May | 2014 | A Fat Girl's Food Guide to Eating in Korea

31
May
2014

Homemade Lemonade

categories: Drinks & Cocktails, Recipes

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. There is nothing better on a hot day than a cool tangy glass of lemonade. But I refuse to buy the ever so popular blue lemonade that is sold on the streets of Korea. I don’t know why but it really annoys me for some reason, what’s wrong with yellow I ask you? However a life without lemonade is not worth living, so I figured it was about time I made my own, sans food coloring.

Ingredients

2 cups of sugar

2 cups of water

7 lemons juiced and zested

1 lemon cut up for decoration

A few sprigs of mint

Directions

1. Zest and juice 7 of the lemons into separate bowls. In a saucepan put the sugar, water, and zest and bring to the boil on a low heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. As soon as it starts to boil you can turn off the heat.

2. Mix the lemon juice with the syrup and allow to cool. You can now strain the syrup if you want to remove the zest and store in a bottle in a fridge. It should keep for at least a week.

3. To make the lemonade, mix the syrup with water in equal ratios, although feel free to add more water if it’s too strong for you. Serve over ice and garnish with slices of lemon and sprigs of mint.

4. For a twist you can make this fruity strawberry and watermelon version, which you can add rum or vodka to after a hard day at work. Blend a handful of strawberries and a wedge of watermelon with a shot of lemonade syrup and a shot of sparkling water (or vodka). Then serve over ice and enjoy. Voilà, Fat Girl’s traditional lemonade.

29
May
2014

Twiga

categories: Restaurant Reviews

Twiga is the latest restaurant to open up in Itaewon-dong. Serving up real South African cuisine, it’s going to be the Seoul Saffers’ home away from home. Mum might be far away from home but Vanita Swart is ready to step in and serve up her family favourites that are even better than your Mum’s cooking. Up on the 5th floor, a lift will take you to this South African Safari. In this light and airy space, cute giraffes and zebras will greet you everywhere you look.

After a look at the menu I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist those lamb chops. I think we all know how hard it is to come by rack of lamb, but fresh lamb chops are even rarer and even more expensive. So the fact they are serving them here for 25,000 is incredibly cheap. These were cooked to absolute perfection. Every meaty morsel was juicy and tender in the middle with the crisp barbecued exterior. Served with the delicious homemade chutney I could have eaten these 10 times over, but that’s always the way with lamb chops. Luckily the accompanying chips were amazing and I soon forgot about the lamb. These are the best chips I have ever had in Korea, bar the triple cooked ones I make sometimes. They were so good, they could start a chip shop. Tasty , crispy, hand cut, and fried, none of those frozen Costco ones that’s for sure. There was also a lovely side salad on the plate to complete the meal. I was very happy indeed.

My dining companion ordered the Bobotie (20,000). A traditional South African dish consisting of a fruity curry mince, topped with a savory baked custard. As my companion was a South African himself I was very eager to find out how he rated this dish and he declared it delicious. I really enjoyed this dish too even though I hadn’t really had anything like it before. I guess it’s similar to a lasagne but more flavoruful and without the pasta. It too was served with those fabulous chips and salad.

Being a fabulous food blogger I occasionally get a few perks of the job and get to try a few extras. The traditional South African sausage boerwors, were excellent and full of flavour. With two kinds of chutney I couldn’t decide which I like more, the traditional or the peach. We also tried the pumpkin fritters. Golden crisp outside with the taste of sugar and cinnamon.

And of course there was no way I could leave without trying Vanita’s famous Amarula cheesecake (6,500 a slice). Vanita also sells a whole one for (35,000). Man I wish I had known about this before my last birthday. Get one for a mates birthday instead of one of those god awful Paris Baguette creations and you will have a friend for life. The texture was perfection, kind of like clotted cream. Then there was a lovely creamy sweet flavour throughout. If it was legal I would probably marry this cheesecake, then eat all the delicious babies.

