A week or two ago I was out on a little pub crawl with my beloved, when we stumbled across this new gourmet sandwich place. Never one to miss out on an opportunity to eat a sandwich we went in to investigate. The menu is rather small but there are a few tasty items on it. We ordered ourselves one each and waited for them to arrive.

The club sandwich (7,800) Shouldn’t really be a called a club sandwich as there is no bacon or third slice of bread in the middle, but it does have avocado which kind of made up for it for me. It has lots of mayo and is pretty damn tasty.

We also ordered the Porchetta (7,800). I was looking forward to this as I wanted to compare it to the porchetta, from Porchetta. The pork had a well roasted flavour throughout the meat, and the crackling was also crispy. It also came with pesto and roasted cherry tomatoes which gave it an all round more complex flavour. I’m not sure which one I prefer, as they are quite different. I may have to have another to help further my investigation.

The Rye Post is located at 117-3 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Itaewon station (line6) and come out of exit 4 and walk straight for about 200 meters until you get to Dillinger’s. Just before Dillinger’s bar is a set of stairs. Walk down the stairs and turn right. Rye post should be just on the right, opposite Dori Kitchen . You can call them on 02-792-9991 or check out their website for more information.

Hello from Bali everyone!!! I am currently lying on a sun lounger next to a gorgeous private pool and getting drunk on a deliciously fruit cocktail. Being the selfless, kind and wonderful girl that I am though, I worked extra hard last week to make sure that I had plenty of posts about yummy treats to keep you going whilst I am off enjoying myself.  So here’s a little post about where to shop and find those elusive foreign items.

I often receive comments telling me that I use far too many hard to get ingredients. Living in Itaewon I know I have life easier than most. However it is possible to get these things even when you live out in the sticks. I didn’t always live in the heart of Seoul and had to learn to be resourceful. No matter how hungover I was, I would never leave Seoul without a trip to the foreign food mart, buying as many lovely things as I could carry. Obviously for those living down south, trips to Seoul may not be as regular, but there are still plenty of ways to get the things you want.

EZShop is a great online site that will deliver all manner of lovely products to your home within 2-3 days of you placing an order. They have 1000′s of awesome items, scoured from here there and everywhere. It’s more or less like an online version of the foreign food mart.

It would be impossible for me to write everything they sell but here’s a quick run down of the hard to find or coveted items.

Meat – lamb chops, rack of lamb, bacon, steaks, sausages, chorizo, salami, and prosciutto.

Vegetarian Specialties  - Vegetarian ham, vegetarian steaks, vegan chocolate chips, soy burgers, and vegetarian sausage.

Frozen – French fries, waffles, tortillas, spring rolls, puff pastry, hash browns, ravioli, smoked salmon, and scallops.

Cheese and Dairy – Sour cream, ricotta, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Cheddar, Cheshire, cream, fresh mozzarella, feta, halloumi, Gouda, muenster, Gruyere and Emmental.

Dried - Spices, condiments – Sriracha, maple syrup, food coloring, taco seasoning and couscous.

Sweets and crisps – Twizzlers, Haribo gummy bears, Reece’s pieces, salt and vinegar kettle chips, Pop tarts, spinach and artichoke chips, Frito’s and pretzels.

As well as tonnes of food, they also sell beauty products, home gadgets, and English books for those who have yet to buy a kindle. Yes this site is more expensive than if you sourced it yourself. I’d say a 10-20% mark up on everything, but realistically how much is your time worth. If you live far away from your nearest Costco, paying a bit extra to get it delivered is worth your while.

You can pay using a Korean or foreign bank card, or just do a transfer. If you spend over 250,000 and pay by bank transfer shipping is absolutely free. Split an order with a few mates after pay day and you’re laughing! Even if you do live reasonably close to Seoul, with all this rain, it’s well worth paying a few extra bucks to get it all delivered. Happy shopping everyone!

Yes I realize that it’s already the 5th of July, but what with the torrential rain and the fact that yesterday was a Thursday. I’m thinking that most patriotic celebrations have yet to happen. Tomorrow is forecast to be hot and sunny, so I am sure lots of you will be planning on a BBQ, no matter where you are from. If you are still in a dither about what dish to take, have a look at the recipes below, and avoid taking those packets of sad smoked sausages.

