Chocopie

New menu - Bento

2011-05-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

Owner of a restaurant which I'm a customer promoted their new menu on the occasion of coming summer time. It's Bento. As their food is quite delicious, I looked forward to tasting new menu. However as soon as they served bento, I was so surprised. It was not exactly bento. Firstly, differently from bento, they put rice and other stuffs in a round container, gererally used for rice covered with different stuffs such as rice with tuna, rice with eel, rice with left sushi, etc. They spread a white rice on the ground of that container, and then it was decorated with 3 pices of port cutlet(they were not actually hot and yummy, like instant pork cutlet that we can see in a restaurant near to middle/high school, very cheap), 1 fried shrimp(it was very small and not so much appetizing, hot very hot, just warm, it was already fried before lunch time to save time certainly), 1 lotus root boiled with soybean sauce, 1 umeboshi, some slices of pink giner, some slices of cucumber pickle, one small rectangular of pumpkin. I didn't enjoy so much. As side dishes covered onto rice were so little, I left half of rice. Price is so high in comparison with quality. I think that firstly they should change to very hot and solid cutlets - pork & shrimp, and increase numbers of cutlets. This food is originated from Japan. I expect a bento covered with very hot and delectable cutlets. Today, I'll be hungry very shortly although I had a lunch.
Of course, when the owner asked how taste of this bento was, I said very simply " it was very delicious " In korean mind, we can't criticize and complain someting directly. That is not good manner. Anyhow, miso soup was very good - hot and tasty.

Red pepper paste and amber soup

2010-08-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

There is food program introducing local and folksy food per region touring different towns in SBS every saturday. Main presenter is famous singer, Yang Hee Eun.
She and other two staffs - one young lady and one young boy visited different towns, and they presented special menu based on local food stuff of each town.

This time, she showed red pepper paste and amber soup. Of course some oinions, some slices of tofu are put together. As it looked really yummy, I begged to my mother to make it. She put also some porks, and some kimchi also. It was so tasteful. Originally I do not like spicy food, however I could take much that exceptionally.

Tokyo Panya

2010-08-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

I don't remember when, recently when I go to underground of department store, I wonder that here is Korea or Japan ? Of course, in variety sense, here is Korea. I like very much cakes and desserts like japanese people, and I regret that our dessert culture is not so much developped. However when we go to some bakery shops, cafeterias, that are spring up here and there, we can understand how western culture is bening introduced so much rapidly to our life.

Today in Hyundai Department store, I found a japanese bakery. Just before I read an article introduced through korea herald.
After trying to break into New York’s music scene for nearly four years, former punk band singer Fujiwara Yasuma laid his dreams to rest. This fujiwara yasuma opened this tokyo panya. I didn't know that last July, a bakery was opened near to hakdong station.

I bought some curry breads, melon breads, breads with strawberry red bean. In case of curry breads, taste and flavour of curry were stronger than curry croquette "Koroke" with less vegetable such as onion and carrots. Bread with strawberry red bean was a little sweet but taste was very different. It was the first time for me to have that taste. In comparison with normal sweet red bean, it gave difference.

In Hyundai department store, there were not many kinds of breads. Next time, I'll try to go to a bakery near to Hakdong.

New start

2010-08-11T04:12:00.001-07:00

I had a lunch at New start, a restaurant specialized in fresh and natual vegetable foods. It was almost 6 or 7 years when I visited here with my friend. Frankly speaking, as interior and decoration were very humble and clumsy, I didn't like so much that restaurant. Besides it, although wellbeing became a moto for korean culture since a few years ago, organic or vegetarian restaurant or food were not well introduced yet. I just thought that almost all foods were very similar to one that I've been having at home.
Recently, a friend recommended me again this restaurant. When I had a meal with her, I discovered that foods were very neat and clean. Especially I like the most kimbap, tteokbokki(rice cakes in hot sauce), pumpkin porridge, and bread with special soy sauce + fresh jam.

Today I visited again that restaurant. Menu was very similar to previous time, however I enjoyed so much eating them.
As there are plentiful of healthy foods, there are many old peoples who gather to have a meal talking each other, or somtimes salary men who are working near to that restaurant.
For info., korean singer, tablo from epik high visited here also.

Sea Squirt bibim bap

2010-08-10T00:30:00.001-07:00

Close to my office, I discovered a sign with restaurant specialized in Tongyeong in southern part of Korea. Although I have never been there, it was introduced through TV there are many restaurants and special foods such as sea squirt bibim bap. Yesterday when I arrived there, sea squirt bibim bap was sold out. Oh my god ! Contrary to my expectation, too many quests ordered that food. Today I challenged again. Yes, as soon as I entered the restaurant, serving lady greeted me saying that today we still have sea squirt.

Finally Sea squirt bibim bap was served. It's the first time for me to taste it. It was expected how taste it will be.
There were some green spourts, which seemed to me strange mixture with other vegetables and especially sea squirt ! Anyway, after putting some red chili-pepper paste with vinegar on the rice, I mixed with sea squirt and other vegetables. Taste ? It was so so. Frankly speaking, it was slightly salty.

This restaurant serves sides dishes such as stir-fried anchovies, etc. For the soup, sea mustard soup made of mussel.

Maybe I won't try again ^^

Toast made by clumsy lady

2010-08-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

Recently, as I arrive at office very early in the morning, around 7:00 am, although I have a breakfast(very lightly), I feel hungry around 10:30.
Near to our office, there are two small simple stands selling toast and kimbap. I tried toasts from both stands, however one closer to our office offered better taste. For example, they put some cabbage on fried egg with vegetables before putting two sides of bread for toast. And their taste was simple, not salty. Another stand offered very salty toast without cabbage. Today I went to 1st stand to buy toast to satisfy my hunger, which later I'll feel definitively. However I was so disappointed. Actually,since a few days, that stand was kept closed. I supposed very easily they were on vacation. However today I could understand why stand was closed. When I ordered vegetable toast to a middle aged lady, I said her not to put mayonnaise sauce. It seemed to me that her face looked very unfamiliar. However as I couldn't exactly remember how her face was, I just believed that she was a right person who made toast in the past time. Her making toast seemed to me so unskilled. When she turned egg, she tried to turn it although one side of pourred egg was not yet cooked. She showed a few times of turning until finally pourred egg was cooked.
And in the intermediate time, she sprinkled a spoon of sugar. No way. I shout " why are you putting sugar ? " She tried to remove sugar, however sugar powered already was melted on the top of one side of pourred egg. Besides it, when she put sauce, she put also mustard. i.e, she mixed some kechup and mustard sauce. No way.
As I saw everything how she made the toast, frankly speaking, I lost my appetite. In spite of it, I expected that maybe taste could be contrary to her skill. Yes, my expectation was wrong. Toast was not so much tasty.
Ah, from tomorrow, where do I buy toast ? How may I satisfy my hunger ? With what ?

Cold kalguksu and dumpling

2010-08-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

For me who is working close to Yeok sam station, something has me worried these days. As I do not know well this area, every lunch time,I should think of where I should have lunch, what good menu will be for today, etc.
Today, I got internet's help. I searched tasty restaurants in Yeok sam. I found two candidates to visit, however although I walked aroung as per introduction of blogger, I couldn't find one of them.
As it was already closer to 1 o'clock, I had to select any restaurant.
Today's menu was kalguksu, handmade chopped nooddles. As I chose that restaurant without any beforehand information, it was like a challange !
When I was about to order, one special menu stroke my eye. What ? Cold kalguksu and dumpling. I have never had cold one !

Actually it was very pleasant experience of tasting new menu. It was quite tasty. That restaurant only use local natural and fresh farm products with a name of farmer, which gives much confidence to customers.
3 big size dumplings and some kalguksu. Some chopped kimchi and slices of radish were garnished. Personally, I didn't like so much these kimch and radish, because I don't like so much mixes. I believe that in general mixes of different dishes spoil ratherly our appetite. Except bibimbap or salad, I do not like so much mixes.
Anyhow, in the midsummer, I could be happy at a special soup of cold dish. I wanna go one more time.

Untasty ice caffee latte

2010-08-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know since when I addicted to coffee. When I stayed in Ireland, I loved so much americano. Whenever I took train or waited for somebody at meeting place, I drank always americano. However, when I came back to Korea, I discovered that I did not like any more americano, instead, I preferred to drink caffe latte.
It's not easy to find good coffee shop in Seoul where big coffee makers like Starbucks, Coffee bean are flourshing.

By chance, I came to know gloria jeans. After taking their caffe latte, I became a big fan of their coffee(however in comparison with starbucks and coffee bean, we can find them here and there)

This morning, the heat is in full swing just passing second of the three dog days called as Jung Bok, I couldn't bear the heat so I entered Coffee bean asking ice caffe latte. Oh dear ! I regretted having ordered caffe latte without any confidence in them. They pourred so much milk into caffe latte. I could just taste milk, oily taste ! I left some time until ice was melted a little to dilute milk.
What I do hate is to drink untasteful coffee. If I ordered hot coffee, coffee should be very hot, not tepid. In case of gloria jeans, their caffe latte is very strong although they put some milk. In my case, I asked them to reduce quantity of milk, if possible to have stronger coffee.

Anyhow, I was so much disappointed at careless varistor who doesn't understand how much important role they are playing and what their responsibility for coffee mania as varisor, who wants to start a day with fresh mind is.

PS : In spite of it, I think that coffee bean is a little better than starbucks.
I like greeny interior and atmospher in Starbucks, not coffee ! Sorry for that .

Soba restaurant

2010-06-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

Recently japanese documentary introducing sake culture and soba tradition made me love for Soba and Alcohol. Thanks to these programs, I could learn how to have tasteful soba. Just dip the half of soba as I want to take into special soba sauce made with soybean sauce, ground radish, etc. While taking the remaining part of soba that was not dip in that sauce, soba dipped into sauce meet them finally inside mouth. So these two parts can be mixed between simple soba and soba dipped into sauce.
I met Eun A in area of Hong Ik University. As we didn't know which restaurant is famous and has reputation as their food, we had to look for a restaurant where can offer special taste. Finally we found a soba restaurant, which looked recently opened. Entrance and their atmosphere, decoration looked like Japan. However food was not so much delicious. I chose soba set with different Tampuras. Tampuras were not freshly fried, that means it seemed to me that oil was not so fresh or in good quality. Sauce for soba was so salty. In spite of it, I could enjoy different style of restaurant.

I bought some wines

2010-06-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

In general, I didn't drink, and I didn't try to drink, I didn't want to join any social life drinking with peoples, because I do not like alcohol and I can't drink at all. Even very lighter one such as beer or wine.
However during I stayed in Ireland alone, I became to drinking culture, because most of irish peoples love alcohol and drinking. As I could easily access to a bar or alcohol while having a meal, I could get used drinking. Now ? I like very much drinking. For example when I feel very thirty, I think very naturally of beer, instead of any cold beverage such as cola or juice. Today when I went to Lotte department store, they were selling various kinds of wines with special price. If I buy more than 6 bottles, they will deliver them to my house, therefore I picked up 7 bottles. Most of them were red wines, because personally speaking, I prefer red wine. It is changing depending on my taste, anyhow now I prefer red wine. However, I am so weak at red wine, therefore whenever I drink just 1 glass of red wine, I feel so excited and happy, and after drinking two glasses of wine, I fall to asleep regardless of my intention.
I bought also some cheese and smoked ham that looked well harmonious each other. So far I have never bought cheese and imported hams in Korea. It's so expensive. However I had no choice. I had to accept that price even.

Now I'm saying myself consolating that daily drinking and light alcohol helps digestion, which will help finally to live healthy and long.

Cross finger !

