A Fat Girl's Food Guide

09
Dec
2014

Hidden Cellar

categories: Cafes / Takeaways / Bars, Festivals / Special Events

A few weeks ago it was my lovely boyfriend’s 30th birthday. In celebration of him growing old, I decided to throw him a surprise party. Being in the foodie scene in Seoul I’ve made friends with lots of restaurant owners over the past few years and had a lot of options at my disposal for the location. At first I got a little carried away, and was thinking cocktails, canapes, and sequin gowns. However Niall is more of a pints, pies, and sitting around in his pants kind of a man. So I finally settled upon on the Hidden cellar in Haebangchon as the perfect location. (more…)

13
Nov
2014

XII – Twelve

categories: Drinks & Cocktails

Last Friday night I ventured to HBC’s latest and greatest acquisition XII. That’s twelve in roman numerals for those that skipped that class in school. Armed with a motley assortment of my closest friends we hit the bar hard.

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21
Sep
2014

Il Gattino – Sneak Preview

categories: Restaurant Reviews

Note Il Gattino is no longer at the Good to Go premises in HBC. Due to such popularity they have moved to new premises in Beotiggae which they are currently renovating and will opening soon under the name Brera. As soon as they open I will let you know!

As your favourite food blogger I always try my best to find you the best food in Korea. And for once in my life I’m ahead of the crowd and sharing with you a restaurant that isn’t even open yet! Il Gattino is having a secret opening and they have the best Italian food in Korea bar none. With Italian chef Flavia in the kitchen serving up her classic Italian cuisine and Giovianni as the warm and inviting host, HBC finally has a restaurant which is worth queuing for. For a bargain price of only 35,000 we shared the most sumptuous meal. Prices will remain cheap during the secret opening while they test their recipes and see what proves to be popular, but even after this Giovanni tells me that main pasta courses will only cost around 10,000 each and desserts at around 4,000-5,000. He wants the prices to reflect those in Italy and not just overcharge like many restaurants do here just because we are in Seoul.

To kick start the meal we were given their home baked ciabatta bread, chili jam and olive tapinade. The bread was especially good, and perfectly accompanied with the salty tapinade and sweet chili jam. You can never go wrong with freshly baked bread to start a meal.

The bread course was swiftly followed by baked aubergines in a rich tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella. I love this dish, and often make a similar version myself. Tomatoes, cheese, and aubergines work perfectly and it’s also a great option for vegetarians.

Next we were presented with two different kinds of homemade gnocchi. The first were simply cooked in butter and topped with parmesan cheese. The light pillowy delicate flavour of these was outstanding. Probably the best I’ve ever eaten, they were little clouds of heaven that just melted on the tongue. All they needed was a touch of freshly ground pepper on top to complete them. We actually fought over the last one!

Our second dish was the gnocchi covered in bolognaise. Made using Giovanni’s grandmother’s recipe, it was everything a bolognaise should be, simple, rich, and full of flavour. Again the gnocchi were pure perfection but the sauce really stood out in this dish. I can’t wait to go back and try their lasagne.

In true European style, no meal is complete without dessert and we were lucky enough to try two. A sponge topped with a luscious lemon mousse, and my favourite, tiramisu. Made in the traditional way, both were like eating lavish creamy clouds. With homemade mascarpone, light sponge and rich coffee, the tiramisu was flawless. Both were fantastic and I suggest you get one of each because it was very hard to decide which one we liked best. I gave the edge to the tiramisu, the Fat Boyfriend preferred the lemon. I also heard they have a rich chocolate creation that they will be debuting very soon which I am desperate to try.

The restaurant will be open at the Good to Go location in Hae Bang Chon. But sandwich fans don’t despair, they aren’t going anywhere as the restaurant will be dual run. As I mentioned Il Gattino isn’t even open yet, but they are open to reservations of small groups. Giovanni will find out your tastes and prepare a special set menu just for you. They take lunch and dinner bookings, so if you would like to try their incredible food, please message them using their facebook page.

Il Gattino is located at 46, Yongsan 2 ga, Yongsan gu, Seoul. To get there head to Noksapyeong station(line 6) and come out exit 2. Walk straight and bear left at the kimchi pots. Keep walking up the hill until you see Good to Go/Il Gattino on your right just across from Bonny’s Pizza.

04
Sep
2014

Holy Smoke

categories: Restaurant Reviews

Holy Smoke opened on Saturday, and as always I was one of the first through its doors. Although the close proximity of my house to the restaurant probably had something to do with it! I was just desperate to find out if all the banging in the early morning was worth it.

Despite the mother Mary logo and the godly like name, the interior is dark and slightly satanic. Some cows are certainly getting slaughtered up in here to serve at the altar of deliciousness. With the glowing red lights they have a real juxtaposition of good and evil going on. Maybe it’s supposed to represent the glowing coals upon which the meat is cooked, but I really couldn’t say for sure.