Meaty Moments

Here are just a few recipes for the carnivores. So load up on meat and slap it on those hoat coals.

BBQ Chicken

Pulled Pork

Chicken Wings

Lamb Burgers

Veggie Burgers

Sizzling Salads

Barbecues aren’t just about the meat, they are also about the side dishes. Here are a few of my favourite salads to keep the vegans, vegetarians and health conscious happy too.

Roast Vegetable Couscous

Mixed Bean Salad

Asian Stir fry Salad

Potato Salad

Panzanella

Delicous Dips

If meat and salad aren’t your cup of tea, why not whip up a dip. Those chips need to be dunked into something.

Hummus

Tasty Garlic Dip

Baba Ganoush

Spinach Hummus

Salsa

Delightful drinks

We all know that a BBQ is just an excuse to get drunk in the day, so if your cooking skills aren’t up to much, why not make a big pitcher of one of these cocktails to share.

Strawberry Lemonade

Sangria

Skittles Soju

June Bug

Suji’s Deli has been a stalwart of the expat community for many years now. However there are still plenty of new arrivals that are unaware of this fabulous restaurant located at the very end of Itaewon. They have just relaunched to promote a new deli and takeaway service in addition to the restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have been meaning to write my review of Suji’s for some time now, and the new deli is the perfect reason to do so. Plus, they invited me to their media party at which they let me try lots of their yummy foods and drinks. It was my first media party and was fabulous, finally my Media degree is paying off.

The menu at Suji’s is large and has pretty much every option you could hope for covered . Omelettes, French Toast, Eggs Benedict, pancakes, bagels, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pastas. I have eaten here plenty of times and am quite fond of the Eggs Florentine. What sets Suji’s apart from other brunch restaurants in Seoul is the fact that almost everything they serve is made in house. The meats and salmon are cured, the breads are baked, and all of the potato salads, pickles, mustards, and sauces are all made on the premises. They have even started selling their own coffee, which after trying I have to say is lovely. Pair it with a freshly baked cinamon bun or bagel and breakfast is good to go.

Whist taking some picticture I decided to stay and have some brunch. After having a long look at the new menu, I couldn’t resist my favourite Turkey Club Sandwich (13,000). I love the turkey here, it’s even better than the stuff I would buy at home. This sandwich is perfection. Throw in some chips and coleslaw and I’m in sandwich heaven.

My lovely friend Matt  accopanied me on the trip and ordered the Spanish Omelette (13,500). He let me try some and it was cooked to perfection. Despite their simplicity omelettes can easily go wrong but this one was spot on. With toast and potatoes it was a nice hearty start to the day.

I think you are all more than aware, that I can’t consider a meal to be brunch unless there’s booze involved. Luckily Suji’s has me covered with my favourite Bloody Mary (8,000) which always comes adorned with a giant piece of celery. They also have a peach bellini (7,000) or mimosas on the menu. It’s the most fun way to cure a hangover. However always expect to queue for around 30 minutes if you come on a Saturday or Sunday as it’s very busy.

Suji’s Deli is located on the 2nd floor of Yangjin building, 34-145 Itaewon-Dong, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul. To get their take a train Itaewon station (line 6). Walk straight out of exit 4 for about 5 minutes, past Mcdonalds until you reach the gate. Suji’s Deli is at the very end of the road on the left, just around the Skinfood shop. You can call them on 02-797-3698 or check out their website  for more information and to take a look at their menu.

I am a very lucky girl as I have such lovely friends. One of my loveliest friends Susan took me to Deli Heinzburg to celebrate my birthday. She clearly knows the way to my heart is through sandwiches. Located in the tres chic Sinsa, tucked away in a back street is Deli Heinzburg ready to offer up all of its delights. This deli/cafe had room for plenty in the main restaurant as well as a sunny conservatory on the side. The perfect place to grab a quick bite or while away a sunny afternoon in the sun.

After working my way through their mammoth menu, I ordered the Boiling Cheese and Steamy Beef (13,200). Hand rubbed roast beef, deep cheddar cheese, macaroni, and sautéed onions inside a steaming sandwich. When it arrived it was encased in foil to keep the heat in from the steaming plate. I had to rip it open to delve into my sandwich. The pillow soft ciabatta bread was amazing, I actually prefer it to some of chewier style ciabatta I ate in Italy. Generous slices of roast beef and cheesy macaroni. It was just the comforting calorie laden sandwich I was hoping for. It came with home-made whole grain mustard which complimented it perfectly.