Twiga is located on the 5th floor, 26-38 Noksapyeondae-ro, Itaewon, Seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station and come out of exit 3. Walk across the cross walk so you are outside Suji’s deli and go right and walk along the main road. Keep going straight until you see the over pass bridge and take the road turning left. Twiga is about halfway up the road on the right hand side, just opposite the Saudi Arabian Embassy. For more information or to make a reservation call 010-3784-9555.

27
May
2014

Chickpea Fries & Sriracha Mayo

categories: Recipes, Vegan / Veggie Friendly

I had wanted to make these for quite sometime now and I am kicking myself I didn’t start earlier. They are the absolute bomb. I think they may even be better than the triple cooked chips. Well perhaps not better but definitely on par, and the best part is they are about 10 times easier to make! You can even make the mixture ahead of time and just leave it in the fridge and cook them when you want them. The fries have the lovely nutty chick pea taste as well as a crunchy coating which kind of bubbles up and resembles batter. It’s like battered fries without the battering. I served mine with sriracha mayo but you could serve them up with any sauce you like.

Ingredients

2 cups of chickpea flour (i-Herb/FFM)

4 cups of water

4 tablespoons of olive oil

1 tablespoon of lemon juice (optional)

A large pinch of salt and pepper

Soybean oil for frying

6 tablespoons of mayonnaise

2 tablespoons of sriracha

Directions

1. Grease a baking tray that has a least an inch rim on it with a little oil.

2. Bring the water to a boil, then slowly whisk in the chickpea flour a bit at a time until incorporated.

3. Add the salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice if using. Continue to cook and whisk on a low heat for another minute or two.

4. Pour the mixture into the baking tray and flatten it with a spatula. Then pop it in the fridge to set for 30 minutes to an hour.

5. When the mixture has set, cut into fries and heat the soy bean oil. The oil needs to be fairly hot at this point.

6. Fry the fries in small batches for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. You may need to turn them over to make sure they cook evenly.

7. To make the sriracha mayo just mix the sriracha in a bowl with the mayonnaise until combined. Then dip your chickpea fries into it, until they are all gone. Then get up and make some more.

25
May
2014

Coronation Chicken

categories: Recipes

Coronation chicken, a blast from the past and a sandwich filling invented many years ago to celebrate our dear old queen Lizzy. An old favourite, it’s been years since I’ve eaten this. But after eating all my favourite salads far too often lately I figured I was in need of a change. There are a million ways you can make this that run from quick and easy like mine, to incredibly complex and time consuming. Mine is just a simple version, ain’t nobody got time for hours in the kitchen in this heat. Make a big batch up and throw it into salad, sandwiches, and wraps. Or take it to a barbecue and wow your friends with this tasty classic dish.

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts shredded (or a similar amount of cooked chicken)

10 tablespoons of mayonnaise

2 tablespoons of raisins

1 small handful frozen mango (fresh is fine too, just chop it into chunks)

5 dried apricots

2 teaspoons of curry powder

1 tablespoon of sliced almonds

1/2 a teaspoon of celery salt

1/2 a teaspoon of pepper

Directions

1. Blend your mango to make a purée. Then stir in the mango purée to the mayonnaise. If you have it then you could use mango chutney which would give you a much better flavour.

2. Add the curry powder to the mayonnaise. It’s really up to you and how strong your curry powder is for how much you use. So keep adding a little at a time until you reach the desired taste. Then add the salt and black pepper.

3. Mix the sauce with your shredded chicken. Then chop the apricots and stir in along with the raisins. Serve in your favourite bread or on a bed of salad.

22
May
2014

On the Border – Margarita Party!

categories: Drinks & Cocktails, Restaurant Reviews

It’s party time again down at On the Border. Once again they are hosting their monthly margarita party night. I went last month and had an absolute blast. This month they are having the party at two locations, at Sinchon tonight and at Itaewon next Thursday. The Margarita party costs 35,000 per person for all the food and drink you can manage. This deal is amazing, considering we all know that On the Border isn’t the cheapest Mexican in town.

