Tag: Itaewon

27
Jul
2012

Hummus

categories: Recipes

I’m off to see the wizard the wonderful wizard of OZ! I’m going to Vietnam tomorrow so thought I would squeeze in one more little post to keep you nourished whilst I am away. I will be far too busy getting drunk and stuffing my face to find the time to be blogging, so you will have to suffer without me for the next 9 days. Hard as it may be I’m sure you will all soldier on though.

As a parting gift I leave with you my hummus recipe, which is one of the things my friends bug me most to make. A quick trip to the foreign food mart to secure your chick peas and your on your way. When I lived in Cheongju I also saw them at the world food mart too.

Ingredients

300g dried chickpeas

3-5 tablespoons of Tahini (buy it at the foreign food mart in Itaewon or make your own, it’s really easy just blend sesame seeds with olive oil)

200 – 300ml Olive oil

3 – 5 cloves of garlic

The juice  and zest of 1 or 2 Lemons

2 -4 tablespoons of cumin (foreign food mart or Gmarket)

1-2 tablespoons of paprika (foreign food mart or Gmarket)

3 tablespoons of peanut butter (optional)

Directions

Soak your chick peas over night or for several hours in cold water, do not add any salt. Cook your chick peas in boiling water for 2-3 hours or until they mash easily with the back of a spoon. I use my rice cooker to cook them as you don’t have to worry about topping up the water, just give them a lot at the beginning and they will be fine.  Once your chick peas are done, strain them but reserve some of the water for later. Blend the chick peas in your blender with a little of the extra water, olive oil lemon and garlic do this until they start to resemble the consistency of hummus. Everyone has a different preference about how they like their hummus, some like the runny oily kind whilst others prefer it thick. It’s really up to you, whatever floats your boat, so add more or less oil as you need it. Then you can start to add your spices, a little at first stirring them in until you get the taste you want. You also might want to add more tahini and lemon juice too. Hummus is one of those recipes that is hard to pin down. I generally make it the same each time but the results always seem to vary. As long as you get all the basics in there though it should turn out well. I’ve read a lot of recipes which recommend using peanut butter in the place of tahini, I wasn’t too keen on this, but I liked the result when I added both so don’t be afraid to play around with it by adding different things. Serve with my homemade flat breads.  Happy eating and I’ll see you all soon.

25
Jul
2012

Cheese Tarts

categories: Recipes

I really miss being able to buy ready-made pastry. Short-crust, filo or puff I love them all. Being able to go to the store and just throw a couple of things on a delicious pastry base makes such a lovely dinner. However with the lack of ready to roll pastry here in Korea, it’s a pain in the neck to have to make your own every time you want it.

I have been looking at my spring roll wrappers for a while now, they look very similar to filo pastry, would they work for a tart? Turns out they do, they worked even better than expected. They cook really quickly and have a nice crunchy texture. They are also really cheap so you can save those pennies and put them towards the filling.

Ingredients

16 Springroll / samosa wrappers (I got mine at the foreign food mart in Itaewon)

1 sliced tomato

150g grated cheddar/ mozzarella

4 teaspoons of Garlic herb Philadelphia

50 g spinach

2 red onions

Directions

Defrost the spring roll wrappers so you are able to peel them off one by one. Arrange them in your tin by layering them on top of each other. Try and skew them so you get the pointy bits the whole way around, about 3 or 4 will do it. Then choose your filling, pretty much anything will do here so let your imagination run wild. I just had a go with what was in the fridge. I caramelised some red onions with a bit of balsamic vinegar then topped them with the Philadelphia and then the grated cheese. The other ones I made had the spinach, tomatoes and grated cheese . Put them in the oven for about 5 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the cheese has melted. Serve on their own or with a side salad. Voilà a quick and easy dinner.

24
Jul
2012

Mi Casa

categories: Restaurant Reviews

I was very excited about eating some spanish cuisine as it’s something I rarely cook myself.  I used to work in a Spanish restaurant when I lived in Sydney and they always kept me very well fed. We managed to secure a table in the busy restaurant on short notice. Sadly I left feeling rather disappointed and little hungry. There wasn’t anything majorly wrong it was just a few bad points that added up to a less than perfect night. Our total bill was 78,000, not astronomical but I don’t want to spend that much on dinner then feel the need to go and buy a kebab because I’m still hungry. You might feel I’m being picky but one thing that annoyed me is that they told us the kitchen closed at 10, which was fine, we had plans later that evening anyway but they brought out all four of our dishes before we got our drinks. It was a Friday night and I was looking forward to having a nice drink with some dinner but by the time it finally showed up I had lost the desire for it. It wasn’t a fancy cocktail, just a sangria and a beer, but to have it come at the end of the meal was disappointing. It’s service 101 that you get your drinks before your food.  Otherwise everything else was fine.