Long time no see ! The restaurant

2010-06-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

After having an appointment near to Insadong, it was around 11:20. Not going back home, I walked down toward Kyung Bok Palace. As it took some time to take metro, I decided to have a lunch here.
Since 3 years ago, I didn't come to the restaurant " The Restaurant ". When I entered, there was no person. As lunch was started absolutely from 12:00, I had to wait taking a cup of hot chocolate. For me who imagined very dark extract of real chocolate like La Duree or Merrion hotel, their hot chocolate made me very disappointed. It looked just melted chocolate. And I put some into a empty cup with using tea spoon, and then I pourred some hot water. They told me that it would be good to adjust density of chocolate, however it seemed to me that it was like melted Nutela( I hope not )
I ordered japanese bento, which main food was fish, it was the most expensive around 22,000 won among their menu. However very little food was served. Therefore I had to buy some cup cakes as dessert. As my friend invited me at her house, I brought more cup cakes from that restaurant. Price was less expenseive thant what I've bought mostly at Department store. Taste ? It was again disappointing. Sorry for the chef. I thought that it was very strange. Because to my memory, The restaurant offered very tasteful menu, with freshness and quality of food stuffs. However, today it was not the restaurant that I've remembered so far.

However I could think of friends and momery that I've spent together with in the past time. As there were not many peoples, I could relaxe myself.

Japanese bar

2010-05-18T07:17:00.001-07:00

Personally speaking, I love japanese food. Even I like japanese drinking culture also. Although I'm not a drinker, and I have not deep knoweldge in alcohol, I love atmosphere getting along with peoples very freindly through alcohol.
My brother guided me to japanese bar, which once was so popular, so I could see many signature of famous entertainers including Yon Sama(Bae Yong Jun).
It seems to me that interior was so similar to Japan, and served menu was also very similar, however it was so expensive.
I ordered o-deng, my favourite food with Asahi draft beer. Talking and talking, drinking and drinking.
Today I was so happy to enjoy japanese food that I can't take so often, because it's not easy to find good level's restaurant and bar.

Swellfish family menu

2009-09-06T04:29:00.000-07:00

A friend of my brother opened a swellfish restaurant in Shinsa Dong. He recommended a family set menu just available for weekend. This family set has two courses; A and B. A course is composed of fried one including sweet and sour one, vegetables seasoned with vinegar and other condiments, soup. Price is 20,000 won(VAT is excluded), B course is 15,000 won. We ordered A course and specially swellfish cutlet. In the occasion of my sister's birthday, we had a dinenr there. This restaurant is two stories building. It's so quite big. Price was very reasonable, and quality was so good. In ase of lunch menu at week day, it was 40,000 won. Next time, I wanna try that. I heard that famous football players visit this restaurant as soon as they arrive at Korea from away match.

Sushi set of Shik Do won

2009-09-05T05:11:00.001-07:00

My sister ordered sushi set for me and my parents. Quality of sushi was so good. It was so fresh and tender. It made me so happy. Sushi set was composed of fresh sushi, fries of vegetable, sweet potato, and some rolls with dried seaweed. As I like so much sushi, I can well recognize which restaurant is good or not. It was made by Shik Do won, japanese restaurant near to my house. Although I had fish, eel, etc, sushi was the first time to me. It costed 30,000 won. It's expensive. However, I already indulged in that taste, I'll try to take it from time to time.

Macaron of Laduree

2009-09-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

I met a old friend of mine who is living in Paris. It's been about 5 years since I met her. Although I lived a few years in Europe very close to Paris and I visited from time to time Paris to relax myself. As I was under much pressure and I was tied up with problems, I wanted to go anywhere even during a short weekend. As I had to take flight, a visit to other country was arranged in a very short time. Anyhow, I was so happy and I couldn't feel many years were passed. It's always so nice to meet old friend.
She brought macarons made by Laduree. Oh, so delicious. Colours also are so beautiful but taste also was so good. Thinking of the moment that I had some cakes, macarons with hot chocolate there, I appreciated her friendship.

Sushi plate of Dong Hae

2009-07-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Personally, I love sushi of Donghae. However, sometimes, fish is thickly cut, therefore, I can't take sushi at one time. And it's very difficult for me to cut fish with my teeth, because it's too thick. I know quality of fish is excellent. However, sometimes, I want to say to chef to cut fish more thinly.
I had a lunch with my brother. We ordered summer special menu with buckwheat noodle and a plate of sushi. Summer special was not so good. It is composed of two very small lump of noodles, and a few sushi. As we ordered additionally sushi, we wanted to enjoy noodles because buckwheat noodle is very special to take heat. Soupe of noodle was not so excellent. Price was around 10,000 won, so it was not cheap. I was a little disappointed at their presentation of summer special.

Okonomiyaki tasted in seoul

2009-06-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

It was after a long interval that me and my sister visited 'okonomiyaki' restaurant. And it was the first time for us to try that food in Seoul. After shopping, we became very exhausted and starved. My sister saw one food program on TV about okonomiyaki, which showed a restaurant in Myung dong. Atmosphere and interiors of resto was not too much japanese, so it's fine. Staff was very kind. We ordered dinner set composed of okonomiyaki, fried noodles, other japanese fried one. And we ordered another take out menu for my parents. Food was good, very hot. As okonomiyaki takes time in cooking for about 10 minutes, we could fill out our empty stomache with other set menu. I drank up also draft of Asahi. Quantity was so little. Price of resto is in general a little expensive. However as a special menu, it's fine fro0 time to time.

Wild rocambol

2009-03-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

It's really spring. In korea, the weather is very warmer over a few days with some moist rain, therefore, I imagined that now, we're entering the beginning of summer, not spring. In general, korean peoples take seasonal foods per season absorbing the best nuitrive element, that each seasonal food/food stuff make for season.
In spring also, there are a lot of foods, food stuffs. As a good example, we made seasoned wild rocambol. Wild rocambol is a representative herb. It's a little bitterish so it's very good food to stimulate one's appetite. It contains much Vitamin.

Preparation : some wild rocambol, some soybean sauce, some powdered sesam,
Recipe : mix some wild rocambol adding some soybean sauce.

After making this seasoned wild rocambol, this sauce(based on soybean sauce) is flavory thanks to wild rocambol. Therefore, when we make some mixed rice(bibim bap) or some fresh vegetable salad, we can use this sauce also.

Hard boiled eggs of covey

2009-03-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

Today, I challenged to make a hard-boiled egg of covey.

Preparation : eggs of covey, one onion, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of soy bean,
some powder of sesame
Recipe : 1) boil eggs of covey for 15 minutes
2) peel eggs of covey
3) put peed eggs of covey into a small pot
4) boil them for 7 minutes
in mean time, arriving at about 5 minutes, put some slices of onions
5) sprinkle some poweder of sesame

It seems very easy to boil eggs of covey. However, as eggs are so small, and if eggs are too much boiled, shape of eggs are not well formed while peeling.
This time, my mother helped me, however, next time, I can do it by myself.

Stasera

2009-03-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

As food and health are more important, and well-being moto already took its place in Korea, there was some change on pizza. In the past time, just american style's pizza with thick pan, much cheese, much greasy(much ham, much olives, etc) was introduced. However, since a few years ago, italian pizza with very thin pan, very simple topping, has been more popular. Therefore, many italian pizza restaurants opened in Itaewon, Apkujung dong, kang nam station, etc, more animated area in Seoul. Today, my brother brought some pizza from an italian restaurant called as "Stasera"(in English, tonight,,,,, I'm learning italian personally ^^, I'm just beginner, but sooner or later, I hope to upgrade my level to middle class to communicate with italian )
Very thin pan, toppings are so simple with cherry tomatoes, shrimp, covered with creamy sauce. Personally, I don't like much creamy sauce's pizza. Quality of shrimp was not so good(so small). Taste was okay. However, it was not so delicious attracting my appetite. However, my brother said that this resto is run by real italian chef(his name is Paolo E Marino) in case of main resto. Today's one came from other branch. Maybe, if main chef made this pizza, taste might be much better. Very interesting thing was that this pizza looked a little adapted for our korean, especially young people. In that sense, it was well working. That is very good point from my point of view. Some day, I wanna visit this restaurant to see interiors and taste other menus.

Telephone number in Kang nam branch : +82 2 3486 6002

Asahi

2009-03-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

To my memory, I started to drink around last May. In fact, I have not drunken much. Therefore, I didn't enjoy drinking time with colleagues after work periodically. However, during my business trip, certainly I became lonely and liberal, so I could be indulged in drinking world. As a part of drink, I like very much beer. As my taste has been quite easily changed, my favourite beer also has been changed ; budwiser, guiness, heinneken, and recently asahi. Asahi beer is originated from japan. Although I'm korean, personally, asahi is better than korean beer. Korean beer is a little milder than japanese ones.
When I have an attack of indigestion, I drink asahi beer instead of medicine. When I become a little gloomy, I also drink asahi. The problem is that I drink asahi more often recently, maybe because of my current situation, a little depressed and melancholic. Positively, to try real asahi, I'd like to visit again Japan. How about is a theme of travel ? drinking a beer with local foods. ^^

As there are not many bars that we can drink draft of asahi, I drank already one can of asahi, 500 ml.

Home made rice ball

2009-03-08T04:22:00.000-07:00

Mommy panboiled anchovy. This time, it's more tasteful thanks to final addition of malt. It's a little crispy and colour is so yummy. As anchovy is so tasty, I made some rice balls.
I made two types of rice balls ; one is pyogo mushroom rice balls, which main ingredient is pyogo, the one is anchovy rice balls, based on mainly anchovy.

Ingredients : 1 and 1/2 seasam oil, 1 and 1/2 soybean sauce, 1 spoon of powedered
seasam, slices of pyogo mushroom, 4 spoonful of anchovy,
2 bowls of rice
Preparation : Pyogo mushroom should be soaked into water to winnow
Recipe : 1) put 2 bowls of rice into a big bowl
(to mix everything, a large and deep bowl are needed)
2) put panfried slices of pyogo mushroom
: to make anchovy rice ball, put 2 spoonful of anchovy(ours are not salty)
3) put 1 and 1/2 soybean sauce
4) drop 1 and 1/2 seasom oil
5) sprinkle 1 spoon of powedered seasam
6) mix up everything
7) make rice ball(depending on taste of each one) with using vinyl gloves

It's so simple recipe. Of course, we need very good quality of pyogo mushroom and tasty panfried anchovy.

The RaMen

2009-03-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

Recently, I'am indulged in a food documentary on cable TV "J(Japan) channel". There are a few programs that are stimulating my curiosity and appetite. As a good example, one documentary about " Ra Men(japanese instant noodle ". Two main reporters - Hanz Endo, Ramen missionary and BaBa Akira, lover of Ramen. Baba Akira produced this program in conjunction with a Ramen specialist, Hanz. They're solving their daily 3 meals with Ramen traveling different regions. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Sometimes they ordered some sushi, japanese dumping, roasted adductor muscle of the fish, etc. However, it's Ramen that their main menu is. " Always ". Recalling their past experience, sharing their opinions, they visit very famous Ramen restaurants. Per region, cook, season, each restaurant offers their own menu differently from others and specialize a certain representative menu in his resto. If taste is excellent, two reporters don't say any word while taking Ramen. They say just " They're so touched by taste of Ramen " and they say to cook " Thank you so much for making this excellent Ramen for them ". Baba empties a bowl of Ramen as its token.
Documentary runs for about 30 minutes. They shows 6 meals in general. Watching this program, I respect their passion for a Ramen. It's amazing. Although I like bread, can I take breads every day for a few months not taking any other food ? And their creactive imagination of producing a documentary about Ramen made me full of admiration. Although main subject and object of that program are Ramen, TV watcher can discover too many things. We can know Japan's mountain, sea, sky while travelling Japan with them, and we can understand japanese culture and eating manner. Of course, their history and tradition. Just they're making a food program however, it introduces Japan into foreign peoples that don't know Japan and have never been to.
Food is not just limited to food. It covers our life and culture, and can represent one countrie's history. Thanks to their great effort, I became interested in japanese Ramen also. It's actully a great outcome of their program ?

Dublin love(3) - Trocadero

2009-03-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

Trocadero can be called as movie restaurant. Whole walls are covered with very famous irish actors and actress. As preferrably those actors acts in Ireland, I couldn't recognize their reputation or popularity from their irish fan. In korea also, a italian restaurant - < Il Mare > was decorated with very famous old movie stars such as Vivien Leigh, Audrey Hepburn, Mongomery Clift, Malon Brando, Sophia Lauren, etc. As all pictures are black and white, it makes atmosphere more chic and modern in harmony with black background of wall. Trocadero's background is not black but red. So it looks more passionate and modern.
Food is normal western food. It's pretty good. Close to restaurant inside, there is a bar. Waiting for peoples, we can take aperitif before having a dinner. That is good. Food and menu are quite standard menu. Therefore, I was not so much impressioned with them. However, due to their particular decorations, interiors, and creative arrangement of old pictures, I had a very good memory there.