My lovely friend Susan ordered the Toscana (12,200). Prosciutto topped with slices of honeydew melon. I am not usually a fan of all things ham but this one was so tempting I decided to have a bite. Fresh and tasty, it beats those limp old plastic ham sandwiches they sell every where in Korea any day of the week.. The melon was the perfect accompaniment. Being a local to the area Susan told me that she had tried various sandwiches on the menu, yet this one still remained her favourite.

Since it was my birthday I figured we needed a side order of frites (4,300). Although I was expecting french fries, these chunks of breaded and fried potato did not disappoint in the slightest. My only complaint is that we didn’t order two portions. As there may have been a little bit of a tussle over who was going to eat the last one.

As well as serving all manner of delicious sandwiches in store they also have lots of things to take home and enjoy. Bread, deli meats, sauces and  sweet delights can all be found in abundance. Obvious a glutton like myself could not resist the opportunity to pick up a few more tasty treats despite already being full.  A fully fledged fatty like myself would never let a thing like a full belly put me off buying more food.. I picked up a trio of ciabattas (5,500), 200g of turkey from the deli and a jar of their delicious lemon mayo (7,000). I used some of the rocket (arugula)  which has been flourishing in my herb garden and some cheese to make myself another fabulous sandwich at home.  The bread was once again perfect despite the lateness of the day. I will be sure to buy more next time I’m passing by.

Deli Heinzberg is located in Sinsa at 534-1 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. To get there take a train to Sinsa station (line 3). Come out of exit 8 and walk straight until you get to Tous Le Jours and make a left. Keep walking straight along that road until you reach the Fossil store. Take a left just after and you should see Gentle Lady Cupcake on your right. Keep walking to the end of the block and Deli Heinzberg will be on your left. You can also call them on 02-541-8780.

For Valentine’s this year I decided to let my lovely boyfriend surprise me by choosing where we would be eating. He opted for the brand spanking new 37 Bar & Grill at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido. They had a special set menu for Valentine’s Day which was priced at 160,000 pp for 6 courses. As a Valentines special they had a His and Hers menu. The main ingredients were the same but each dish was served with different accompaniments.  A rather cute concept, I thought. They had wine pairings with each course that you could order for a set fee. However you know by now I’m a cocktail girl and ordered a few of those instead. Priced between 20,000-30,000 you will need to take your gold card to get drunk.

We arrived at the 37th floor location and were shown to our beautiful window table with a panoramic view of night-time Seoul. We were presented with our His and Hers menus and a complimentary glass of champagne. I was a little concerned that there were three fish dishes on the menu when I don’t actually like fish. I was mildly amused that my boyfriend had picked this menu when he knows I hate fish. However I decided to write it off as comedy tale like the time he bought me the same necklace he had given me the year before.

First up was the amuse bouche – a potato puree with mushroom caviar. Served in an adorable mason jar this was too cute for words. We were also served our bread. Sadly no flavours but a choice of hard of soft roll, I of course chose both.

On to the first course the one I was dreading the most. Yellowtail Kingfish. Niall’s was served with truffle Yuzu, salmon pearls, and coriander essence. Mine was served with the more modest lime, mango and oscietra caviar.  I did have a little try, and to be fair, it was ok. It’s just the texture that was rather strange. Niall ate both portions and found them both succulent and tasty. If pushed he preferred his own.

Next was the lobster. Luckily I do love lobster. Mine came with horseradish, casereccia and champagne nage. Niall’s with truffle, macaroni, and curry veloute. I tried both but preferred Niall’s so made him swap. The lobster was really good. It was a nice sized piece and full of flavour.

The third course was Halibut. My halibut was served with a brioche crust, ricotta gnocchi, and peas. Niall’s was served with a rocket crust, cauliflower puree, and dolce forte sauce.  I was not looking forward to this one but I sometimes can manage to eat a bit of white fish, usually if it is smothered in batter. However I polished off my plate with gusto. The brioche crust was divine. I am so glad that I have finally trained myself into liking white fish.

