Tales from a Crazed K-Pop Fan See part 1 here Chapter 1 Part 2 Suddenly a van drives by I recognize. Now, I may be a huge BAP fan now, but I must confess, the group that made me fall in love with K-pop was Super Junior. They will always have an honorary number one position in this fangirl’s heart. I’m not one of those fans that memorize the license plate numbers of celebrity vans, but Super Junior’s starcraft van is somewhat infamous. As I mentioned before, normally the very popular idols get driven all the way into the parking lot, so forgive my shock when not two feet away from me, the large black van rolls to a stop, engines growling and radiating gusts of warm air. I have just enough presence of mind to hold up my ipod and hit “record” as my absolute favorite member is the first to disembark. My hands are shaking as I lower my camera, never mind that only weeks before I had decided I was officially done being a Super Junior fan after suffering at Inkigayo for their comeback. As I’m...

You know what? I have come to terms with Patbingsu. It is just a milkshake with red beans and other stuff. Its actually better than a milkshake because it is not as rich and heavy. I am sitting at Book Cafe in Yanghwa Road (which is down from Hapjeong station). It's like the new developing part of Hongdae that has been like developing for many years. It's still hip and not over congested and I think I have found my new favorite cafe. The place is filled with books and people working on stuff. The space just inspires me. While they work on something meaningful, I blog. The cafe is inventive and their deserts look bombdiggity (choco banana Charlotte, real pumpkin pie, and lemon tiramisu) their Patbingsu (12,000 krw) is righteous as well. Lots of nuts, good beans that aren't too sweet, frozen milk under a layer of crushed ice, rice cake and a scoop of ice cream. The mint was a bit much (doesn't jive with the rest of the stuff for me). When it all mixed together it became ...

I have found a cupcake I actually like. Monster Cupcake seems right out of cupcake wars on the food network. The cupcakes are ornate and über badass. They are decorated with monster-ey things like eyeballs, ghosts, and tombstones. The best thing is that the frosting is creamy and light and the cake is moist. This is not your dry cake. It is moist and it has body and it is good. I have to say this is one of the best cupcakes in the city. The cupcakes are pretty sizable for 4,800 won a piece and they make good gifts. I had the red velvet which tastes like red velvet and the tiramisu which tasted like a rich chocolate cake with a bit of coffee. Yum. Monster Cupcakes Blog.naver.com/monster1102 Directions: on Gyeongnidan road up from BOA, Toucan, and Hattori Kitchen 02-790-1108

Hi, my name is Dan and I am a watermelon vampire. I guess it all started around July of 2012 as the heat was scorching in the summer. Beer didn't help and neither did water. It was then I bought my first watermelon of the summer and spent the evening eating about half of the 3 kilo melon. I took out huge chunks of the ripe red flesh. First with a spoon, then a bigger spoon, and finally a knife. It was delicious and soul quenching. I slept well and refreshed. The next night I devoured the rest and in the morning I scoured the streets for my next victim- tapping on the shell to get a sense of the flavor within. The next day I did it again and then the next. Subsisting on watermelon in the evenings caused my flesh to subside (I have lost almost 3 kilograms) and I feel detoxified. I drink less (the pleasure form a cool melon surpasses that of alcohol) and I feel more focused. I guess there are worst things to be addicted to. The one problem is that these days my beloved melon costs 25...

One suggestion I have for you to survive this heat is to EAT MORE ICE CREAM! Korean ice cream is amazing and it tastes lighter and not as sugary as others I have had in the world. One that I recommend is Goo Goo Star. It is like a Eskimo pie but with smooth chocolate ice cream and a marshmallow-like vanilla ice cream and topped with peanuts. You'll find it in the ice cream section in a box of 4? so find friends to share it with. Dan

Gangnam Style has gone viral and gone epic. How do I know this? Well...when international guests from all over the world know about this video and we have long, funny conversations about what it all means. Recently on a food tour I had guests from the Philippines, USA, and Singapore that were not all K-pop crazy all started talking about this video. Wow...It has gone international. Two of my guests even picked a hotel in Gangnam because they heard the song. The video is hilarious and the song is seriously catchy. Psy is totally the man. Now if you like videos like Gangnam style, you have to see JYP's Itaewon Freedom. Now, for a reaction to Gangnam Style, you have to watch Eatyourkimchi 's video. Oh, and just because this is a food blog. This should get you hungry. They are pictures from Ajumma in Columbus, Ohio USA. She has a Korean food truck there. We were lucky enough to meet her when she came to Seoul and she took some cooking classes with us. The first one is bulgogi chee...

I am happy to announce that we will have a new column on Seoul Eats. In the past we have had other great columns like by Lindsay Huster . As many of you know, I run O'ngo Food Communications which is a culinary school and tourism company. The food is definitely an attraction for many to come to Korea but many come here for a variety of reasons such as K-pop, the dramas, the history, family and more. One of the things that personally fascinate me is k-pop and I was approached by someone with insight into the fan culture and she has agreed to write a column for Seoul Eats. I would like to introduce you to Sexyfreeandkpop! No, that's not her real name. Dan P.S. If you would like to contribute to Seouleats, please contact me at seouleats@gmail.com Chapter 1 Part 1 [caption id="attachment_10419" align="aligncenter" width="450"] picture from Seoulbeats www.seoulbeats.com[/caption] Tales from a Crazed K-Pop Fan Chapter 1 Part 1 I jerk awake to the soft ...