Interior : ****
Food : ***
Address : 3, St.Andrews Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel : +353 1 677 5545

Sho jin

2009-03-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

One day, a very popular korean singer, Kim Gun Mo introduced his favourite restaurant in a food program on TV. As that restaunt is very close to my house, I tried that restaurant with my mother firstly. Restarant is like japanese bar. Decoration, interiors, staff wearing style, table setting, etc. It was very clean and modern. There are two main munu at dinner. One is sake(japanese alcohol) course, the other is dinner meal course. Sake course offers different side dishes in assortement with sake. As me and my mother are not heavy dunker, we chose meal course. It costed 45,000 won. However including VAT, actually, it was 50,000. Differently from other countries, in Korea, VAT special service charge is extra. In general, restaurants don't request it.
Food was good and fresh. Quality was also good. Almost 8 small dishes are served. The last food is rice or noodle(daily different). Boiled egg, asparagus with Nato sauce, boiled aubergine with nato sauce, different fishes ; sushi, raw fish, boiled, roasted. As I love sea food, especially fish, I did really enjoy that food. Later I came back to try Sake menu. It was similar to dinner course. However, sake amount to over 20,000 won should be served. As I didn't drink too much, much sake was left. Per season, cook differentiate their menu a little. Certainly, he is using at most seasonal stuffs and adopted them into his menu.
Waiting for foods expecting what will be served next give another joy. As it's not too much in quantity, maybe men will say I need another meal after this course. However, if a drink party is arranged, it'll be fine.

Interior : ***
Food : ****

Congratulation on 100th edition of Michelin Guide 2009 France

2009-03-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

This monday, Michelin guide celebrated 100th French edition. The first edition was introduced in 1900. They finally selected 26 restaurants with 3 stars. 3 star restaurants world wide status is as follows ;
In tokyo, 9
In hong kong & Macau, 2
In switzland, 2
In netherland, 2
In spain & portugal, 6
In germany, 9
In italy, 5
In belgium & luxembourg, 2
In france, Among 26 3 star restaurants, Le bristol, which its chef is Eric Frechon was offered the best. This book was published in different countries including USA, UK, Tokyo, etc. Now, Michelin guide is covering 23 countries.
When I stayed in Dublin, I could try different restaurants stamped by Michelin guide. In france also. Of course, sometimes, their reputation in other countries are not always correct and represents real local taste and menu. As a good example, when I entered two or three stars' korean traditional restaurant in Paris, I was a little surprised. Yes, it was not terrible, and bad either. However, I didn't think that that restaurant was representing korean's trypical taste. Ratherly, when I tried one small vegetarian restaurant, their menu and taste were much better. Foreigners have no experience in taking real local foods. Therefore, they can judge food by decoration or adapation skill. Of course, adaptation skill is also an imporant ability of cook.
Anyhow, Michelin guide's power is so great. Just by their name, many peoples can automatically expect that any restaurant is certainly at good level. As I'm so interested in food critic, I became interested in Michelin guide since a few years ago. To my knoweldge, michelin guide was not introduced in Korea, especially seoul. Personally speaking, food is closely linked to economic situatino, culture, political status of a country. For example, in Japan, there are many good restaurants with michelin guide. It indicates that japanese are at economic level, that can make them enjoy food and have interest in it. Because they have enough money. In seoul also, there are many good restaurants ; western, chinese, korean, japanese, etc. As michelin guide is not yet effective in Korea, I wanna also be a memebr of this judge. Looking forward to seizing that great chance.

Sicily

2009-03-02T03:24:00.000-08:00

We don't know how long and how come coffee is associate with chic, luxurious, and something different. Certainly we are influence by movies. I do like also coffee. As there are too many kinds of coffee, we can choose different kind per our humour. In general, I like the most black coffee. However, after having heavy dinner, expresso is better. If assortied with chocolate, it's fabulous. At day time, capucchino or caffe latte is good. Sometimes korean people miss korean style coffee. This is instant coffee. In side small long cover, coffee, prima(harden milk), sugar are. 2 soupons of coffee, 2 soupons of prima, 1 and 1/2 of sugar. We call funnily "DA BANG" coffee(Dabang indicate korean old-fashioned cafeteria long time ago, In that time, cafe manager in any cafeteria made similar coffee like standardized coffee).
Influenced by current movement in our culture, coffee is infiltered into our daily life. Many young people and salary man are carrying coffee after lunch or at work. To enjoy the original taste of coffee and make their own coffee taste, there are many courses at priviate acamedy to be a varistor. Of course, this course is opened to everybody who like coffee as hobby.
After having a dinner, I had a coffee at one cafeteria - Sicily. Their name plate looks like italian restaurant like their name. However, inside cafe, it looks coffee world very calm and comfortable. I think that manager is owner of that cafeteria. He is also varistor. He is offering some courses as a part of manners in different colleges. His cafeteria was introduced into one magazine related to coffee. As interior and atmosphere are so romantic and cozy, I envied that manager. Because he can enjoy this happiness every day.
As he recommended, I tried very strong expresso from South of America. It tasted a little sour, however, it was good. Coffee set was also so beautiful. Why became people happier after having some coffee ? Why are we addicted to coffee ?
As coffee mania, I'm also interested in varistor courses.

Wood & Brick

2009-02-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

Almost about 15 years ago, my senior invited me at dinner. After work, he brought me to one bakery, which on 2nd floor, italian restaurant was equipped. The first floor is bakery. In that time, there were not many western style restaurants in Seoul like now. Therefore, this restaurant was like a pioneer. Frankly speaking, I don't know why they named for Wood & brick and What from. I can't even associate two words. At any rate, I can guess just that wood will indicate cooking and brick is just associated with chimney, so cooking kitchen.
As it's located in the center of Seoul, food was not bad. With the lapse of time, this restaurant was also developped. Decoration, interiors became more modern, and chic covered with black colours. They introduced course menu with steak, and wine menu also. One day, I brought my foreign friends to this restaurant. They liked so much. Without me, they have had dinner from time to time during their staying period. I prefer their pasta menu. Although many restaurants will be newly opened and closed in the future, I expect their longevity.

Food : ***
Inteior : ***
Address : 1-6, Shinmunro, Chongro-gu, Seoul, Korea,
Telephone : 82-2-735-1151

Greentea chocolate Yatsuhashi

2009-02-27T23:55:00.000-08:00

Personally, I love japanese cookies, chocoplates, mozzi, even food also. What is the most fantastic and amazing in Japanese food and their dessert is that each region and shop have kept their own recipe and making method. They developped their own label, packings, case, box. Therefore, just their packing or box allow clients to guess where that product comes from. Although recently many japanese cookies and food stuffs, ingredients were much imported and many japanese bar and restaurant have been opened and introduced into korean peoples, their too many kinds of their food stuff can't be all brought to Korea. So when I worked with japanese company, my colleagues close to me brought different kinds of cookies, mozzi, chocolate, yokang, etc. Whenever they come to Korea, they have asked me what I like to try this time. Especially femal colleague selected so nice cookies for me. As their case is so pretty, sometimes I keep them also. Today, I just introduce one item of them that I liked. Green tea chocolate Yatshuhashi.
As per its case, about 250 years ago, people start selling Yatshuashi as a souvenir. Now Yatshuashi is the most popular souvenir in KYOTO. Yatsuhashi is traditional japanese cookies made from rice flour with cinnamon.
Especially, OTABE-chan is MAIKO girl in Kyoto. She loves CHOCOLATE coated YATSHUHASHI very much..

Although I'm not Yatsuhashi girl, I do love this green tea chocolate.

Dong Hae

2009-02-26T04:32:00.000-08:00

When I came to know japanese restaurant, Dong Hae, it came back 1996. It's really 15 years ago. Our liason office was located just close to this restaurant. If there were very important guests or clients, we had a meal ; lunch or dinner. As it's a little expensive, normally, we used lunch time. After moving our office, I couldn't try to go to this restaurant. However, coincidently, my office was moved again to this area. Therefore, I could enjoy their foods. At lunch time, they offer lunch menu with hot fish soup. Normally, I take sushi costed to 30,000 won. As I go there alone, I sit in front of cook. Adventage of sitting there is that cook serve more sushi. As I love sushi, sometimes I go to this restaurant alone to enjoy a special taste. Today, I invited my sister and mother. As we had to sit inside, I couldn't expect more extra sushi offered by cook. Each ordered a fish soup and as appetiser, I ordered a special sushi. Fish is so fresh and quality also is good. However, what I like this restaurant is that I have many souvenirs there which I can't dream at all in other restaurant. Whenever I pass that area, I wish that this restaurant is not being vanished during my life time. In seoul, there are not many restaurants with their beautiful history over at least 20 or 30 years. Some times, new menu and fresh restaurant, just opened now made us excited. However, some times, we miss something old and tradional.

Interior : **
Food : ****

Wa ka si

2009-02-25T04:47:00.000-08:00

One actress took wakasi on TV drama. Although I don't like too much wakasi, her eating look attracted my attention. Therefore, I bought some wakasi at Department store.
Wakasi is japanese word. I didn't find english name for Hwa kwa Ja. Kwa ja means cookie, and hwa means harmony. That is to say, harmony of cookie. This wakasi, hand made was offered to God at Royal court long time ago, just limited class, royal family and nobbles could taste them. Wakasi enjoy its first taste with eye, its final taste with tongue, so shape of wakasi is so splendid. Normally, it goes well with Green tea. This wakasi in Japan is made per region, therefore, there are a lot of kinds. There are 3 kinds ; Namakasi[生菓子], Hannamakasi[半生菓子], Hikasi[干菓子].
Especially, namakasi has much water, it's so similar to korean rice cake. As the representative example of namakasi, nerikiri, it is made beautifully of glutinuous rice and red bean grounds per different season. I know that there are many specialists of wakasi in Japan and each shop has his own speciality, which was inherited from their ancestors since a few years or century. It's so amazing ! One cookie and make up can be an art and a tradition.
Wakasi is not too sweet. It's not recommendable to take it every day. However, sometimes, when we take a little sweet and beautiful dessert, it's so good.

Dublin love (2) - Il Posto

2009-02-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

3 years ago, at the entrance of spring, one saturday, I took a walk and was indulged in eye shopping in Grafton street. I've got one phone call from Marc, my irish friend. He invited me at lunch. When I was waiting for him at grafton capital hotel, he entered with his three angels(daughters) - Tarak, Jorgia, Hana,. These pretty girls were really like angels. He guided me to italian restaurant, Il posto. As it was saturday lunch around 12:30, there were not too many peoples inside restaurant. His wife, mary went to beauty shop. He had to take care of four children. One son was born in dec. 2005. He was really baby. I tried mushroom pasta, and chocolate dessert(I can't remember the name). However, the taste was so good. As we took pictures, I rememerber cleary that day. Since then, I visited a few times Il posto with my colleagues. Some times, I went alone for lunch. Interior and decorations are so clean and modern. Unfortunately, I couldn't discover same feeling of their food except the first visit. I couldn't think either that this restaurant offers real italian food. Maybe, I'm wrong. Subjectively, to my tongue, it seemed just western food, not focused to Italian style. However, it's clear that this restaurant gave me many souvenirs with my freinds and colleagues.

Interior : ****
Food : ***
Adress : 10. St. Stephen's Gree, Dublin 2
01 679 4769

Influenced by Jamie Olivier

2009-02-19T05:35:00.000-08:00

Watching food program, I thought what encouraged me to be intrested in cuisine. Although I have loved food, spent a lot of money in eating since when I was student in university, I have never thought of being gourmet or food critic. I believe that an TV show hosted by Jamie olivier impressed me so much. Watching his cooking style, I discovered that he knows well how to adapt original cooking recipes into his own style. It is so amazing. He looked for natural ingredients and materials. And he tried to mix different stuffs and found his own creative product. His cooking way is so similar to korean ones. For example, he liked milling grains or mixing vetables in small mortar. And he tried to keep original taste and freshness of materials. I don't know yet. Because I have worked in company so far having a great intrest in food. However, some day, I wanna work as food critic and gourmet. Of course, I have to study many things indirectly through food programs, books, and directly visiting different restaurants, leaning in culinary school. As I can speak in English, and French, and italian, I hope that my ability in language contribute me to act as food specialist.