The last savoury course was the steak and this was the one I was most looking forward too. Niall’s was served with fois gras, wild mushrooms, and devil sauce. Mine came with asparagus, onion duxelles, and truffle jus. The steak was wonderful, perfectly cooked, and beautifully rare. This was possibly my favourite course. You just can’t beat a good steak. Although the lobster came pretty close.

The pre-dessert of sparkling strawberry espuma was nice and tingly and a good palette cleanser.

On to the dessert… Hazelnut chocolate fondant with vanilla ice-cream, passion fruit, and marshmallow. The pudding was rich, and full of chocolate sauce just the way I like it. However I didn’t think the overall taste was  amazing. Maybe it had to do with the chocolate they had used. But I have had much better versions of this elsewhere.

They ended the meal with a pistachio macaroon and tea or coffee. We were also presented with a red rose and a box of macaroons to take away. A nice touch which made the evening feel even more special.

Overall the ambiance of the restaurant was wonderful and it was the perfect spot for a Valentines Day meal. Yes the meal was on the expensive side but for a special occasion I think it was worth it. Compared to other restaurants of this calibre I have been to elsewhere in the world, the food lacked a little in the taste department. Everything was good but not amazing, no dish warranted an Mmm out of me and I think for the price you are paying it should. However the presentation and service was exemplary. The waiter explained each dish in perfect English, as you would expect.  The view is also spectacular so make sure you get a window seat.

The Conrad hotel is located at 23-1 Yeouido-dong Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 150-945, South Korea. It is located just next to the IFC Mall. To get there take a train to Yeouido station (Line 5 & 9) Come out of exit 3 and walk straight. Take your first right then walk straight until you reach the IFC Mall, you can’t miss it. Directions to the hotel are posted inside. You can call them on 02-6137-7000 or email them at Conrad_Seoul@conradhotels.com for more information or to make reservations.

For a reasonably small store the Pinoy Mart is very well stocked. They have a huge variety of foods and ingredients. I have tried to take as many pictures as possible to show what they have.

For the bakers among you they have various baking supplies such as powder sugar, chocolate chips, pie crusts, sprinkles, flavoured extracts, food dyes and plenty of Betty Crocker boxed mixes and ready-made icing.

They also have a refrigerator chocked full with  dairy products including, cream cheese, ricotta,  cottage cheese, butter, cream, half and half, spray cream and a large variety of cheeses. My dips and hummus can also be found there.

There are snacks and candy galore, including Peanut-butter Cups, Twizzlers, Tim Tams, Cheetos, Sour cream ruffles and plenty more.

The drinks selection hosts a wide variety of beers and soft drinks. They also have some pre-made mixers such as Margarita mix and Bloody Mary mix, which I can personally vouch for. They have cans of Clamato, the Canadian’s favourite beverage. They also have a freezer filled with goodies, along with canned and dried food and a large selection of herbs and spices, as well as other goods.

If there is anything you want and they don’t have they will try their best to get it for you. So pay them a visit and stock up on my goodies if you are in the area.

The Pinoy Mart is located in Hae Bang Chon. 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. Keep walking along that road for about 200 meters. You will pass by Noa, HBC Galbi Jib, and Burgermine. Its on the right just next to a chicken restaurant and opposite Fix. You can call them on 010-2664-2221.

As you may know, we are off to Hong Kong tomorrow to ring in the New Year. It has been a tradition of mine to for quite some time now that I spend New Years Eve in a different country every year. New years Eve can be such a let down, but if you spend it in a different place then you have no preconceived ideas and it always ends up being a great night. Anyhow, I thought I would leave you with one last post before I venture on my holidays since it is related to Hong Kong.

Last Saturday we were out and about in Myeongdong doing some last minute Christmas shopping when we were feeling rather peckish. Personally I can never find anywhere other than Ashley’s in Myeongdong that I really like to eat. However shopping days do not always go hand in hand with all you can eat buffets. It usually puts a swift stop to all shopping.  We were having a browse around and saw a sign for Smokey’s, a burger place up on the 6th floor of Noon Square mall. However when we got there we saw this place next door and decided to try it instead to get us in the mood for all the dim sum we will be eating in Hong Kong.

They have a wide and varied menu consisting of many Chinese delights that I would have loved to have sampled. Noodle soups, wontons, fried rice, and meat dishes. There was a large variety that seemed of more of a western style than the Korean. Which is always a thumbs up for me! As I said before, we were eating light so we had an order of dumplings.

