants grow like shrubs; they're cultivated to grow only waist high for easier harvesting. If left to grow in the wild, the plants mature into tall trees.     Even with the plants at a comfortable height, green tea harvesting (like any farm work) is drudgery. I watched rural wome...