Strawberry's season

2009-02-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

Now, it's the season of strawberry. Although I don't like too much fruit, strawberry is exceptional. I like smoothie, cake, ice cream made with strawberry. As it's strawberry's season, we can get them more easily in the market. Making use of this good material, many bakeries, hotels are showing special event making strawberry as main subject. Today, I tried very fresh strawberry brest. It was so good, not too sweet. Walkerhill hotel that I like the most organize a special event called as strawberry season. From 14th of Feb., valentine's day, to 29th of March, they offer strawberry buffet. For a few hours, peoples can be indulged in strawberry's world tasting strawberry ice cream, smoothie, juice, cakes, pies, etc. Everything is made of strawberry. To absorb freshness of strawberry as well as vitamin, It's worth visiting.

Dublin love (1) - Orchid

2009-02-17T05:01:00.000-08:00

Before visiting orchid, I didn't expect anything. Maybe I had a prejudice. Normally, Chinese food is so common, and its restaurants can be found in everywhere. As here is dublin, I preferred to try western food. However, restaurant was so great. Black wall is painted with orchid in gold. It's so cosy and comfortable. Since then, I became a guest. Foods are so excellent. Beijing duck, spicy crispy fish, steamed fish with gingers, slices of steamed pork, wantang soup, steamed shrimp dimsum, etc.
As appetizer, I try soup or dimsum. As main dish, different foods are ordered. As I love of fish, I order fish menu. When there are many visitors from korea, or some special meetings were hold, we gathered all at this restaurant to be relaxed from stress, and chat each other. It's funny and joyful time ! Orchid prepare some Movenpick ice creams, sorbets. Coffee is not so great. However, as they know me well, they offered more coffee. As I am coffee mania and like very much to talk taking some coffee, I love their service.
Normally, I go there at dinner time, however, some times, I go to enjoy lunch special menu with shrimp dimum and steamed fish with gingers. Restaurant staffs came from Hong kong, china, and Malasia. As I was always alone in Dublin, I wanted to talk with somebody. In that time, I went to this Orchid. It seems to me like freindly places to consolate me.

Interior : ****
Foods : *****

Cup cake fever

2009-02-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

Recently, korean peoples indulge in cup cake fever. Many cafes show different cup cakes, which go well with various coffees. Maybe, a trendy movie < sex and the City> influenced us. Or fashion and food programs. They introduces cup cakes shop with one scene of movie such as sex and the city. Many young girls associate it automatically with very luxurious and cool dessert. Of course, cup cake's shape is so cute and extraordinary. However, it's so expensive(I think so). It costs about 5000 won. If we can solve one meal with 5000 won, this small dessert is not really cheap. If I take it with a cup of coffee at the cafe, I have to pay at least 10,000 won. In spite of this price, many peoples buy cup cakes at department stores. And recently, there are some special shops selling just cup cakes. Today, I tried cup cakes with hot coffees. These cup cakes were not so sweet differently from my expectation. I loved this taste. I picked up two cup cakes ; apple cinamon, strawberry.
Due to popularity of cup cakes, different cakes are not served too much. As I like other cakes or pies, range of choice became very limited. Anyhow, for the time being, we can try very easily these cup cakes. ^^

Little Saigon

2009-02-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

I'm very and seriously lazy person. Today, I made up one more time my mind of updating my blog very often, almost every day. As I'm now living in Korea, my main items of blog will be korean food. If I can introduce korean culture through korean foods taking opportunity of this blog, I'll be very pout of myself and I believe that my little contribution to this blog will be so meaningful. I hope so. Besides it, from time to time, I wanna go back to my previous 3 years that I stayed in Dublin. As foreigner, I discovered more deeply western cooks and 3 years awoke the taste, the smell, the sight that were dead up to then and didn't know how to appreciate them. I want to share my beautiful memory thinking of different menus, and restaurants in Dublin.

Today, I want to introduce a vietnamien restaurant called as Little saigon( it sounds like a movie title ). For me that have looked for a special menu, my frined recommended me this restaurant. We can find them in a few spots. We visited one of them located in Karosu Kil. With two stories' building, interior decorations are so simple, white, so bright. However, partly, it looked so plain. Usually, I go to 2nd floor, because it is less busy, less peoples. Today's menu is vientamian wrap( Wal nam Ssam). With rice pan cake, which dips in hot water, we wrap different stuffs served on a big plate such as carrots, pineapples, cabbages, onions, shrimps, beefs, etc. Quality of stuffs are so good and fresh. And it's so abundant. Although I tried other vietnamien restos since then, I couldn't enjoy them, and appreciate any menu either except it. If you think of very fresh and well-being food, why not taking this vietnamian wrap ?

A lovely experience in Chinese restaurant

2008-11-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

As one friend of mine is living in outskirts of Seoul, our meeting place was decided as GunKuk university area. Although there are too many restaurants, bars, and singing rooms, why can't we find any cosy place ? It's too illuminent ! Me and one friend should have walked around that area twice. However, we couldn't find any place that was attracting our attention. Disappointed, thinking that we would give up to have a good dinner and this area is not at all appropriate to us, we found one chinese bar. As there were some menus for food, we could try to enter. We ordered a representative chinese food for us - Tang su yuk made with pork and lemon sauce, and sea food Jjamg Bbong, a little spicy noodle. Before serving our ordered menus, they served warm jasmine tea to warm our body with 4 small dishes such as sliced yellow radish, peanut mixed with sugar poweder, garlic soy sauce, and sliced picked radish. Besides it, a hot soup also was served. It was so delicious. Table setting was so nice. Decoration and interiors looked very comfortable.
How was food ? Tang su yuk wity lemon sauce. This menu is not so common. As trial, we ordered. It was so simple with lemon favor. We liked it. Pork meat fried very crispily, so we could feel chewing. And sea food Jjam Bbong. Yes, it was a little spicy. However, soup was so nice and good. As we liked this restaurant, our dinner time seemed to us so lovely. We brought name card on purpose to go next time. Maybe, this restaurant will be our special place. It was so pleasant time.

* Name : Chi Ryong Moon Gaek Jan
* Location : Hwa yang dong 45-81, Kwang jin Gu, Seoul,
* Tel : 82-2-466-1511

Kim Jang

2008-11-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

Kim jang season came again. This time, as my mother was so tired, she decided to make just 50 head of cabbages. Why is it so difficult to make Kimchi ? Although I don't yet get married, I can't imagine it. Thanks to mothers, all korean men and children have taken kimchi all the year. I know, the numbers of house who buy kimchi at supermarket or normal kimchi store are increasing because of our busy life. However, we can't trust red pepper powder, makeup process of kimchi. My mother had to make it for herself. Just I helped her out to distribute them into different case for storage. In spite of easy and simple work, it made me so tired. Ah, I admired all korean mothers and grand mothers who have spent their time in making food for their family. On the contrary, korean men are lucky. They don't do anything for that. Just they taste kimch newly made. Sometimes, mother prepares steamed pork to take with fresh kimch. This time, No. From now on, I won't be able to take kimchi thinking of much time and mand hands contributed to make up of Kimchi.

Japense cold rae myun

2008-11-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

I have not met my japanese friend for almost 2 years. I became to known her thanks to my colleague. She is his wife. As he is working in branch as the representative of japanese company, she can speak in korean. When I was in university, I tried to learn japanese. However, I couldn't keep studying because it was very hard for me to memorize japanese words and understand their grammer. I know that many korean think that japanese is an easy language to learn. I don't know why japanese looked me so difficult. As I was so interestered in language, I asked him to introduce his wife as tutor. Of course, I could teach her as korean tutor. Although we met a few times, my japanese level was not improved. Why ? We don't speak in japanese but in korean. I think that her korean level was improved. She brought me at Dong bu ichon dong, that is popular to korean as japanese street. As many japanese live there, there are many convenient facilities such as japanese restaurants, japanese groceries, bakeries, etc. As dong bu ichon dong was introduced to peoples through different magazines, I wanted to go there to see japanese style in Korea. We entered japanese restaurant. She ordered dong ga ts(pork cutlet), and I did Nang rae myun, that is served during summer time. Differently from korean nang myun, much mustard sauce is put. As vegetables, slices of ham is used as garnish. Although I don't like ham, Nang rae myun is okay. I tried it for a few years ago in Japan when I went to Osaka to see my sister. I discovered it so tasty. Taste was so similar to one that I've tried in Japan. Different one was that they put inside some corns( I don't understand why they put corns. This is normal ? ) Anyhow, I could enjoy japanese food in japanese resto run by japanese in Korea.

Soup of Man dou

2008-11-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Personally, I like Man dou, especially hand-made Man dou. As I'm ratherly vegetarian, I like Man dou made of vegetables and korean Tofu without meat. In a few years, I sticked to make up of Man dou. I made everything from the wrap of Mandou and stuffs of Mandou. I put chinese sprouts, korean Tofu, zucchini. I mixed them with sauce of sesame oil and powedered seamse seeds. It was so simple and tasty. Today, my mother will make soup of Man dou. As Mandou needs many hands and much time, she won't make by herself, ratherly will buy them from Man dou restaurant. However, they'll put meat inside. I won't enjoy too much. As recently I feel so tired, I have no enthousiam of making Man dou by myself either.

Another Birthday party

2008-11-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

With the very short term of my birthday, it's the birthday of my brother-in-law. As last year, I was not in Korea, they had a birthday party without me. This year, one italian buffet restaurant " Il Mago " was reserved for us. Before going there, I just thought that it's just buffet restaurant. Certainly, quality and kinds of food are not so high. I didn't have any expectation of this restaurant. Of course, my family who has been there gave me a very good observation of their food. Yes, it was true. Differently from other restaurants or buffet restaurants, food was so good in comparison with their price. First of all, there were a lot of sushi, which were very fresh made on spot by cooks. I liked very much pizza made with octopus black water. It was so tasty. I was cooked in wooden oven, pizza bread was so thin. On the top of pizza, nut powerders were sprinkled. I liked it the most. And japanese style U-dong was so good. Soup was very spicy and hot. I think that many ingredients and vegetables were inside this soup. It envigorated us. I wanted to take a strong americano coffee as dessert, however, coffee was not so strong. Yes, I could try espress, however, quantity is not enough as I love for coffee. So I thought of a strong coffee that every morning, I took in Europe, especially in Dublin.

It's so amazing. This year, I was with sister-in-law of my brother and brother-in-law of my sister. Our family composed of 5 members were increased over two years. Next year for me ? I hope so. After trying different foods, we had a birthday party with birthday song. How many candles ? ^^

Birthday table

2008-10-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

My mother prepared some dishes that I liked the most in general. Normally, korean food needs much time and many hands in making any food, although looks very simple. Therefore, korean foods can show a heart and sincerity of a person who makes them. Jab chae, egg roll, roasted port mixed with different vegetables, sauced by pepper paste. As it was so special day, I took two small glasses of red wines with my father and brother. Although I like very much a cake made by < Yeon jae kwa >, I had to buy it from < han's bakery >, because I heard that Yeon jae kwa tried to sell a cake who was kept for a few days in their frigo, that means, not fresh one. It was disclosed to clients so I could hear it also. Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy their soft cake at my birthday. My mother was so happy that I was in Korea. She could serve various foods made by herself and see me with her eyes. My family sung " Happy birthday song " for me. I had to have an age again. Time is passing so rapidly. I can't seize the time. However, I wanna do my best to make use of this time for my future not to regret some day.
I wanna say to my mother to prepare a special birthday table for me.
To my family to be with me this year.
And hoping to see a better me next year

My birthday

2008-10-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

29th of Oct is my birthday. A famous actress, winona ryder, her birthday is the same as mine. What will she do at her birthday ? I had a lunch with my company's female senior and juniors. As there are few wemen graduated from university in our company, I had no particular contact with women except only one female senior at the same level. However, after retuning to my country, I became known that 3 young ladies entered company regardless of their ability. At any rate, as I was looking for a different meeting from men's, I could enjoy chattering time with them taking some coffee. I ordered " Jun Ka Bok " made from abalone, and other kinds of sea foods,( it was so expensive amount to 50,000 won for small size, and " roasted shrimp with chily sauce ". and sea food Ja Jang Myung(black noodle) in Chinese restaurant. Srimp was so big, I didn't like too much. However, its taste was good. Black noodle also was good. After having a meal, juniors prepared a birthday cake. I'm full. I thought what I did at the same day one year ago. I was in Dublin. My japanese friend arrived at Dublin, very late. He celebrated alone my birthday. We went to indian restaurant because it was public holiday in Ireland, therefore, many famous restaurants were not opened. As we tried a few good restaurants, we had to decide to go to indian restaurant which has been opened almost every day. Fortunately, that night also, restaurant was opened. Two years ago ? I was also in Ireland. However, I can't rememebr what I did. At any rate, it's sad to have an age !

