Written and Photographed by Troy Zitzelsberger Petra Palace Having been here for nearly a month now, I’m still considered a newbie. So when I told my kebab fanatic Iranian friend that I am partaking on a quest to find the Kebab Raja of Itaewon he informed me of all the various kebab eateries with the exception of one. How this gem slipped his mind I don’t know since it is now on the top of mine. When it comes to options, Petra Palace has a more extensive menu than any of the other kebab joint’s I have been to thus far. You can get anything from a minced lamb hommos platter (₩ 14,000) to your typical chicken kebab aka chicken schwarma (₩ 5,000). However, in the search for the greatest kebab, Petra has distinguished itself being the only Kebab place in Itaewon that offers falafel (₩ 5,000). These delectable, healthy little balls of joy will satisfy the appetite of both vegetarians and carnivores alike. It is made from chickpeas and/or fava ...
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Last month when reporter Anne Devineaux came to Seoul and asked for advice on Korean food I was ecstatic to help. I made a few recommendations (but not all of them) and I think she did a great job on her report on the state of Korean food. Here is the story. You can see the video report on their website (link below). I was especially happy since she wanted to interview my good friend and business partner, Jia Choi. The South Koreans are keen for the world to develop a taste for their country, and they’re using food to do it. Now there are culinary tours for overseas visitors in Seoul. It is designed to shine the spotlight on South Korean cuisine, which to many western eyes is something of a mystery compared to that in neighbouring Japan or China. Jia Choi is a Korean food expert who organises them. “In western culture, you have appetizers, and then main and then dessert,” she explained, “but in Korea, we just serve all everything in one table, and you design your meal. So...
Soup for Sluts This is too funny! It's your smile for the day. Thanks Michael Simning for sharing it. Share it with your friends. I just love the caption "Cheap, Fast & Easy." I wonder if it got lost in translation or if the product designer is a devious genius that knew that he could get away with this in a foreign market. 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 Lens or with my iPhone 4G Join the Seoul Eats Facebook Group Page to keep to date with the latest events.
It was a blast meeting Jamie Frater of Listverse.com while he was in Seoul. One of the places that we got to go together was Shim Yang, a popular lamb skewer restaurant in Apgujeong. This is another great video produced and filmed by the crew over at PSeight. Daniel along with his special guest, Jamie Frater, of listverse.com shows us DJ Koo's newest venture, "Shim Yang". Watch as Daniel and Jamie enjoy some good food and some good conversation about Korean food. 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 Lens or with my iPhone 4G Join the Seoul Eats Facebook Group Page to keep to date with the latest events.
I was originally worried about going to my mother's house because she got remarried late in life and I thought I would have to visit her new husband's house and meet his family. I really didn't mind but I wasn't looking forward to meeting them for the first time-especially during Chuseok. My mother's husband, whom she calls 'Ajosshi' wasn't receptive to the idea that my mother had a son born out of wedlock and he tried to prevent our reunion. I thought that time had softened his disposition. In preparation for the meeting I prepared the typical Chuseok gifts of money and Songpyeon (crescent rice cakes). When I arrived at the bus station I met my mother and my uncle and his grandchild. I thought this was odd but I didn't say anything of it. We went to eat goat stew for lunch (I can't say this was my favorite. It just had ribbons of goat meat in a bean paste and wild sesame seed broth). Afterwards, we went to my mother's tiny house. It was one ...
Korea is a country of foodies. All day most conversations revolve around food. I am sitting with my mother watching television on Chuseok morning and as we flip through the channels I see shows for food, cooking, housewares, singing and dancing, and documentaries about food. Last night at dinner I listened to my mother discuss with her friends about the prices of food and the history behind a local farm. Koreans are a people that like variety. This is why, according to Jia Choi, why cruise ships have never been popular with Koreans because they don't like being only on a ship. They want to get out and do lots of different activities. If they travel they really want to travel. I think this is why Food shows haven't worked in Korea. Olive has had a go of it for a while and they are trying to start up again. I don't think it will work because they are competing with network channels like KBS and MBC. It is hard to get original food content all the time. Now if they could only ...
