Bibimbap This Saturday, March 19th we'll be having our dolsot bibimbap and bean sprout soup class at 11am at O'ngo Culinary School located in Insadong. This class is specially priced at 55,000 won per person. If you purchase 3 classes, it only costs 45,000 won per class (135,000 won). Classes carry over to next month. Our next month's offerings are: April 2nd: Banchan (Korean Side Dish) Class April 9th: Mandu and Bibimguksu April 16th: Sundubu and Seafood Pancake You can find us by going out Anguk Station (Subway Line 3) Exit 4 and walk 2 blocks and make a left after Young’s Music and Pizza Haven. We are on the 3rd Floor in the building across from Crown Hotel. You can sign-up by contacting us at ongofood@ongofood.com O’ngo Food Communications www.ongofood.com Jongno-gu, Nagwon-dong 55-1 Nagwon-dong Zip 110-709 02-3446-1607 Korean Bank Transfer Information: If you would like to send payment in advance you can send us a bank transfer at Standard Chartere...

Bacon Chocolate Truffle This was sent from our friends at the Dragon Hill Lodge . These unnaturally good treats have dark chocolate studded with salty, crunchy pork bits. It tastes sinful, but I'd do it again in an instant. Now, they don't have these treats on the menu, but if you ask the Food and Beverage Director Tim really nicely, he might make you a batch. Give the Dragon Hill a call today. Dragon Hill Lodge Located in the Yongsan Garrison so it would be difficult for civilians to get in. Call (Commercial) 790-0016 Ext. 6209 or (DSN) 738-2222 , Ext. 6209 Dan

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...

Here is an interesting story I read on Discovery News. I am intrigued and I would totally drink it. Dan http://news.discovery.com/human/most-expensive-coffee-dung-110310.html World's Most Expensive Coffee's Key Ingredient? Dung March 11, 2011 1:30:00 AM Indonesia's self-proclaimed "King of Luwak," Gunawan Supriadi, is having a hard time keeping up with demand for the beans excreted by his stable of pampered civet "cats". And he's not alone. Demand for coffee brewed with beans plucked from the dung of the furry, weasel-like creatures -- known locally as luwaks -- is surging among well-healed connoisseurs around the world, exporters say. About 40 civets at Supriadi's plantation in West Lampung district, Sumatra, provide the intestinal machinery for his Raja Luwak (King of Luwak) brand of bean. Lampung is the undisputed capital of luwak coffee. "My target is to have 150 civets soon because I have to meet the surge in demand,"...

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...

Here is the official press release on the St. Patrick's Day Festival in Seoul. Dan Seoul’s now annual participation in the international celebration in honour of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the man accredited to having brought Christianity to Ireland, will start off in Insadong in Seoul on March 19 One of Seoul’s most popular and widely participated cultural events will continue to be hosted in the city – despite the downturn in Ireland’s economic fortunes. It wouldn’t be March if Ireland’s national day, Saint Patrick’s Day, wasn’t being celebrated. Thanks to the kind support of Daesung Corporation, Seoul Global Center, the Embassy of Ireland and a number of individual and private donations, the 11th Saint Patrick’s Festival in Seoul will take place on Saturday March 19 in Insadong, Seoul from 11:30 am to 5pm. Having attracted over 15,000 spectators to past events, The Irish Association of Korea, who organise the event, are grateful for the suppor...

I got this great article Yahoo News  about how we can help the Japanese. Here is a great list of all the different organizations that are helping the Japanese get through this crisis. I will be making a donation right away after I assess which organization to give it to. Please help Japanese people! Below is how you can help: AMERICAN RED CROSS : Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help.  Donate here . GLOBALGIVING : Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.  Donate here . SAVE THE CHILDREN : Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of...

Chans Bros Coffee I am outside at Chans Bros Coffee on a very nice Sunday Evening having a cappuccino and doing some writing. The cafe is pretty happening with quite a number of people enjoying drinks. When I went in, the very nice but very busy Barista told me I would have to wait a bit. I did- not a big deal and later he came out and took my order. I got the cappuccino with an extra shot and for 4,000 won, not a bad price. I noticed on his coffee grinder he had covered the clear plastic part with a cloth. This impressed me because he was trying to stop the sun from damaging the flavor of the beans. When I got my coffee, I noticed the latte heart he made, but more importantly the fine micro bubbles in the cappuccino foam. The coffee was creamy and rich. The espresso was one with the frothy, creamy milk. Highly recommended. Dan Chans Bros Coffee 070-8863-6353 Directions: Go out Noksapyeong Station exit 2 walk down and cross over to the other side.