Mango salade which looks very different from the name

2008-10-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

On the occasion of my birthday, I went to " Outback steak " located in Jong Ro. To my memory, I had been there 3 years ago. As my parents like very much their steak, I had to go there. It was dinner time at weekend. There were a lot of peoples, precisely young peoples. A lot of peoples left and came in however, table was not immediately set. I watched one table near to waiting place. It was not cleaned up for over 20 minutes. Although many peoples were waiting and many part time students were there, table was still there as uncleaned with messey and left plates. We had to wait for over 20 minutes. Waiting made me very tired. Instead of steak, I chose a mango salade. Mango was not so fresh, maybe preserved one. Sauce was so simple, not well tasty to my appetite. Salade was not well mixed with sauce and mango. It seemed to me that it was not mango salade but vegetable salade. Sauce was so weak, its taste was dead in comparison with so strong vegetables. As I didn't try steak, I don't know what taste was. Coconut bread was good with melting butter. When we left, they packed more breads as service. The following day, I could enjoy it as my breakfast. Personally speaking, I don't like too much family restaurant. Some times, quality is not so good differently from my expectation. I know that some times, I wanna go also to join young and animated environment with freinds. Today's trying was disappointing, maybe because of awakward service of staffs. For a while, I don't want to go there.

Anchovy Bok eum

2008-10-26T21:03:00.001-07:00

Taste is changing. Although I addicted to a certain food, I doesn't like any more that for a while without knowing exact reason. As a good example, recently, I like an anchovy. I don't know why. When we have no appetite, pour a cold water into a bowl of rice, and take rice with some anchovy bok Eum. My mother makes anchovy bok eum with olive oils. However, if pepper paste is added, that also is good. In general, I like western food, but due to much time spend in European countries, I became a mania of korean traditional food.

Griottine from Alsace region

2008-10-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

One day, I discovered that a small bottle of Griottine was still sleeping in a corner of frigo.I got it as a gift after finishing a training in Alstom belfort factory. However, I didn't yet open it and kept it. Frankly speaking, I didn't pay attention to a definition of Griottine. This morning, I looked up a dictionary to find a meaning of griottine.
As per dictionary, these flavoursome pitted cherries are soaked in Kirsch to make them succulent and of course somewhat alcoholic! Add to chocolate desserts or serve with ice cream and drizzle with the Kirsch. Try with pancakes and a dollop of double cream.
Yes, I've got it. I'll try to buy a pancake or simple bread to try with griottine.

Getting out of tired and lazy life pattern

2008-10-22T18:05:00.000-07:00

Recently, I feel very tired. Although I don't do anything specially or more than previous days, why ? I can't get out of a feeling that I'm getting older. I started to drink a special extract of different kinds of juices with plenty of vitamin. Of course, I can't assure that this juice brings me much energy and awake me. Maybe, I'll need practicising a sport such as a yoga. I have never tried a yoga. A few days ago, I saw one TV program about Yoga presented by a professional yoga player who is japanese. Although she just was indulged in yoga world, her body was so slim and beautiful. My body looked very lazy and undesirable ! Her body was perfect to fit a light life. Every morning, I dream of starting a new sport or studying very hard however, my laziness prevents me from initiating anything. To know italian food, I just started italian. However, it's so difficult for me to skip more 1 pages of italian text book. Since a few years, I have learned myself italian. But I just know some words because of my horrible laziness. Oh my god ~~~~~~~

Sho Jin

2008-10-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

One of best and famous korean singer, Kim gun mo introduced one japanese fusion style restaurant - " Sho Jin " located in Suhrae ma eul in a food program on TV. My mother saw it and various small and tasty foods attracted her. After searching web to find a restaurant telephone number, I booked a table for me and my mother. There were two courses - one is sake course for drink costed 30,000 won per person, the one is dinner course coster 45,000 won per person. Sake course needs an order of japanese alcohol over 750ml. As we didn't drink, we chose dinner course. Environment was very clean, japanese, casual, and comfortable. We can see that a chef cook with open space. 10 kinds of small dish were served. And last was U-dong. Quality of food was also good. Although I don't know name of each served food, it was delicious. Raw fish and sushi were very fresh.
It was okay and new try of new restaurant. Just 10% service charge sounded expensive. If everyday, we can take very tasty and good quality food, how happy our life will be. Of course, we'll need much money to cover all ranges of food price.

Japanese cookie

2008-10-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

Japanese colleague brought japanese cookies. I like very much japanese tradition offering their cookies or pies whenever they visit client or go on a business trip. As I like very much cookies, when I go to other country or visit our client, I prepare also something like cookies or chocolates. This time, it's not cookie, like pie made of egg. Due to egg, pie is so soft. Inside pie, there are some fillers made of red bean. Pie shape also was like egg. Decoration, wrapping also are so beautiful. I wanna go again to Japan to taste different cookies and pies.

Terre et Mer

2008-10-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

I visited suh rae ma ul known as French street in Seoul because of French school. In 5 years ago, as I have many friends who were living there, I could spend a lot of time in visiting their house. In that time, there were not many good restaurants even if they had an unique atmosphere differently from other streets because of many french peoples such as wine bar, french bakery, flower shop, etc.
My senior director invited me at dinner. I picked up a good french restaurant through web site. ' Terre et Mer " - " Earth and Sea " The definition of this restaurant is that they make food using all kinds of food stuffs growing in the earth and living in the sea. The environment was nice. It seems to me a little messy or not too much harmonized. However, in different view, it looked well arranged. They were looking for warm and simple french family meal not too much luxusious one. One staff of the restaurant showed us today's dinner menu per appetiser, main. He picked up french mussel as appetiser, and lamb steak as main with a bottle of Cass(korean beer), I picked up mushroom salad as appetiser, and mediteraneen style pasta - especially spicy fenne as main. First of all, mushroom salade was great. Taste was so good. Fresh mushroom, tomato, green vegetables with olive oils. I liked very much it. Pasta gave me an unusual experience. It didn't look so spicy. However, actually, it was so hot and spicy, maybe owing to green pepper ? Taste was good, I had to empty a big plate of pasta justifying that I can't ignore french chef's great effort. I enjoyed a glass of white wine. Strangely, I'm very weak at red wine although I prefer red one. Except when I'm in a good humour, I don't try to drink too much red wine with peoples. Wine seemed to me very cheap one. It was not so good. And dessert was terrible. There was just ice cream with cynnamon poweder and black coffee. I don't like too much filtered coffee with flavor like hazelnut coffee. They brought that kind of coffee. It was very bad. Ice cream looked not hand made. However, to try different foods, I can visit this restaurant with pleasaure. As this street is so close to my house, some day, I wanna explore different restaurants and cafes with my sister or mother. I could go home with joyful and happy mind thanks to new discovery of a good restaurant.

Another afternoon tea

2008-07-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

I took afternoon tea with my japanese friend at Shelbourn hotel. I already tried a few times afternoon tea at Merrion hotel, however, it was the first time for me to try it at Shelbourn hotel. Shelbourn hotel's cafeteria is smaller than merrion hotel. However, furniture arrangement and colours are so beautiful. Especially flowers. We took pictures and enjoyed beautiful cookies. Of course, I could hear that my weights are gaining and gaining. In spite of it, we could enjoy luxuious afternoon at the best hotel in Dublin. After that, we moved to oyester bar just beside cafeteria. Many peoples wore very cool and chic cloths. Fortunately, we could find seats. I drank some beer, and she took a glass of champagne. I wanna go again to Shelbourn bar.

Crepe

2008-07-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

As I started to work very early in the morning around AM 6:50, I had to skip the breakfast. From today, I decided to start my daily life very early to have more personal time. After work, I can invest my time in reading book, newspapers, or studying foreign languages. Around AM 10:00, I became very hungry. It took me to a Lemon Juice, crepe restaurant. Originally, there was one restaurant at dawson street, however, it was newly opened at the graffton street just beside Butlers chocolate shop. I chose vegetable menu - onions, mushrooms, eggs, and cheese. It was so simple and good with a big bowl of black coffee. Yes, this is my brunch. So now my stomach is well filled with french crepe " Vive la crepe "

Special menu for rainy day

2008-07-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today, in Dublin, it rained like other ordinary days. It was just a sprinble of rain. I like very much these rainy days, because a busy world became quiet just for rainy time. Normally, Korean peoples have a tradition of taking some special menus just for rainy days. Hot noodle called as " Kal kuk so ", Korean pizza " Bin dae Ddduk" with some korean alcohol - soju. Therefore, I chose some chinese dim sum. Whenever I go to this chinese restaurant, I have taken beef with green vegetables, crispy crabs, mapa tofu, and crab meat stuffed tofu and aubergines. However, today's choice was dim sum for the first time. As appetizer, I started with wan ton soup, as main I ordered some steamed crab dim sum, seaweed dim sum, and vegetables stuffed dim sum. Especially vegetables stuffed dim sum was so tasy and fresh. I loved it. Of course, I didn't miss dessert menu - fried seasam bun. It was very good also. Sometimes, why not trying different or special food just for rainy days. Of course, in Dublin, there are too many rainy days. So we can have many opportunity of trying special foods ^^

Italian Breakfast

2008-06-30T07:14:00.000-07:00

Recently, I has been indulged in Italian food. I start my daily life with italian bread and coffee. Near to my apartment, there are two italian restaurants. They serve some breads, hot coffee at morning time, some pastas or salads at day time. Now, every morning, I go to one italian bistro restaurant. Some times I take just bread - apricot, strawberry croissant with a cup of hot coffee, some times, I order some breakfast menu such as scrambled egg, and toasts. Tasty is okay. Whenever I go to that restaurant and make a queue, I feel I'm still live and I also still in a member of this society. This fact made me more relaxed or gives me a comfort. Can you imagine that when I am in a queue while waiting for my coffee, I can think that I'm opening my busy day with others. Of course, on sunday, I go to Trinity college with some books. If the weather is not so good, there are few peoples who sit on the bench in trinity collage. It's very quite, and I can be relaxed.
This italian bistro restaurant serves very hot coffee. I hate cooled coffee !

Bibim Bap

2008-06-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

My korean friend invited me at dinner. Normally, as I spend my time alone, invitation at any meal makes me very happy. Especially, during the weekend. Appetizer was brucheta, main meal was Bibim bap - mixed rice with vegetables and some slices of beef, dessert was tiramishu. Today, I felt proud of the fact that I'm korean because of korean foods. Many foreigners enjoy Chinese, japanese, even thai foods, however, korean foods were not well introduced to foeign countries. It's a pity. Korean foods are very tasty, healthy and scientific. Due to pepper paste sauce, Bibim pap was salty. However, Simple rice were covered with slices of carrots, onions, mushroms, and egg fry. Well mixed and very fresh. Normally, when we take bibim bap, a bean sprout soup or soy bean paste soup are accompanied. Maybe during summer time, cold sea weed soup will be good. Today, any soup was not available, bibim bap was so tasty. I could imagine that I was in Korea and I missed my family and friends. In dublin, it's not easy to take real korean food especially home made. Therefore, I empted a big bowl of bibim bap. Because I can't expect when I can take it again. If I move to new appartment, I wanna make meals for myself.