Written and Photographed by Troy Zitzelsberger A new restaurant in a competitive neighborhood can go either way. They could work very hard and prove themselves worthy of the consumer’s patronage by bending over backwards in order to please them. But on the flip side, they could also lack in the experience department which may lead to them to fall short of expectations. However you want to view it, there are only two sides to this coin. This leads me to the second stop on my search for the Kebab Raja, the new kid on the block, Pasha. Being the gentlemen that I am coupled with the fact that they just opened their doors, I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt. I ordered the beef and lamb kebab (₩ 5,300). The positive: the tortilla shell was thin so I didn’t feel like I was eating at a Mexican restaurant and there was also a good amount of fresh vegetables. The negative was that they lacked in the meat and sauce department (disappointing would be an understatement,...
Written by Troy Zitzelsberger Seoul’s first and possibly only establishment aiming to meet the needs of those savoring New York Deli staples. What I expected was a throwback to the NYC delicatessen, but what I received was class. Upon entering, the soothing sounds of Jazz filled the air while candles on the tables created a romantic ambience that would be more suitable for an Italian restaurant. Photographs of New York adorned the walls and reminded me of my long strolls through Central Park. This was a very refreshing contrast to the chaos that is often present in true New York Delis. The waitress greeted me with the menu but having lived in New York I didn’t feel the need to waste anyone’s time. The two staples of any New York Delicatessen are, first and foremost, the Pastrami (which just so happens to be my favorite deli meat). I have traversed the streets of New York City time and time again seeking out the best. It has been fa...
I am sitting at Express Bus Terminal having hot soup and rice for breakfast (cheonggukjang and bap) and thinking about my life in Korea. I came here 6 years ago because I wanted to learn about Korean Culture and to find my Mother (Omma). As many of you know I am adopted but I first lived here for the first 5 years of my life- the first few were spent with my mother and then I lived with my father and stepmother for about 1 year. Then I was sent to an orphanage and later adopted by my parents in America. When I came back, I was able to accomplish what I came here to do. I found my mother and we have a great relationship. I have been able to learn about Korea and I have come to love it dearly. But today, I am scared.I will be going to my mother's house for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) for the first time and I will be meeting her husband and his children ( I am my mother's only child. She married late in life.) It will be the first time for us to formally meet and I hope I will m...
I was lucky enough to work with the crew of the Kimchi Chronicles show on Korean food while they were in Seoul. I'll even appear on one of the episodes (episode 12: Pork). Here is an interview that I did with them. -Dan 5 Questions Or Less: Daniel Gray Of Seoul Eats September 6, 2011 | Category: Five Questions Daniel Gray of Seoul Eats originally came to Korea simply because he needed a change of scenery, and now he’s running one of the most popular food blogs in Seoul, and even a food communications company too. Gray’s a true foodie; he makes his living eating food, writing about it, and teaching others about it, so we were very excited to have him on Kimchi Chronicles . He appears in Episode 12, the Pork Chronicles , where he, Marja and Heather did a taste test of three of Seoul’s finest pork restaurants. When it comes to eating in Korea, why exactly is a good rule of thumb to go ...
Grand Hilton Oktoberfest Party Ashley Cheeseman, the Executive Assistant Manager of the Grand Hilton is known for his witty postings about his love of beer and pubs. It is fitting that he has organized the top Oktoberfest Parties in Seoul for several years. This year they'll have the Original Paulaner Band from Munich, an authentic German Food Buffet and 2 types of UNLIMITED Paulaner Draft Beer AND...lots of door prizes and other amazing prizes. This year he has generously offered two tickets to the readers of Seoul Eats...so it means it is time for a contest and it has to have a beer and Oktoberfest theme. So... write the best limerick, pun, joke, saying, enlightenments, etc. related to beer and post it in the comments section of this post. If you are chosen by the Cheeseman, you will win a pair of tickets to the Grand Hilton's Oktoberfest Party on September 23rd or 24th. These tickets sell for 120,000 won each for all the food and beer that you can drink. The w...
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