The meal started off well with the Albondigas en tomate (spanish meatballs), 10,000 for the small portion. They were good and came with a trio of sauces and fresh bread.

Next up was was the Montaditos (bread topped with salmon and ham) 7,000 for 2 this was my boyfriends choice I didn’t eat them but he said the salmon topped with capers was great with a delightful mustard dressing and the one topped with parma ham was  nice but not as good as the salmon.

Then came the Patatas Bravas, which was my biggest disappointment. Having worked in a spanish restaurant and visited Spain several times I knew what patatas bravas should be and sadly these were not the delicious little chunks of potato I was expecting. They were hand cooked crisps. Had this been specified on the menu, I wouldn’t have ordered them. I nearly sent them back and wish I had now, as crisps they were nice and the accompanying sauce was ok, but not what I was expecting. I would not be willing to pay 12,000 for a few potato chips, which is what they were. You could have two kebabs for that.

The saving grace of this meal was the Panceta A La Plancha (pork belly) 26,000. The pork belly itself was very good and cooked to perfection, especially the fat, although the balsamic onions were slighty too acidic and overpowered the taste of the pork, this dish was good, but small, a bigger portion would have been better for the price.

They served Paella here which I really would have liked to have tried but it was rather expensive, although I think I would have left with a full belly had I chosen it. The girls at the next table had barely touched theirs and I was very tempted to ask if I could some but thankfully didn’t. The wine list was very extensive and the bar upstairs seemed to be thriving, perhaps that was why our own drinks took so long. I personally wouldn’t return to Mi Casa as I think my money could be better spent elsewhere. However if you have deep pockets and enjoy wine this could be the place for you.

Mi Casa is located in the allyway behind the Hamilton Hotel right opposite, My Thai China (see my review here) 119-21 Itaewon-dong, Yongsam-gu, seoul, Korea. Call them on 02-790-0063 or check out their website for a full details and a menu.  http://www.micasa.kr/en/index.html

19
Jul
2012

High Street Market

categories: Shopping

I had passed this store a number of times before I finally ventured in and I’m very glad I did. It has a wealth of foreign food and deli items. Fresh coffee beans, meat, cheese, and wine can all be sourced here to make the perfect brunch. Laid out like a deli you would find at home, it’s so  much more stylish than the foreign food mart where everything is crammed in. This is the kind of store that you have been longing for and now its right here in Itaewon.

The main pull of High Street Market compared to the foreign food mart is their meat counter. They have a buffet of meat produce available. Lamb, turkey, pork chops, and a variety of different cuts of beef can be found in abundance here. They have all manner of cold cuts such as smoked turkey, roast beef, and pork  meats all ready to make your favourite sandwich or sub. It beats the plastic ham they sell in Homeplus any day of the week!

The cheese section in this store is also rich and plentiful (Brie, Gouda, Ricotta, Mascarpone, Gorgonzola, Bleu, Gruyere, Red Leicester, Fresh mozzarella and Parmesan) , they seemed to have everything I could think about wanting. Imported cheese is expensive in Korea full stop, but I generally think its worth paying for, in the end its only the cost of a cocktail or two so I’m usually happy to indulge myself.

Another great thing about this store is they have plenty of baking equipment which can be at times difficult to source.  Homeplus doesn’t have everything ,especially when it come to items that Koreans have no need for so its nice to know you can get everything you need in one trip.  There are also all the baking ingredients you would require, like whole-wheat and rye flour, a whole shelf devoted to Betty Crocker and a variety of other baking products we take for granted at home but just can’t seem to find here in Korea. Although some of these things can be found in the foreign food market it can take ages to walk around picking everything up as nothing is laid out as conveniently as it is at this store. It really is a shopper’s paradise.

The most exciting part for me was all the sugary treats. It’s a sweet lovers dream, they have a large variety of chocolate ( a fair few from my post here) and sweets and candies galore. There is something to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

There are also plenty of ready to eat products at this store. They had a rather extensive list of sandwiches which are made to order which you can eat in the small cafe within the shop or take away. I can recommend the cookies too. Also available are home-made lasagna, hummus, coleslaw and tzatziki but I didn’t try them as I’ve made most of them myself. Check out my coleslaw recipe and Lasagna recipe. Hummus coming soon…….