A memory of Pasta Fresca

2008-06-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

As I had a breakfast very late, I didn't feel any hunger even though lunch time was passed. Since a few days, thanks to our director's visit to Dublin, I had to take 3 full meals for a few days. Sometimes, although I'm living to eat, I felt too much eating made me mad or they were feeding me like pig. Yes, I gained a lot of kilos. Therefore, I had no appetite. However, around 2 o'clock, I decided to go out of office to take a small lunch. Normally, every day, there is some menus that bursts upon me. However, today, none. Finally, I went to " Pasta Fresca " located in Grafton street. When I came to know this restaurant for the first time, it was around Dec. 2005. To complete some technical issues with senior engineer close to me, our japanese colleagues introduced us. I can't remember the name of pasta what I've tasted in that time. It was fantastic. Although I tried to taste same dish, I couldn't find it because I couldn't explain what I've taken.
Today, I took tag capesante. Scallope, some vegetables including onions, creamy sauce. This is not too much creamy. Since long time ago, I didn't try creamy pasta, that I loved so much for a while in the past time. Today's choice was not bad. I took a glass of white wine. Quick lunch however, reasonable quality of italian food.

A french restaurant

2008-06-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, when I went to Paris, I discovered one restaurant with two michelin stars(I think so) on the opposite area of Notre-Dame by chance. In that time, that restaurant was closed. A simple design and colour of that restaurant decoration and two michelin stars attracted me and I visited on purpose that street to taste their special food. I went there for the lunch. They introduced mainly 3 kinds of food per course. As appetizer, I chose asperagus with some red pepper powder, roasted fish( I can't remember the name of fish) as main dish, financier as dessert that actullay was recommended by a server of that restaurant. I asked him what a special dessert is in this restaurant. He introduced this chocolate financier. Asparagus was so simple. Some mixed chopped eggs with some chopped vegetables were served also. I spreaded them into a bread. It was so tasty. However, my choice of main dish is not so excellent. Frankly speaking, I love fish and sea food. But recently, whenever I pick up any fish, it was not so good. Today also was the same. It was okay. However, it was not so fantastic, unfortunately. Chocolate finaicier was fabulous. I think that chocolate scrumble is topped on this chocolate bread. It was not sweet. It was so simple. It is so amazing. There should be a lot of chocolates used for this dessert, however, it didn't give any sweetness. Therefore, I couldt empty a plate of financier showing the bottom of small plate. I finished my meal with double expresso. I selected one glass of white wine costed 9 Euro. It is so expensive, but taste was quite normal, not impressive. Inside decoration is so simple, ratherly so humble. Outer design looked better. Table setting was very humble. Used plates are so simple and normal, not impressive. What I was impressive was small expresso coffee cup. It was very diffierent one from normal expresso cup like asian style tea pot.
My evaluation of this restaurant is
Atmosphere - average
Appetizer - Excellent
Main - so so
Dessert - excellent

Healthy food

2008-06-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

As I was so excited and concerntrated on "Sex and city", I felt so hungry. As I skipped lunch, it was around PM 5 o'clock when I entered the restaurant. Early bird menu of Ukiyo served different small dishes. Among a few kinds of small dishes, 3 dishes could be selected. And a bottle of japanese beer also was served. I picked 3 dishes - one aubergine with nato sauce, rice covered with unaki, Tofu salde. Recently, I took tofu salade. It was so fresh and simple. Different vegetables such as carrots, cabbages and tofu. Main sauce is made from soybean. Although I can't trust freshness and quality of imported tofu, combinasion of vegetables and tofu made my mouth so fresh. It's really well-being food. Augerbine is boiled and finally was spreaded by japanese soybean paste sauce called as "Nato". Due to simple nato sauce, aubergine became something different.
Today, when I tried one jacket, I was so shocked that my size didn't suit me. It's so horrible ! From now on, I'll try to go on a diet for the healthier life. As the first step, I'll take 3 meals regularily. We'll see.

Walnut party

2008-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

Recently, I love for Italian food. Why ? and suddenly ? Not at all. I have loved Italian food, however, I could have many opportunities of eating Italian foods. There are some Italian small town near to Jervis tram station. I heard that one irish guy who loved Italian football and food made this street composed of 3 restaurants, 1 bar, 1 icecream shops. And there is another italian restanraunt in Inchicore also. Today, I went to this street. As appetizer, I selected mushroom and walnuts salad with some red wines. As main, today's special was spanich ravioli with walnut sauce. Walnut sauce attracted my appetite. I couldnt' imagine ravioli sauce is made of walnut. Salade was so simple, and ravioli also was so different. It was not bad.

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Tulsi

2008-05-18T15:00:00.000-07:00

When I tasted indian foods in this restaurant at the first time, I couldn't think that it was good. As my friend also was gourment, I couldn't understand why he brought me at this restaurant. First of all, differently from my expectaction, this restautant looks humble, that is to say, it's not a luxurious restautant. However, when I tried indian foods in other restaurants, I could understand how this restaurant serves a tasty food. Since then, I became a guest. Now, I talk with them about daily life or inquires after each other waiting for foods. Mostly, I order a prawn curry or buttered chicken curry with onion nan. When I was so hungry, I tried a hot prawn curry with some rices. It was so fantastic. Please try Indian food.

Orchid world

2008-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

I brought our colleagues to chinese restaurant, Orchid. As I know some restaurants in Dublin, I think that actually this restaurant is the best. Food is good, and persoanlly, I like very much interior decorated by golden flowers on the black wall. It's so special.About two years ago, I was introduced by my irish friends. In that time, I didn't recognize real taste of this restaurant. However, as I find different restaurants, I could discover that this restaurant has a good quality. Some times, I go at lunch time. My favourite lunch menu is prawn dumpling as starter and boiled sea bass with giner as main. They are all so simple and tasty. Especially, foods try to stick to original taste of each material.
This time, as there were many peoples, we had to order a few different foods to share. As appetizer, there were some prawn boiled dumpling, spicy soup, etc. As main dish, boiled sea bass with giner sauce, plump crisy duck, some vegetables. Unfortunately, I can't remember all names of food. Next time, I'll write them down.

Special mandoo

2008-01-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

My lunch menu was " Dumpling ", we call it as Mandoo in korean. Near to my previous working place, there was a very special restaurant. I was introduced by my best female friend at the first time. Since then, I became a guest, ratherly VIP. From time to time, I went to that restautant 4 times a week. This restautant just serves " Big dumpling made with Kimchi " like E-Book style( E-Book means north korea). There are some meats, vegetables, especially Kimchi and sweet noodle. Menu is Man doo kook(Soup), Man doo Jim(boiled dumpling). Owner of this restaunt made Mandoo for herself with her husband. It tasted excellent. As I was guest, I booked table before going there so she set the table differently from others. Man doo is served with Kimchi and Dong Chi mi( this is also E-Book style, made with white raddish) Today, I went to this restaunt again with my colleagues. I didn't go there since 2 years ago. I was really looking forward to tasting what my appetite remembered. However, I was so surprised and disappointed. Firstly, I was so surprised at change of location of this restaunt. This restaunt was originally owner's house therefore very small just a few tables. There were a lot of peoples who were waiting for their turn. However there was bigger and more modern restaunt. And there was no owner. Owner's son made Man doo with other peoples. Man doo soup was so simple, lack of a certain taste and Man doo stuff was filled with too much black pepper. There were not many peoples in that restaunt.
I was very sad. Korean peoples don't try to preserve their value. If a restaunt makes good business and become famous, owner tries to extend business area or lazy at keeping eye on their taste to maintain same taste. It's a pity. Although a few years are passed, if that owner makes Mandoo for herself as usual in the same place, maybe many peoples remember that restaunt and try to stop by. And that son also should learn how to taste good Mandoo before starting business.
I felt very sorry because I won't go any more to that restaunt and miss any more that special Man doo in my life.

The Restaurant

2007-05-27T03:10:00.000-07:00

After rain, the weather was fantastic. Although I prefer rain, sometimes, bright sun ray looks like an applause for hard work. Due to often business trip, I don't spend my personal life in meeting friends or close colleagues. Exceptionally, I went out to have a lunch with peter at the " Restaurant ". In that past time, I came here with my femail friend who got married with Austrialian. As we liked eating and are interested in food, we could share common taste and hobby together. However, recently, I didn't find any proper person who can share same taste around me. Of course, there are some friends who like very much dessert like me but they're not living in Korea. I took peter to this restaurant. As I didn't take breakfast, I was so hungry. My choice was apple cream soup as appetizer, scallop cream pasta as main dish, ice cream and biscuit filled with caramel, 1 cup of black coffee. Of course, 1 glass of white wine was added. Recently, I can't imagine formal meal without any alcohol. But please don't misunderstand that I can drink well, unfortunately, I like very much just socilizing with peoples thanks to little drink.

Apple cream soup was cold and fresh, quantity was very little. Scallop cream pasta was not bad, but very common, House wine was not dry so not bad, special dessert by cook was good especially ice cream, Coffee's quality was not so excellent. Although we wanted to talk more, because we have not met since 2 months before, restaurant was opened just up to PM 3 o'clock. We had to move to Insadong. We entered some galleries to appreciate Korean arts and painting. It made me very relaxed. Really, I could take a rest with fresh air and pleasant time.

Gun Bbang - Roce biscuit

2006-06-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

Normally, to make instant and commercialized cookie by cookie maker in enormous volume, they use much of sugars and edible chemical product. Although sugar and chemical product are all edible, it is not recommendable for peoples to take them often and as much as we can because it's not quite healthy.
Recently, I tasted these cookies called as ' Gun Bbang ' by chance. Gun Bbang means that gun in chinese character is dry and Bbang is bread. Normally we call bread that are distributed to solders in military camp during their military service as ' Gun Bbang ' in Korean. It was made by unpolished rice as well as organic sugar that are very healthy for our body and it was roasted not fried. We can buy these cookies at organic or friendly environment shop. More over it, we can order by internet. Many korean mothers think of their childrens' health. Therefore, certainly these cookies are very loved. There are also green tea cookies.

Swellfish

2006-03-05T03:58:00.000-08:00

Last time, I have been to a restaurant specialized in swellfish with my friend and her husband in Pusan. Long time ago, our previous president, Mr.Park came to this restaurant, so it was very famous for foreigners. As my friends are also foreigners, they showed me a introduction document about Pusan. This restaurant called as " Keumso bok jib" was also shown on that doc. Bok means swellfish, and jib means house, namely restaurant. Today, I took my girl friend to that restaurant. Although it was very strange food to my foreign friend, she liked it very much. Normally, swellfish is very expensive food in Seou, but as Pusan is located in close to sea and port, I could enjoy this special food with low price as I've expected. Clear and simple taste of this soup ! Well harmonized with bean sprouts and dropwart.

Special Cookie

2006-01-28T02:37:00.000-08:00

The japanese takes these different cookies at Happy new year. My japanese colleague gave it as special gift for new year. All are too pretty and different. Of course, they're so sweet( In fact, I don't like too sweet one) But, it's a special one so I shared them with my other colleagues. Lunar holiday is also coming soon. Although I made some resolutions for this year, I didn't keep everything. I was still so lazy. It's very good for me to have another lunar new year because I can have time to think of me and refresh my resolutions. I won't repeat same mistake.

Prussian carp's bread

2006-01-02T03:05:00.000-08:00

In front of my house, an aunt sells bread which shape is Prussian carp. In fact, I don't like this bread. No, I didn't like this bread. It made of flour, egg and read bean flour. I didn't like this read bean flour inside this bread. But suddenly, I bought them and its taste was fantastic. Maybe, I was very hungry. As it was fresh and hot, I fell into this bread. Whenever I pass this smaller machine that make Prussian carp's bread, I don't reject their temptation. Thanks to it, I gained on 10 kilograms. My colleagues laughed at my fat body. I was not happy. Today, although I wanted to take it, I well stood it. Oh my god..