Hot on the tail of Linus’s success, some might say this is a copycat restaurant as the menu is somewhat similar. However there’s room for more than one BBQ restaurant in Seoul. In fact there are thousands of them. Koreans love BBQ meat so I’m surprised the American style trend didn’t catch on sooner.

I got a few sandwiches to go on opening weekend, and finally ate in last night. They have been running out later in the evening so I would advise going early to avoid disappointment. The menu offers a good selection of BBQ foods without having too much. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich (6,000), with fries on the side (2,000). There is generous amount of meat served in a soft buttery roll. The meat is unsauced, allowing you to add your own. They have three available, Franks (a BBQ styled thousand island kind of sauce), Carolina Gold (a mustard laced vinaigrette), and Red hot chili. I find the Franks to pair best with the pulled pork, and with the coleslaw piled in on top this is a damn good sandwich for the price. The meat is tender and juicy but could possibly do with just a touch more flavour within it. Without the sauce it would be a bit bland though.

We also got the rib platter (16,000). On the menu it said three ribs but we got five which was handy as otherwise my poor and long suffering boyfriend would have been left with just one. The meat on the bones was tender and well cooked, but they were just too plain on their own. The sauces that they currently offer completely overpower the flavour of the meat, so they need to serve some regular BBQ sauce. That or perhaps a dry rub before they are cooked. I’m not really into plain old ribs, they are missing that sticky crispy crust that you get when you cook them in sauce. I asked the owner if he planned to serve BBQ sauce but was met with a resounding no. He was rather stand offish when I tried to talk to him. It was a soft opening and I thought these things are usually done so they can receive feedback, especially from your neighbours who are most likely to become regulars if treated well. The two counter staff were incredibly friendly though. I enjoyed the beans from this platter a lot, I just can never get enough baked beans in my life. The small rolls were a bit stale though, if they aren’t fresh they should at least toast them. If they get some BBQ sauce on the menu then I would have the platter again.

I got the brisket sandwich to go (8,000). Again the meat was tender but unflavored, the mustard sauce definitely goes better on this one. I think if pushed though I probably think the pulled pork sandwich has the edge, it’s also cheaper.

Between Sunday and last night they changed the fries. At the weekend they had the larger ones below, but last night they had the shoe string ones you get everywhere. Bring back the big chips and I’ll order double sides, the skinny ones I’m really not fussed about.

Later in the evening I was in the mood for something sweet, so The Fat Boyfriend was dispatched across the road to pick me up the deep fried Snickers (6,000). This is for the very sweet toothed. It was just too sweet for me, I liked the crisp exterior on the outside, but the middle is supposed to be soft and gooey but the peanuts in the Snickers opposed this. It works much better with a Mars bar. I think I’ll try the lemon berry curd next time.

I didn’t have anything to drink as they only serve craft beer. They have a couple of homemade sodas which look great but at 7,000 with no booze in them I had to decline. Maybe after pay day. This place has the making to be a great spot as the portions are large and good value. But they need to make a few changes to get to the same standard as Linus in the taste department. I would definitely continue to get the sandwiches to go either way, but the platters need more work to get me back inside.

Holy Smoke is located at 1F, Sinheung-ro, 3-gil, Yongsan-gu, seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) and come out of exit 2. walk straight until the road veers off and you see the kimchi pots. Walk along this road until you reach the turning just before bonny’s pizza and go left. Holy smoke is located on the left hand side just after HBC coffee shop. For more information you can call on 02-792-3719.

18
Aug
2014

Aventino

categories: Cafes / Takeaways / Bars

Every day in Itaewon another shop is lost and another restaurant or cafe pops up in it’s place. As a food blogger you think I would be thrilled about this as I literally never need to leave Itaewon again with all the new places that are opening. But sadly most of them are trying to cash in with new crowd of Koreans that are visiting our little neighbourhood. I’m a fan of quality rather quantity when it comes to restaurants but c’est la vie.

Luckily Aventino is a great addition to the neighbourhood. I have been craving gelato all summer long, so it was great to finally get some. Barely open a couple of weeks, they have a range of about 10 different flavours. Once I had revealed my food blogger status the owner insisted I tried them all. And of course I took him up on his offer, it would have been churlish not to.

After the round of samples, my clear favourites were the Lemon and Hazelnut. I was with The Fat Boyfriend so we decided to get two scoops (5,000) but I didn’t really think that lemon and hazelnut matched, so we went for the lemon and grapefruit.