In the drinks package you get four different kinds of margarita. You get one beergarita with an 8 ball or tangerine IPA. Then you get one regular margarita rocks or frozen. Then you get one blue and one red. I love On the Border margaritas, they really are so tasty and kick ass. If you manage to chug your way through all those margs and you’re still thirsty, draft beer is unlimited. So get your party on bitch.

As well as all those lovely drinks there is also a whole host of food going on. Knowing the price of the margaritas I really didn’t expect that much last time, other than chips, salsa, and some canapes. But when we got there, there was a giant table filled with food. They pretty much had the whole menu there. 3 kinds of tacos, beef, chicken, soft, and hard. 2 kinds of enchiladas, quesadillas, grand nachos, rice, beans, salad and all the dips and guacamole you could want. I of course indulged in about three plates as is my want. It was very impressive. Again the food was worth it alone. It’s a very good deal if you like to eat and drink as much as I do.

Tonight the party is happening in Sinchon, and it’s not too late for you to reserve your spot, call 02-792-0682 . Next week’s party is in Itaewon on the 29th. You don’t need to pay until you get there so have no worries about collecting the cash from your friends, just call and reserve a table. And if that wasn’t enough, tell them you’re with Media Paran to get an extra 10% off. See you there Fat fans!

20
May
2014

Cold Brewed Coffee

categories: Drinks & Cocktails

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love coffee. Despite not joining the coffee world until I was 25, I have now become an ardent fan and have been making up for lost time ever since. I really don’t think I could make it through the day without a cup or two. If it wouldn’t leave me financially bankrupt I would probably drink about 3 ice vanilla lattes a day, but the 5,000 price tag generally puts me off. The other problem is that there are no coffee shops in the barren wasteland of countryside that I work in, which really seems to limit my coffee intake. That’s why I am thrilled to have come upon this method. It’s cheap and I can whip up a coffee before I leave for work and take it with me.

Now I am no slouch in the kitchen and I’ve always figured it must be pretty damn easy to make my own bloody coffee, but alas I’ve never quite managed it until now. Vanilla syrup is insatiable easy to make or buy. Milk and ice are everywhere, it’s just the coffee that posed a problem. I bought a little coffee maker on Craigslist but the espresso just wasn’t quite good enough. I was waxing lyrically with my friend about the lack of a good espresso in my life when I was round his house one morning using his incredibly expensive hand pulled contraption, when he suggested cold brewing. A quick search on the tinternet and all my problems were solved. It’s so easy a monkey could make it. This cold brewed method provides the best coffee base for my latte ever. You could also drink it as an americano.

Ingredients

1 cup of ground coffee

4 cups of cold water

1 jar

1 coffee filter

Directions

1. Measure out your coffee beans and grind as finely as possible. If you don’t have a coffee grinder or blender attachment then buy them from your favourite coffee shop and have them grind them for you.

2. Measure out one cup of coffee grounds. Then put them in your jar and top with the four cups of cold water. If you want your coffee even stronger you can just use 3 cups but I find this works perfectly. If you are planning on drinking it straight you may want to add more water depending on your preference. Give the jar a shake then put it in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight.

3. Strain your coffee through a filter or use a mandu cloth bag that you can get in all supermarkets and places like Daiso. You can then keep the strained coffee in the fridge for at least 5 days. Also if you don’t throw away the coffee ground you can use them to make a revitalizing and cellulite busting scrub.

4. Use your lovely cold brewed coffee to make your favourite coffee drink and go about your day with a superior air of thrift and smugness as you pass all those people lining up for 5,000 drinks.

18
May
2014

Y-Not Takeout

categories: Cafes / Takeaways / Bars, Delivery, Restaurant Reviews

Ok Fat Girl fans, I am about to rock your world right now so hold on to your hats. A mere two weeks ago the greatest company ever was launched in Korea. The name of that company is Y-Not takeout. These amazingly smart people have done what no one ever thought possible, delivery western food in Korea. The service is just starting out in Seoul but they plan to make it nationwide overtime. They are currently operating in the following central Seoul areas; Itaewon, Haebangchon, Kyungnidan, Hanam-dong, Yongsan Army Base and Banpo-dong.