Rice cake soup " Duk Kuk "

2006-01-01T02:09:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that today is the first day of 2006. Regardless of my intent, I have to grow older by one year. My mother prepared Duk kuk as our traditonal New year's day dish. Normally every bowl of Duk kuk means a year to your age. Duk kuk is made of rice cake called as " gare duk ". Gare means stick or bar, namely gare duk is like a long stick. We slice this long rice cake to make a soup. Soup is based on thick beef juice. We put also some spring onion,egg, beef flesh as decoration. We make also some side dishes to make along with Duk Kuk. Of course, my mother made everything during I was dreaming in my room. Today, I want to have time to examine myself and make new resolutions. Of course, I'll take care of my blog and develop it. I hope to meet many different peoples in this blog world. Happy new year to all visitors

Injulme

2005-07-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Glutinous rice cake

Injulme is one out of rice cakes what I like the most. It is coated with bean flour. It made of glutinous rice so it's moist and sticky. The main ingredient of this rice cake is bean. It's is very good for health. After harden, I put them in refrigerator. I let iced injulme thaw and boil them on fry fan. It gives another special taste.

Water is vital for me

2005-07-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

A thermos bottle

What is vital for my life ? For me, it's water. Normally, I drink 2ℓper day. At lease 1.5ℓ. As my body is very dry, it needs sufficient water. At frankfurt airport, I bought a thermo bottle. In fact, two. one is for me, the other for my mother. As she like mountain-climbing, I offered to her as gift. But differently from salesman's saying, this thermo bottles are not well working. If we put cold water, it doesn't keep cool. Bottle's cover was not well piecered. So, the water was not well poured. Oh la la... it was inferior merchandise ? Of course, I don't hope so. At any rate, this bottle doens't function properly as thermo bottle. But it's pretty as photo shows. If I use this bottle, my colleagues think something special and good for health is in. Yes, the water is in. I can't live without water.

Chicken Soup

2005-07-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

SamGyeTang

Today is early dog days in chinese characther. Early dog days means the first 10 days period of the dog days. What is dog days ? I'm not sure why they name after dog. At any rate, it is originated from a tradition inherited since a long time ago. Amid summer time, our ancestors stood the heat by having dogs or chicken soup. Of course, dogs are different from domesticated ones. Sometimes, it brought many disputes from foreign country. Although I have never tried dog soup, I think that one country's tradition should be respected.
At any rate, everybody took chicken soup to get over hot summer. Personally, I don't like this kind of food. But my mother also prepared this chicken soup for us. Normally, we put glutinous rice, a chinese date, a jinseng, a chestnut, a ginko nut, etc. Glutinous rice is very good. All ingredients are good for health. So I can get over the heat ?

Keep same quality and same taste

2005-07-13T05:19:00.000-07:00

Rice with a hard-shelled mussel

A few years have passed since I stumbled upon < Chung soo jung >. In those days, this restaurant seemed to me snug and neaty located along the street of Sam Chung Dong close to President residency, Green House. It was too small to find it passing by this street. What is the specialty of this restautant ? It's a rice made with hard-shelled mussel. According to main chef of this restaurant, she used rich seamsam oil and fresh mussels. To make it nice smelling and tasty, it needs much time and many hands. To my memory, it was a little different from making normal rice. So she had to stir a few times to be steamed to a proper degree. At any rate, when I tried this rice for the first time, I thought it very nice. I became a client. But under a popular mode that contemporaries seek for tasty foods, this restaurant introduced via mass communication like TV, newspaper and magazine related to food. Normally, if we order a standard meal, about 10 side dishes and 2 ji-gyes are served. Of course, rice made with hard-shelled mussel and today's soup are basic food. Today, I dropped by it to have a lunch with my colleagues. But I was a little disappointed with served foods. Differently from my expectancy, quality was deteriorated. For example, I could rarely hard-shelled mussels inside rice. Oh my god. Is it right rice of hard-shelled mussels ? So its rice is not quite tasty. Side dishes either were not tasty. Why ? I don't know why. I think that one out of Korean's defects is dishonest or trickery. That is to say, when a restaurant is famous and many clients come to a restaurant, owner is rotten with a bad attitude to client and sales. They try to omit a few ingredients or reduce food's quantity to maximize their benefit. So when I find a good restaurant or good food, I'm afraid of being famous to many people. I hope that restaurant owner keep in mind that client want to keep them their same taste and same quality, always ! Don't reduce quantity, Don't deteriorate quality,,,

Special pasta

2005-06-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

soba pasta

Normally, pasta is made of wheat flour. But this made of buckwheat. Normally, buckwheat is a good material for noodle in hot summer, because buckwheat's cold nature take away the heat from the bottom of the body. In Korea, black food is regarded as well-being food. For example, black bean, black tofu, black seasam, black noodle.... We believe that its black contain something special for our health.

Samsuni's pican pie

2005-06-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

Lovely pican pie

I'm a self-styled gourmet. Although I'm not professional journalist or freelancer for all kinds of food magazine, I have a sense of taste( Of course It's my own judgement ^^) I discovered a pican pie shop through a newspaper long time ago. Due to my skin trouble, I had to repress my thirst for tasting it. I finally decided to try it, I called to this shop. Differently from what I've heard from netizen, shop owner was very kind, more over talkative. I thought this shop is far from my house, but next to mine, and they opened a new shop underground of Big department store just near to my house. When I entered this shop, about 20 ovens were in a line in two separate room. Except it, there was nothing special. There were 2 women, one dame is owner and the other is cook. The latter seems around 50 years old. The shop owner was very kind and praised her pie. She asked to me how I had found this shop. Of course, by magazine. This shop's name is samsuni. In Korean, this name is very rustic but it brings a dim memory for our childhood. This shop is specialized in only pican pie. It costs about $10. In comparison with other bakery, this price is not expensive. She made by 100% handmade. She select good quality's walnut. The feature of this pie is that walnut is live, that is to say, normally, the chips of walnut is covered with pie dough. but on this pie, big slices of walnut are lay. So when we bite a pie, the walnut and pie dough eat crip. They don't use sugar so it's not quite sweet. It's a healthy food for well-being generation. There are two tastes depending on dough ; seasam and matcha(green tea). I bought two for tasting. Green tea is a little moist. Personally I prefer less moist seasam pie. My mother prefer green tea. It depends on age ? Maybe, because my sister agreed with me. Of course I can't take everyday this pie, but I'd like to keep this happy time while biting a sweet and simple pie. To tell the truth, I don't want that this shop became too famous. Normally, if a shop became known, its taste is certain to deteriorate and commercialize. I hope that this shop keeps their originality. There are some shops and restaurants that keeps their original tradition, for example, although they gain a lot of money, they don't try to enlarge their shops. Although a present shop is too tight and small, they try to keep their taste and colour. I hope that it happen to this shop. Nowadays, Samsuni fever has gripped our country. Samsuni is an actress' name of a soap dram titled to < Samsuni >. Samsuni is an old and fat maid. She is patissiere graduated from French cuisine school. It seems to me this drama pattern is too similar to Bridget Jones's diary. As I'm a big fan for Bridget, I don't like this drama. At any rate, implicating in the popularity of this drama, this shop is introduced often to TV program.

A special patisserie < Fraise >

2005-06-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ugly bread

By accident I stopped by a bakery. Maybe to call as patisserie is better. Its name is . This means strawberry in french, certainly the baker completed a certain baking course in french school. They don't use an antiseptic. I'm not sure if other bakery use it or not. At any rate, we can see < we don't use an antiseptic> on all covers of bread or cookies. I found a special bread called as ugly bread. This figure looks not so good. They take any shape. Inside there are marrons and raisins. Its taste is quite good. They make much of pound cake and handmade chocolate. I tasted chocolate pound cake. It was fantastic. They use rich choco chips inside and hard chocolate outside. Nowdays it became a cake what I like the most.

Cocoa Cans

2005-06-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

Mickey's Cocoa

My sister untied a package from her journey to U.S.A and Mexico. She has been there to meet our relative. This is a part of Cocoa packs. This is composed of totally 6 cans. Its favour are all different. Its taste is like a water boiled with burned rice, how can I say, it's very flat, not specially tasted. Normally, Cocoa has to be very rich and strong. At any rate, this pack is a kind of souvenir in Disney Land, maybe, by only this fact, its taste can be overlooked.

Irish souvenir

2005-06-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

Irish fudge

To see a night view of Dublin, I went out with my colleague. We strolled along a street in the middle of Dublin. This street continued to the temple street, where is famous for irish pubs. There were many irish pubs where we can listen to live music, maybe irish traditional performance, tap dance( For information, don't forget to book in advance) Dublin was very small and calm city, I loved their calmness. Of course a main street was very animated by young people at night, but it was clean and well arranged. I stopped by souvenir shops in temple street. They sold different products typical to Ireland such as guiness produts. I bought some souvenirs for friends. This is fudge made of irish whisky Jamson. It's good, not too sweet.

Very short break

2005-06-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Go to London

Here is Winston abbey. I'm London. I'll stay for 1 week due to a meeting with clients. As I didn't bring my note book, I interrupted inevitably my blogging. See you soon

Feeling matcha's flavor

2005-06-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

Matcha frappuchino

I romped around shops, market and department store. I bought a pink purse, a cute bell for my best freinds. I'll give them as a souvenir of Japan's visiting. Um ~~ There were too many products in a shop window who were waiting for customers. I stopped by a stationery where sold various pretty products ; wall paper, note, pencil, clip, ribbon, etc. We had a light sandwich with matcha frappuchino. Normally I like cappuchino due to typical flavor of cynammon. But now, it's june, we prefered to take cool drink. Matcha's flavor was not too strong. It's good to rinse our mouth after taking a fat meal. But it matched well with cheese+tomato+lettuce sandwich.

Melting into the sweetness

2005-06-02T20:40:00.000-07:00

Rasberry tiramishu

A long long journey. I had to walk to look around Ko be city with my sister. We walked forward as a guidebook guided us. Kobe was a place well known as foreign ambassy area, so we can see different style's residence of ambassadors and foreigners. I dropped by a muslim mosque. There were a few persons who prayed and bowed. Although I'm not muslim, my mind became pious. Especially mosque's atmosphere was very clean and calm as what I liked. After a hard training time, we felt hungry. Even if I tried to find a good japanese restaurant, there was not any place that attracted our eyes. So, we chose a french style's restaurant in Japan. It's rediculous ! But food was very good, quality was also very good. I was really satisfied with thier menu. We selected cold tomato spaghetti with vegetables. They served us zucchini's sweet soup as hors-d'oeuvre, and raspberry tiramishu cake. Soup was fresh and sweet. It let us relieve from fatigue by sweetness. Especially raspberry tiramishu cake was wonderful. I have never tasted it before. I felt happy at the moment of that a slice of cake was melting in my mouth.

Mysterious sauce

2005-06-02T04:22:00.000-07:00

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is like a occidental pizza. Of course, ingredients are a litte different. But shape and concept are almost same. Especially, fine slices of bonito are sprinkled. As a sauce, mayonnaise is poured along with deriyaki sauce( I think that this sauce is a typical one to Japanese, because we can smell et taste easily it on japanese food, even Macdonald's hamburger). At the first time, mayonnaise was very strange to me because we don't put this sauce onto pizza or korean pizza called as Bin dae Dduk, besides it, as I have never tasted this sauce, I couldn't imagine it. But after trying it, I couldn't yet understand how this mayonnaise went well with Okonomiyaki. How discovered it ?

Ramyun, Ramyun, Ramyun.

2005-06-01T05:01:00.000-07:00

Ramyun's line up

I indulged in Ramyun. There were too many kinds of Ramyun in super market. Although I don't like instant food, ramyun seems to me exceptional. ^^ Meandering noodle, refreshing and spicy soup. I also like cold ramyun that is shown in summer time. Especailly mustard sauce bites the nose, fresh vegetables are well harmonised with cold noodle maybe due to ices ? When I came back my sister's residence, I found my self who was holding an armful of ramyuns. Don't I take them every night ?

Souvenir of Ramyun

2005-05-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Ramyun

I like Ramyun, instant noodle. Japanese ramyun seems us very different from ours. First of all, ramyun soup is made of pork. Boil down pork meat for a long time until juice is flown from pork flesh like pork extract. Deep soup gives a good flavor. Next alive noodle by hand-made. Differently from korean ramyun, japaneses are using live, sticky and puffed noodle. Japanese ramyun is not spicy. As a garnish, they use chopped scalions and slices of pork. When I stayed in Osaka last time, a ramyun restaurant opened newly in the middle of a namba market. It costed around 500 yen. What it was impressed by me was a clean and bright atmosphere. So I visited again. It was still clean and bright.