High Street Market sets itself apart from other some of the other foreign supermarkets in the area by providing a delivery service. So you don’t even have to leave the house to get a taste of home. Free delivery is even included on rainy days, what could be better?

If I havent convinced you  so far to pay them a visit then this picture should do the trick. 3 different varieties of salt & vinegar crisps, what more could a girl ask for?

High Street market is located in Itaewon, come out of exit 2 and keep walking up through Itaewon, its towards the far end, next to the IP Boutique hotel (map below). Opening hours are 10am – 9pm . Phone number 02-790-5450 . Full product details can be found on their website, as well as all information about online delivery.  http://highstreet.co.kr/

18
Jul
2012

Halloumi Stuffed Peppers

categories: Recipes

Last week I went to foreign food mart when I had rather a lot to drink. I always end up buying far more expensive items when I am a little tipsy than when I am sober. Anyhow I woke up the next morning to find some halloumi sitting in my fridge as well as more salt and vinegar crisps than it is acceptable for one person to eat.

I’m actually very glad that I bought the halloumi, as it’s a treat I always enjoy when I’m on holiday. For those not aware of the deliciousness of halloumi its a gorgeous cheese from Cyprus. If mozzarella and feta had a baby, halloumi would be the result. It has the texture of mozzarella and saltiness of feta. I decided to make some delicious stuffed peppers.

Ingredients

Halloumi (mine came in a 180g pack but I only used 120g)

3 whole peppers (any color)

100g of couscous

A glug of olive oil

Directions

Start off by making the couscous. I made a simple one with just courgette in it, but you can see my previous recipe if you don’t know how to make it. Cut the peppers in half lengthways then drizzle them with olive oil and roast them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until they are slightly soft. Fill the peppers with the couscous, then top with a slice of halloumi and put under the grill again until the cheese is golden brown. Drizzle with pesto and serve with salad. Voilà, another tasty treat.

17
Jul
2012

My Thai China

categories: Restaurant Reviews

Located in the alleyway behind the Hamilton Hotel is the delightful fusion restaurant My Thai China. The menu has a good balance between Thai and Chinese dishes. This second floor restaurant gazes down upon you looking warm and inviting to those on the outside. Take a journey up the stairs to find yourself in a Thai den of iniquity full of dark wood and flickering candles.

The menu is quite substantial and has a lot to offer, all the Thai favourites seem to be there as well as the more westernised Chinese offerings. We opted for the set  menu (55,000)which included spring rolls, the choice of two main meat/fish dishes as well as a rice or noodle dish and 2 complementary soft drinks. For an extra 30,000 you can upgrade it to include a bottle of wine.

The spring rolls were crisp and tasty and reminiscent of the ones I ate in Thailand. It’s very hard to find good  spring rolls in Korea but these guys cracked it. The sweet chilli sauce accompanying them was also very good. It had the right balance between chilli and sweetness, and it tasted homemade.

 

Next were our main dishes, we chose the fried chciken with mushrooms and cashew nuts and the fried shrimp with pineapple in red wine sauce.  The chicken was lightly fried without batter in a spicy sticky glaze, there was a generous amount of cashew nuts sprinkled on top of the dish. I really liked this dish, but my boyfriend said it fell short of the Kung Pao at Ho Lee Chow as he felt it was too dry, perhaps a little bit more sauce could secure them a victory.

The real star of this meal was the fried shrimp with pineapple in red wine sauce. It was so good I don’t even know where to begin. The king prawns were large and juicy and covered in a divine thick crispy batter. It reminded me of the same batter we get at home on our fish and chips, The pineapple was juicy and the sauce was a nice take on the sweet ‘n sour, I would have licked the plate clean!

Our last dish was the soy fried chicken rice but it turned out to be rather disappointing. There was far too much soy sauce for a start and it was too heavy on the garlic, both flavors I usually enjoy but they completely overpowered any other elements in the dish. I love fried rice but this one was worse than the Korean fried rice(볶음밥).

Overall I would certainly go back to My Thai China, it would be worth it for those king prawns alone, but there were plenty of other dishes on the menu I would like to have tried. The decor is dark and romantic, it would be a nice place to take a date and it’s not too expensive, our food could have easily fed three people.

To get to My Thai China come out of exit 1 and head for the alley behind the Hamilton Hotel, it’s just opposite Scrooge’s pub. It was quite busy on the Thursday night we were there so it might serve you well to make a reservation to avoid disappointment. Telephone number 02-749-9287.