A few months ago I was thrilled at the prospect of getting Indian food delivered to me through Chakra. But now I can get Mexican, Russian, Thai, American, African and even KFC! A bucket of the Colonel’s chicken delivered right to my bed. I’m salivating at the thought. No longer will I have to pester the Fat Boyfriend into going to Itaewon for food on hangover Sunday. I can get it delivered right to the door and the best thing is it’s all in English. No more Konglish and call backs to Pizza hut for me.

We tested the service out a few nights ago and decided to opt for some Mexican from Taco Amigo. This was actually the very first restaurant that I ate at in Itaewon nearly 6 years ago. So it’s about time that I got round to eating there again. I had forgotten how good it is. The Mexican cuisine here is actually very authentic while still offering the dishes you know and love. Even the corn tortillas taste homemade.

We placed our delivery order and less than 45 minutes later it arrived with the kind and friendly delivery driver. You can pay with cash or card which makes it even simpler. As you can see above we ordered a chimichanga (13,000), Enchiladas Suizas (14,000), and Steak Taco set (10,000)which came with chips, rice, and beans. All this for only 41,000 and I didn’t even have to leave the sofa. I’m living the dream.

To check out the ever list of restaurants check their website. The site will tell you which ones are open and which are closed. You can also order from more than one restaurant at a time. So if your fights revolve around Thai verses pizza as ours often do, peace will be resumed as you can have both, you just have to pay two delivery fees. You can even order on Kakao Talk. This service is so simple to use you will be able to navigate even through the hangover induced fog. Not convinced? Well too bad I’ve got a bucket of chicken to order.

14
May
2014

LA & Vegas

categories: Uncategorized

Good news everyone, Fat Girl is back in Korea. And I’m finally ready to tell you about my fabulously fun trip to America – the land of supersize it, all you can eat buffets, and 300lb people. It was a fat girls dream. Now this wasn’t my first trip to the good old USA, I had been years ago when I was a kid and mainly what I remembered was the food, it was all a chubby teenage me was interested in.

Now it didn’t take us long to figure out that the portions in the USA are huge!! Even I was shocked and I pretty much have no problem finishing off 8 slices of a family sized pizza on a Sunday afternoon followed by half a cheesecake!!! Our first stop was The Pikey Bar in LA where we has some pretty amazing triple cooked chips and aioli. We also had our first celeb spotting in the form of Ryan from The O.C. who was sat at the next table. Although I did always prefer Seth, it was still quite exciting nonetheless.

While in LA I knew I had to hit up The Farmers Market. It was filled to the brim with deliciousness and stalls selling their wares. But I had no idea there would be so many restaurants there selling food for right now. Everywhere I looked there was something even more delicious to behold. We had already eaten quite the spread at our hotel that morning and had reservations for lunch in a few hours so as sad as I am to say this I couldn’t partake in the deliciousness. Except for some amazing cherries and a really nice smoothie that we got. Next time I plan to go hungry. In one of the stores they even had English chocolate!!! Cadbury’s, Malteasers and a white Chocolate Orange. Now I love Malteasers more than The Fat Boyfriend, but even I just couldn’t bring myself to pay over $5 a for a small bag, so I sadly left them on the shelf.

I had booked us a lunch at The IVY where apparently all the stars go to push their salads around their plates and get their pictures taken by the paparazzi. I’ve always liked to think of myself as a star so I fit right in. Since it was my birthday we were each given a glass of complimentary champagne (which I have always considered a great way to start a meal.) It was quickly followed up by a raspberry mojito. I decided to be a little healthy and have a cobb salad, although with all the bacon, egg, and cheese in it I’m not sure it was so healthy after all. It was also gigantic. I couldn’t even finish it. The Fat Boyfriend ordered the burger and truffle fries which was amazing. I ended up eating half so no wonder I didn’t have room for salad. I decided to skip dessert and get their special cocktail of the day, a champagne sangria, which was very good but at $25 a pop I would have been not too impressed if it wasn’t.