The lemon flavour was incredible. More sorbet than gelato it reminded me of the granita you find in tiny cafes all over Italy. It had just the right balance of sourness. Sweet and zingy all at the same time, it really was perfection on the lemon dessert front. The Grapefruit sorbet was also very tasty. I’m not usually a fan of grapefruit as I find it too bitter, but since The Fat Boyfriend loves it, I decided to give it a go. It was darn tasty and complimented the lemon perfectly.

I also have to give big props to the Pistachio and the Stracciatella. When I was in Italy I practically ate a gelato a day and am in love with tiramisu gelato. So if they can get that on the menu I’ll be in heaven. They also have large to go containers so you can get a couple of pints to take home, which is just perfect for eating while you lie on the sofa and watch the new season of Project Runway.

Aventino is located at 567 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) and come out of exit 2. Walk straight until you reach the under pass, go through and take the stairs on the right. Walk straight past Trevia and Taco Chili Chili, until you reach Aventino, it’s just on the left before the post office. You can call them on 02-792-0567 for more details.

26
Jul
2014

Éclair

categories: Cafes / Takeaways / Bars

Éclair is the latest dessert cafe to hit the Itaewon area. As the name suggests, it unsurprisingly specializes in French éclairs. Eclairs are one of my absolute favourite desserts of all time. Choux pastry filled with flavoured creams and topped with fondant or ganache, what could be more yummy?

At Éclair they have a large range of different flavours which will make your mouth water the moment you look at them. I have been a lover of éclairs for as long as I can remember so was very keen to try as many as possible. I would have got one of every flavour had my budget allowed, but 3 seemed to suffice. But I will definitely be back to try the rose, chocolate, and caramel next time!

We got the double vanilla, cafe, and a cherry macaroon éclair. The macaroon eclair was delightful, filled with pistachio crème and sour cherry jam. A crispy outside with a slightly chewy center, the flavour of cherry came through well and really complimented the pistachio creme inside. The vanilla eclair was filled with vanilla cream and topped with vanilla icing. You really can’t go wrong with vanilla. The cafe coffee flavoured eclair was also nice, although I wish the filling had had a touch more flavour as it was rather on the mild side. My only complaint were the little stickers which had been put on them. There really was no point to them at all, and really should be made of edible paper if they want to use them advertise the bakery (no one want’s paper on their food).

As well as éclairs, they have a range of macaroons and chocolate drinks.We were lucky enough to sample the chocolate and it was exceptional. So rich, thick and decadent, it took me right back to Paris, where they serve it so thick, you need a spoon of whipped cream to water it down. They also have a tropical chocolate flavour which combines passion fruit and chocolate in the most delightful way. Well worth a try if you are eating in.

Éclair is located at 247-9 Itaewon dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. It’s open from 12 to 8, however they close when they run out of delicious treats so I advise you to get there early to avoid disappointment. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) and come out of exit 2. Walk straight until you come to the stairs and an underpass. Go through the tunnel and take the stairs on the left. Keep walking straight and follow the road around until you get to Well Being Mart. You should see that the road forks, cross over and take the left side. Keep walking straight, past Beer O’ Clock Pizza, and past the Ace Mart, then take the road that turns right directly after Ace Mart. There are lots of cool bars and restaurants along this street. Keep following the road until you reach Éclair. It’s on the right hand side opposite the CU. For more information call 02-337-8090 or check out their website.

18
Jun
2014

Chunk of Cheese

categories: Shopping

After going for a walk around Namsan park last Sunday, I stumbled across this place. Yes I went for a walk on Sunday morning, it’s shocking I know but I had to get out of the house. It was the end of the 5 days vacation and I had spent the entire day before dying of a hangover and gorging on junk food and if I hadn’t gotten out of the house I would have gone stir crazy. A Sunday morning walk would never usually be my cup of tea so please don’t judge me.

Anyhow we stumbled across Chunk of Cheese, usually I wouldn’t be caught dead on that hill. Not because I’m too cool for school, just that I generally tend to try and avoid hills. Chunk of cheese is, shockingly, a cheese shop. With over 80 different varieties of cheese they have a huge selection which rivals that of Shinsegae and the foreign food mart. Including some rather good English Cheddars.

I’m not sure it’s worth an out and out trip if you live miles away, but if you live around this neck of the woods it will save you going to Itaewon. It will also worth a peek if you are in the area for dinner. They have lots of anti pasti style things too like salami, olives, wine etc. So if you’re hosting a fancy dinner party or wine and cheese evening then this would be the place to go. Sadly I can’t afford to host wine and cheese parties, but I’d certainly like to. I hold out of date hummus and vodka cocktail nights instead. I’m sure they will catch on any day now.

If you want to visit them personally Chunk of Cheese is located at 31-1 Hoenamu-ro, Yongsan-gu. Or you can call them on 02-795-3079 if you want to inquire about a particular cheese. They are also on Y-not Takeout. So if you live locally, you can have your cheese delivered direct to your door, isn’t that amazing!