Again to Osaka

2005-05-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Namba street

In the middle of Namba hyun. I arrived at Osaka to meet my sister. I came here twice since 2001. It seems to me that there are not many change. During a few days, I'll visit again what I found some nice reataurants ; ra myun, okonomiyaki, cold spaghetti.

Green tea's world

2005-05-29T01:25:00.000-07:00

Into the healthy green tea cakes

Green tea's power is great. Amore Pacific is a famous cosmetic brand but they are knowen as great green teas. They opened a cafeteria specific to green tea called as "O sulloc". All products are made of green tea. It was well infiltrated into young generation who think of their health and are intrested in well-being. Besides it, decoration and environment are also very special. All smelles greeny favor. That is to say, they satisfy our vision as well as taste. Bright sunlight, high celing, greeny wall paper... They seeks for not using any antiseptic, coloring matter. They uses powder green teas to make cakes, cookies, ice cream. I like the most ice cream and pound cake. If we have a spoonful of ice cream, green tea's favor convulses our nose. Deep and natural ingredients are melted in our throat. Pound cake is filled with various tropical fruits as well as green tea. To have a pleasant time, we have to accept a long long waiting in waiting seats. Of course at the moment of sitting down, we won't regret it, because nice green tea and sweet cake will compensate. It's also good to buy birthday cakes here.

Nice Kim bab of fried bean curd

2005-05-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

" Kim Bab "

" Kim Bab " means that rice rolled in a sheet of laver with various ingredients in the center. Name of Kim bab depends on these ingredients. If we put several vegetables in the center, we call it as vegetable kim bab. There are very various ; cheese, kim-chi, boiled beef, tuna, etc. What I like the most, it's a vegetable one.
Especially one from a small shop that sells different side dishes for busy dual-income families near to my house. Today, I looked at ingredients minutely because I want to make them by myself. They used carrot, egg, spinach, japanese yellow picked raddish, a kind of herb that smells simple taste and fried bean curd. I discovered their secret, namely they used specially fried bean curd. It makes kim bab simpler and nicer. These different ingredients were well harmonised fantastically.
Personally, I don't like to make kim bab, because they require a lot of trouble. Each ingredient needs different recipe. So it's not easy and it takes much time. I prefer to buy it in a shop.

Mediocre tuna

2005-05-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

Fresh tuna raw fish

I had a tuna raw fish with my colleagues after work. In fact, I don't like tuna fish. Of course, I can eat tuna sushi, but not raw fish. My colleague reserved a restaurant, I didn't say anything. We had them with a champagne. I love champagne. foamy champagne with fresh and sweet taste ! Nowadays I get rid of stress by eating. So I gained 7 kilo. Oh my god. So I have to pay attention to reduce it. In this sense, tuna is good, because it's low fat and high protein.

Rotating rotating sushi for me

2005-05-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

herring

Fortunately, I could have delicious sushi to my hearts content thanks to my senior.
He's working in top company of the concered filed. He invited me and other senior.
We selected a menu that I like the most. The restautant is < Sakanaya >. It was 3 times. I think that this restaurant is not in top class because too many rotating sushi restaurant came into existence since last year. I'm fed up with normal sushi. Nowdays What I like the most is mackerel, herring, perch, abalon. Especially herring and mackerel. Of course, a salmon is always loved with sour cream and slices of onions. For a good while, young people were struck with roll, various beautiful roll called as california roll. Luxuarious color, a brilliant way of using chef's hand, fantastic harmony of taste, various materials. I had a plesant time with them taking about work problem and future life. I gutfawe. After fresh sushi, we couldn't miss tea time. I took a mint herb tea to digest, they ordered macadamia latte with rich cream. Ah, today isn't lucky day ?

Low fat yogurt ice cream

2005-05-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Yummy yogurt ice cream

With well-being fever, low-fat yogurt ice cream came into the world. A chain called as " Red Mango " is loved especially by young ladies thinking of health and beauty. Red mango means "modesty""passion" and "becoming". Mango is a queen out of subtropical zone fruits. Ice cream's taste is very simple and deep. It's really different from what we had normally. If we pay more 1000 won, we can select 5 kinds of toffing. I like the most blueberry and strawberry.

Indulged in sweetness

2005-05-24T00:17:00.000-07:00

Sweet red bean soup

I'm mania for soup. Especially red bean soup.
I took a walk with my girl friend around Sam Chung Dong. Its weather was fantastic. Bright sun and fresh air, cooling wind.
I like wandering looking around beautiful shop and restaurant.
There is a special cafeteria. Maybe it'd be better to call as " Da bang ". This cafe sells traditonal teas with using herbs, and this special sweet red bean soup. Whenever this cafe is introduced by different masscom, I imagine what is its taste.
I scoutted about for this cafe. It was too small, and humble. It keeps well its own color and image. It looked very old like 60s years, my mother's generation.
I ordered this special soup. At a glance, it looked very different from normal soup what I thought before. Normally, we have red bean soup as a subsitute of meal. But this soup was filled with small bowl. Its color was also red like red bean. The color of soup was very deep and red. What about its taste ? First taste was too small.( Personally I don't like sweet one). I found it too sweet. Of course, my thinking was not changed by when I emptied soup bowl. But this sweetness didn't come from cheap sugar but from deep honey, just like extract. Walnut, jinko nut added flavour and nuitrive qualities. Specially, cynnamon powder was sprinkled. I don't know why. Because it seemed to me that cynnamon flavor didn't go well with red bean soup. At any rate, I emptied. There were too many tourists even from Japan, we couldn't stay longer. Although I wanted to look hard at passersby, we had to leave immediately to allow others to taste this special soup. I thought that japanese loved it, because they like sweet one ; cake, cookie, chocolate like me. ^^
Next time, I'd like to go there on weekdays taking my day off. In that time, I can appreciate its taste.

Fresh raw fish

2005-05-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

fresh raw fish

The food what I like the most is raw fish, especially sushi. I don't know why I am crazy about them.
Yesterday, I dropped in a new restaurant. We chose sliced raw fish with different fresh vegetables and slices of pear. We put red pepper sauce, soy bean paste sauce. Its taste was fantastic. We could feel the texture of fish, because main fish was very lively. The restaurant was very clean, of course they started up their business since a few days ago. ah, its price was really not expensive.
So I was surprised at our best choice ; good quality and low price. We can seat in terrace in open air.

Stimulating herbs

2005-05-13T02:40:00.000-07:00

A kind of greeny herb

Today, weather couldn't be better. Bright sun, high sky, several flowers along the street.
Normally, an air of spring makes us feel languid. Maybe, due to the lassitude of spring, I feel too lazy to work. I have not a good appetite. so in spring, there are many herbs that can stimulate our appetite. This morning, I had a fresh herb salad. Green et fresh herbs are very good for our health. It contains a plenty of vitamin C. So, it's good for our skin.

Favory temptation from Turkey

2005-05-11T02:59:00.000-07:00

Turkish delight

One of my colleagues brought that famous Turkish delight from a long journey to Turkey. Turkish delight means a jellied candy typically flavored with rose water. Some pistachios were included.
History of Turkish delight dates back to over 500 years. It is one of the oldest sweets in the world. According to legend, Sultan summoned all experts of confectionery and ordered them to make a unique dessert. The sultan found Turkish light so tasty. It stimulates the appetite. So sultans insisted on serving always this Turkish delight at their daily meals. Turkish delight became a treat very famous and traditional over hundreds of years. Turkish delight are very various from strawberry, mint, orange to pistachio, hazelnut, etc. I heard that Turkish fashionable ladies offered it as gift and Turkish serve it on birthday or special holiday. Since it remains fresh for 6 ∼12 months, we can have enough time to taste.
It is said that Picasso used to have Turkish delight on daily basis to concentrate his work while Winston Churchill and Napoleon liked pistachio filling. It’ll be okay to let Turkish delight in a cool and fresh place. But it’s not necessary to think of storage condition, because I already cleaned alone Turkish delight’s box. Am I gourmand ?

Flavory messenger of Spring

2005-05-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

Colorful flowers

It is a saying that swallow is a messanger of spring. But I think different colorful flowers bring a spring. I like flowers, not artificial ones. Sometimes, when I pass in front of flower shop, I buy them thinking of my mother, because she likes them very much.
This morning, going to a company, I saw a ray of bright sun. It was too bright to look straight.
Bright sun clear off our care and stress as well as cloud.
Hear and smell that spring has already approched to us

A mysterious taste of Porridge

2005-05-09T00:35:00.000-07:00

Green tea powder

Nowadays, I adhere uncommonly to porridge. Especially porridge of the flesh of a clam along with different vegetables. I cut vegetables like carrot, a young pumpkin, mushroom into small slices. If cut too small piecs, we can't have a feeling of chewing with a crunching sound.
I tried other variations with using some hard-shelled mussel,oyester, cod, shrimp. But I found clam the best. Why ? It goes well with crunchy vegetables. Although clam is a kind of fish, it doens't give forth excessively a typical ordor of fish family. It's very mild and light. Besides it, it make us feel chewing something.
As a finish up, I sprinkle green tea powder as well as salt with parched seasam.
You know that green color stimulates our appetite ?
Greeny color is associated with roasted tasty seasam.
This morning, I emptied a bowl of porridge. ^^

New start

2005-05-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

How about starting a day with a cup of capuccino creamy and freshy ?

I did finally find how to use the tool " Hello "
From now on, I made up my mind to devote my time of developping my blog.
I'm so happy, As it's like my face, I'll try to make well up. ^^
Welcome every body who visits me.

Christmas came to me

2004-12-25T01:47:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's Christmas !
What did you do at Christmas Eve ?
In European country, all family gather and exchange gifts, Christmas is possibly very important feast for family.
In our country, Christmas is for lover or friends. We don't pass Christmas eve with our family. We go out and meet friends or lover ^^
How about me ? I had a nice dinner with my freinds, we talked each other without knowing that the closing time of restaurant was being approached. It was very pleasant time for me to see them because I was so busy since 1 month ago. I didn't dare seeing them after working or at weekends.
Due to much stress and heavy work, I was exhausted, and I had to take a rest.
After passing good time with my friends, I ran to cathedral to say christmas special Mass with my parents. Cathedral prepared a special korean rice cake made of bean and pumpkin for us.
Regrettably, it didn't snow.

Although I wanted to make a special Christmas cake for me and my family, I had no enough time so I bought a chocolate rapsberry cake at patisserie near to my appartment. It was very yummy and nice.

Indulged in an idle fancy before christmas Eve

2004-12-22T01:31:00.000-08:00

Today, it's very cold.
As I'm very sensitive to cold, I don't like winter. So, today, I'm not happy. I have to wear a few clothes one over another. Gloves and boots are necessities during winter time.
My office is not quite warm. Its building superindentent seems to me stingy.
Whenever I get to work, I don't take off my coat because my office is not enoughly heated.
It's heating until A.M 10, so I have to divert my mind in taking a hot coffee or hot chocolate.
I love hot chocolate, especially on which almonds or cinnamon powder sprinkle.
Cinnamon powder add savory flavor to hot chocolate. Baked almonds are very nice.
Christmas day coming day by day to us, my heart grow restless. I made up a special plan with my girl friend. We'll have a wonderful time on the hightest street. We'll find a romantic restaurant with a special menu, and have a ramble on this street. Of course, it will be decorated with neon light and christmas trees. We'll take pictures to keep good memory.

Hello, chocopie

2004-12-20T19:55:00.000-08:00

Finally, I made my own blog.
As I have blog fans related to food, my blog will be dedicated to food.
Among food, I adore chocolate. So my blog name is chocopie, which means pie made of chocolate.
As I likd it too much, my friends nicknamed me "chocopie"
Even if I don't speak fluent English, I'll try to render my thinking about food, and my cuisinery life into English.
Of course, I'll be able to make friends with people from various countries.
I'll introduce our tradition, cuisine, culture through this blog.
I'm very pleased to have my blog.