For dinner I decided to neglect some of the restaurants famed for their food in favour of Sur. Now if you read my blog regularly you will know how much I love trashy reality TV easpecially “The real Housewives of” series, I watch them all, every last one even Vancouver. Anyway Sur is owned by Lisa Vanderpump the star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. It is also the set for her spin-off show Vanderpump Rules about all her gorgeous and incestuous waiters and waitresses who all callously cheat on each other behind their backs. The Fat Boyfriend absolutely loathes the show, but I think it’s fabulous. The food was fine but really nothing special, but the drinks were amazing and we saw quite a few of the cast including head lethareo Jaxx, Tom and Peter. Tom even made me a pomegranate cocktail and it was delicious.

The next day we had lunch at Santa Monica pier where I ate a large amount of edamame beans. For dinner we were pretty knackered and just grabbed an In n Out Burger on the way back to our hotel. I have been hearing nothing but good things about In n Out Burger for some time so I really couldn’t wait to try it but I was rather disappointed. The burger was okay but really nothing special and the fries were completely tasteless. I think I made a mistake by not getting them animal style. The next morning I awoke to stabbing pains which quickly developed into a severe case of food poisoning. I can’t believe after never having it in my life, travelling extensively through Asia I went all the way to the states to get it. It was a pretty hard day all round but I sucked it up and got on my flight to Vegas, which is the main thing. Was it the edamame or the burger? Who could say for sure, either way I’m off both those food groups for the foreseeable future.

So my first few meals in Vegas I pretty much skipped out on, When I awoke on my birthday morning having just turned 30, all the visions I had of, a breakfast in bed, cakes galore, and all other treats, were forgotten. However through sheer hunger I rallied in time for my dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s Steak which was absolutely amazing. One of the best steaks I have ever eaten in my life. The beef wellington was also a hit. The starters, the cocktails, the dessert with a little candle it was all incredible and well worth the money. They even had a steak trolley for you to see all the different cuts of meat. I have wanted to eat at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants for a long time now, so I was glad to finally get my chance, and thanks to my food poisoning I was especially svelte in my dress.

The next day I was back to full speed and figured it was about time I hit the buffet. VIPS has nothing on these buffets, everything you could think of and more was served at the one at The Palms. Chinese, Mexican, Salad bar, Italian, Mongolian, Korea and US classics galore. The surprise hit of the buffet was the galbi ribs, I ate about 12 over 2 days, the sauce was just so so good. I can’t believe that in a buffet of that caliber I went after the galbi! I still avoided the kimchi though.

On the last day I was incredibly hung over thanks to a hard night of partying after watching Britney, I settled on panda express for some good time hangover gorging. Chinese is what I miss most from living at home so I needed to hit my quota. I also found time to eat my birthday cheesecake from The Cheesecake factory. 1300 calories of chocolate, peanut butter and caramel layered cheesecake goodness. This is the only birthday cake I will accept from now on.

We also went back to the buffet for dinner, although The poor Fat Boyfriend only managed a spoon of potatoes and a slice of pizza he was so queasy. I made up for it and managed a more ample 3 plates. I of course loaded up on Reese’s goodies at the airport and treated myself to a last minute cupcake at the airport.

Well after all that I expected to come back at least 10lbs heavier as is my usual, but would you believe it I only gained half a pound! Was it due to the food poisoning, too many salads, the liquid diet, or all that walking? Who could say for sure but I was very surprised this morning indeed, but with The Fat Wedding in less than a year it’s about time I got in shape.

02
May
2014

Vegas Baby!!!

categories: Uncategorized

Hi faithful readers, sorry about my lack of blog posts lately, but you will have to hold out a little longer as I am off to the quintessential land of gluttony today!!! I am taking a trip to celebrate my 30th Birthday to L.A and Las Vegas!!! One week of indulging myself round the clock on burgers, cheesecakes, and all you can eat buffets! I can hardly wait. I will be posting pictures of all my exploits online though so you will be able to keep track of all my indulging. So be sure check out my facebook page and my twitter!

May 2014 archive