15
Jul
2012

Cupcakes – Life is just a Cup of Cake

categories: Cafes / Takeaways / Bars

Is there anything better in life than a sweet delicious cupcake? Perhaps not, but good cupcakes can prove very tricky to track down in Seoul. Cupcakes are becoming more and more popular in Korea and can be found in most food halls in big department stores. The cake parts are generally fine but icing is always very artificial and rather disappointing. I’ve tried making them myself but again I just cant get the buttercream right, I’m not sure if its the butter or the icing sugar which is causing the problem, I’m going home in a few weeks to visit and I plan to bring back an abundance of baking supplies so I can once again make yummy buttercream.

In the meantime I have had to wait until I visited Itaewon to get my cupcake fix. Life is just a Cup of Cake has, hands down, the best cupcakes I’ve ever had in Korea and possibly ever. The sponge is light and moist while the toppings are rich and sweet. Just writing this is making my mouth water again  just thinking about them, I really wish I had bought more than two now, though I fear if I had bought more they would be gone too.

I bought one vanilla as I always do, you may think this is boring and unadventrous but its so heavenly I cant resist. Vanilla is a classic for a reason and the the buttercream on this little beauty is immensely pleasurable. The topping is thick and generous with the perfect frosting to cake ratio, it’s sweet and buttery with the flavour of the vanilla complementing it nicely. It’s like eating a heavenly vanilla cloud.

My second choice was the red velvet. I’m fairly new to red velvet cupcakes, they arent really as popular in the UK as they are in the USA. So forgive me if you don’t agree but I think this one is perfectly baked too, there is a cream cheese frosting on this one rather than the buttercream but  it works well with the slightly sour chocolate flavour. There’s a good balance between the cake and the frosting. The cupcakes come in a variety of flavours, so far I’ve had the Chocolate, Very Berry, Peanut butter and Espresso and I can vouch for them all.

The cupcakes are all priced at 4,800 each which, for how perfect they are, I think is very reasonable. They also serve all manner of coffees and teas but I can’t honestly say I’ve ever had a drink there, all the surplus money I have had has been spent on more cupcakes, though the cafe is always busy and looks like an enjoyable place to while away the afternoon.

Life is Just a Cup of Cake is a hidden treasure nestled at the far end of Itaewon at Itaewon-ro 45 gil. If you come out of exit 2 and keep walking towards the far end past Rocky Mountain Tavern. It’s on the second left turning after the IP boutique just after Carne do Brazil and the 365 Bank. If you get lost you can call them on 02 794 2908 or details can be found on their website (Korean) http://www.cupcake.co.kr/  They also have stores in Sinchon and Sorae.

13
Jul
2012

Noodle Box

categories: Restaurant Reviews

I like noodles as much as the next girl, possibly more. However, I sometimes find noodles in Korea a bit disappointing. I have nothing against instant noodles and I do enjoy a ramyeon (라면) from time to time, but if only they had more flavors like the rest of the world, there would be a bit more variety. I love Japchae (잡채) and the cold noodles Naeng myeon (냉면), but fried noodles are where my heart truly lies.

 The noodles at Noodle Box come in a variety of Asian flavors – Pad Thai, Thai Chili, Pad See we, Pho Xao and Mongolian (prices vary from 5,700 – 7,300). They also have fried rice, spring rolls and sweet potato rolls which I was also eager to try but sadly I had another dinner to attend to a few hours later and didn’t have enough room. I opted for the Pad See We, which were flat Lo mein noodles with chicken. The noodles came in one of those delightful little boxes (so much more appealing than the foil containers we get in England). They arrived promptly and steaming hot. After a minute to let them cool down I dived in. Although they tasted slightly greasy as first they improved at I ate them (I think the excess oil had come from pouring them from the frying pan). There were generous chunks of juicy chicken breast and thigh and as well as egg, pakchoi, onions and garlic. They were cooked in a lovely sweet spicy sauce which was tres yummy.

The decor of Noodle box is that of a minimalist quirky cafeteria, with the mismatched chairs and tables. The server was friendly and ready to answer any questions. The noodles are available to eat in or take away (a bonus if you have just eaten but like to take home food for later like I do). They also serve beer if you like your noodles with a side of alcohol (lets face it who doesn’t). I will be sure to take myself back to Noodle Box and try out the rest of their menu. It makes a nice change from a sandwich if you’re looking for a quick snack to fill you up before hitting the pub, I’d also wager that they would taste amazing after too.

Noodle Box is in Itaewon. Come out of exit 3 and walk about 100 yards. It is 2 doors before Dunkin Doughnuts. You can call them on 02-888-952 or a full menu can be found on their website  http://www.noodlebox.co.kr/noodlebox/