12
Jun
2014

Silence of the Lamb

categories: Restaurant Reviews

When I first heard about a new lamb restaurant being run by the owners of Bakers Table, I was very excited indeed. I am huge fan of lamb and am always on the look out for it on a menu. Plus I enjoy restaurants with jaunty names, so it really was a win-win situation on my part. Located in the ever trendy Kyungnidan up on the 2nd floor of an oddly shaped building next to the CU. The restaurant is huge, almost too big considering there was no one in there when we visited, although it was early on a week night. It seemed very spacious, and was designed in that empty warehouse, exposed brick, and wooden floor style that’s all the rage these days. There was a separate grill in the middle of the room for you to watch your lamb get cooked. In keeping with the Kyungnidan tradition there are lots of lovely craft beers on tap for you to drink. If you don’t like craft beer it’s juice or wine.

The menu surprisingly enough consisted of a variety of lamb dishes. Grilled, fried, burgers, stew, sandwiches etc. There are also chicken tenders and a pulled pork sandwich on the menu for those who can’t abide with eating Mary’s little Lamb. For the veggie friendly they also have a Greek or panzanella style salad.

After a good peruse, there were a number of dishes I wanted to try on the menu but I settled for The Mediterranean (18,500). Chunks of lamb marinated in rosemary, garlic, and olive oil. They also do a version of this Mongolian style which I was also keen to try, but I figured since it was a European restaurant I’d go club med.

There was a generous amount of lamb chunks. Homemade grilled bread, presumably from the Bakers Table. Fresh sliced onions and a wedge of garlic served with a spicy green side sauce. The charred lamb had a good flavour on the outside but for me just didn’t have the tenderness I was expecting. It was cooked to well done, and I usually prefer my lamb medium. It was fine, but not a patch on the lamb chops I had at Twiga the other day, although they were a much more expensive cut of meat, so I guess you get what you pay for. Had the chunks of meat been a little bigger, they may have remained a bit juicier. I like the addition of the bread and onions, I also would have enjoyed the garlic if it had been cooked long enough for it to be soft. For my tastes the sauce was too spicy and overpowered the taste of the meat. Overall I though the dish was fine, but next time I would probably try something else.

The Fat Boyfriend had his heart set on The Country Man (14,500). Pan fried chunks of lamb, potatoes, and green pepper served in one of their lovely pans and served with toasted bread. This lamb was pan fried, so didn’t have any of the lovely char-grilled flavour that mine had. It was cooked in the same way and I just felt it was not better than I could do myself. We both enjoyed the peppers and potatoes and found them to be a nice change of pace though.

It’s nice to see some different dishes on a menu, but overall nothing really wowed me that much. As we were leaving we saw some friends who recommended the stew as their standout dish. So perhaps I will try that next time. The dishes are all good value for money but just need a bit of oomph to get them past a 7/10 in my book.

Silence of the Lamb is located at 278-1 Itaewon 2(i)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. To get there take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6) and come out of exit 2. Walk straight until you come to the stairs and an underpass. Go through the tunnel and take the stairs on the left. Keep walking straight and follow the road around until you get to Well Being mart. You should see that the road forks, cross over and take the left side. You should see the CU up ahead, Silence of the lamb is on the 2nd floor of the building next door. You can call them on 02-794-9002 for more details.

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.

26
Oct
2013

Fat Girl’s – Cocktail Pop Up!

categories: Drinks & Cocktails

Today I am having a drinks pop up event! I have been sharing my recipes with you for quite some time and now it’s time for me to give you the goods. The pop up is at Casablanca in Haebangchon. It has the best sandwiches in Seoul so if that’s not a reason to come then I don’t know what is. They also sell my hummus.

First I will be serving up my cucumber infused gin fresh and tasty it’s served with tonic in cute little cocktail bags for a mere 5,000 each.

Also on the menu is mulled wine, it’s going to be cold out there, so this is just the boozy treat to warm you up on this cold hallows eve 5,000.

Lastly I will be serving that British favourite Pimms! Full of fruity flavour and served in a cocktail to go bag for just 8,000. The only place in Seoul serving Pimms tonight!

So stop by before your Halloween parties tonight, starting at 5pm, I’ll be serving drinks until we are sold out.

Casablanca is located in Hae Bang Chon at 44-8 Yongsandong 2 -ga, Seoul, Korea. Take a train to Noksapyeong station (line 6). Walk straight out of exit 2 for about 200 meters and take the first left and walk straight along the road with all the kimchi pots. Casablanca is on the left a few doors up from Phillies. You can also call them on 02-797-8367 or check out their facebook page.

Tag: HBC