This was originally published in the March Issue of Seoul Magazine. It is reprinted with permission. Amandier Chocolates in Seoul, Korea When Christopher Columbus came to "New Spain" he noticed that the Indians used almond beans "as currency; and these Indians in the canoe valued greatly." Can you count the number of errors in this statement? Three. But the biggest error of all was that the Native Americans were using cocoa beans as currency and they were right to value it. Good chocolate makes me drool the second I smell it. A bite or a sip of really good chocolate sends a jolt of flavor to my jowls and makes me lightheaded. Quite simply, chocolate gets me high. The simple cocoa bean after being roasted and processed can be made into a variety of different products. Great chocolatiers are like alchemists. They know how to temper the chocolate correctly in order to make a glossy sheen and uniform snap. They also know which flavorings, butters, and sweete...

장 소 : 온고프드 커뮤니케이션 ( www.ongofood.com ) 참가비용 : 60,000원 Buongiorno! 세계적인 이탈리안 쉐프로부터 정통 이탈리안 요리를 배우기를 원하시는 분들은 3월 24일에 열리는 쿠킹 클래스에 참가해 보세요. 매우 열정적인 쉐프 세바스티아노는 로마에 있는 최고급 레스토랑에서 일을 하였으며 2007년 한국인 부인과 아들을 데리고 한국으로 건너와 Grissini Beinnale 체인에 합류하였습니다. 쉐프 세바스티아노는 현재 청담동에 있는 유명 레스토랑 안토니오(Antonio)를 총괄하고 있습니다. 쿠킹 클래스는 먼저 쉐프의 시연을 본 후 쉐프가 직접 요리한 클래식 이탈리안 해산물 요리와 발사믹 치킨 요리를 맛볼 수 있는 시간을 가질 예정입니다. 시식이 끝나면 푸테네스카 파스타를 직접 만들어 볼 수 있습니다. 수업 후에는 직접 만든 요리와 쉐프의 특별 메뉴로 점심식사를 하게 됩니다. 또한 집에 돌아가서 가족 또는 친구들을 위해 만들어 볼 수 있도록 필요한 재료를 소량 포장하여 저렴한 가격에 판매할 예정입니다. 수업은 오전 10시부터 12시 30분~1시까지 진행될 예정입니다. 온고 푸드 커뮤니케이션은 인사동에 위치해 있습니다. 수업은 영어로 진행 될 예정이며 경우에 따라서 약간의 이탈리아어와 한국어로도 진행될 것입니다. 이메일과 전화로 예약할 수 있고 더 궁금하신 사항이 있다면 아래 연락처로 연락 주시기 바랍니다. ongofood@ongofood.com Tel : 02 - 3446 - 1607 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...

Luxury Italian Cooking Class and Lunch with Chef Sebastiano Where: O'ngo Culinary School (www.ongofood.com) Cost: 60,000 KRW  Buongiorno! If you are interested in learning real Italian cuisine from a world class Italian chef, then you should come join on on March 24th. Our energetic chef, Sebastiano, has worked in top restaurants in Rome and moved to Korea in 2007 with his Korean wife and their son, and joined the Grissini Beinnale chain. He is currently the chef at the famous Antonio in Cheongdam and has his own line of Italian meals with Pulmone. The class will start with a demonstration and tasting of a classic Italian seafood dish and balsamic chicken entree, and then we will have a hands-on cooking workshop of  puttenesca pasta.  

March 14th is White Day in Asia So I have gotten several e-mails asking about what White Day is, so Newbies, here is your cultural lesson for the day. February 14th (typically, what we consider to be Valentine's Day) in Asia is the day that women give chocolates to boyfriends (or guys they might be interested in). It is a downpayment for White Day (March 14th) where boys are supposed to return the favor with gifts. The tradition in Japan is to give 3 times the amount of chocolate that the girl gave in exchange. In Korea (in the past) guys would give gifts of sparkly wrapped hard candy, but that tradition is changing. These days many guys will give chocolate, cakes, take the girls out to romantic dinners, and...lingerie. You can find out more information on White Day and other holidays on the 14th here: The 14th of the Month in Korea: Beware the Ides of February, March, April, May... Here is a list of restaurants, I recommend see this list:  http://www.seouleats.com/2011/01/v...

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...