I ordered the steamed soupy pork dumplings – 6,000 for 6. In my zest to eat them I forgot to take a picture of the soupy goodness inside. For such a bargain these were incredibly tasty. The juice inside was great along with the soft doughy dumpling and a piece of pork these are my new favourite lunch. 6 was the perfect amount and with the free tea and traditional picked vegetables this was an ideal lunch.

Niall decided to get a mixed set of three spicy soup dumplings and 3 pork -7,000. Although in the end he said he preferred the original pork ones that I had ordered. They also have crab, and cheese varieties available.  I cant wait to try them in Hong Kong now, who knows how many I shall manage to eat in the next week.

Although hidden at the top of the mall I’m very glad we ventured up to this little place, the series of escalators was well worth it and I’m sure this will be my new lunch venue of choice when I’m out shopping in Myeongdong. Not only is the food tasty and cheap but you even get some entertainment in the form of the chefs in the kitchen, showing off there talents as you watch them make noodles.

Crystal Jade restaurant is located on the 6th floor of Noon Square at 83-5 Myeong-dong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul. It’s the same building as CGV and H&M. The closest station is Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 6.
Walk straight for about 200 meters. The turn when you reach 7-11 and walk along the main shopping street.  Noon Square is on the left. You can call them on 02-3783- 5428 or visit their website for more details.

So winter is here and so are the holidays. To me that means large joints of meat. Now is the time splash out on ingredients we wouldn’t usually buy. At a Thanksgiving dinner a few weeks ago we were served up some amazing belly pork, cooked by my talented friend James. It was so good, that I immediately sent Niall out into to the cold to buy some as soon as we got home. This glorious piece of meat is for sale in Costco (I have included the label below). Be warned though its not for the faint hearted, this slab of frozen meat was a a whopping 3.7kg but priced at only 22,000(that was the smallest one)! Luckily it just about fit in my freezer. Last weekend I defrosted it and then cut it into 2 large pieces so it was able to fit in my oven. This would make a great christmas day alternative if you cant find a turkey or just if you really love pork.

Ingredients

2kg of belly pork

1 large onion

7 cloves of garlic

1 apple

Salt and pepper for rubbing

Directions

Thaw you meat thoroughly over night. When you wake in the morning cut the piece into two or three unless you have a giant oven (In which case I hate you!) Wrap up the unused pieces and put into the fridge or give to a friend (eg: me). Slice your onion and apple, then roughly chop your garlic. Then put them into the bottom of your roasting tray. If you have any fresh herbs you could put them on too,  mine all died in the snow though Score lines in the fat then rub on the salt and pepper.

Put into an oven at 140 degrees Celsius uncovered for about an hour, this helps the skin get crispy. Then loosely cover with foil and cook for another 4-6 hours. All the fat  juices will collect at the boom of the pan so make sure to pour them off into a jug to save for later. You should also baste about once an hour. This was very easy for me as my oven only cooks for an hour at a time.  After about two hours you may wish to remove your onions and garlic if you are hoping to use them later for your gravy. Other wise they will burn to a crisp.

Once the pork has been fully roasted remove from the oven and leave to rest for at least an hour, loosely covered in foil. Then slice your delicious meat. You can serve exactly how it is or cover the slices in a beautiful apple gravy.  I made mine with the onions, garlic and apple from the roasting pan, the juice from the pork, a little red wine, and a bit of bisto for good measure. Pour over the slices to keep them soft and tender. If you’re not using it straight away this is the best method of storage. Be sure to keep your fat for roasting the potatoes, no one minds a bit of cholesterol at Christmas. Voilà there you have the best roast dinner ever!

Last saturday we visited Porchetta, an amazing new sandwich place in Kyungridan. The second you step into this place you will see and smell the gorgeous joints of meat waiting to feature in the sandwich of your dreams. What I wouldn’t do to get hold of one of those babies to make sunday lunch! The sandwiches are the star attraction of the menu here but don’t come cheap, running between 7,300 – 10,900. I was a little worried about the cost but these beauties more than lived up to expectations.

I opted for the roast beef and boy was I not disappointed  The bread was pillow soft ciabatta  I didn’t have bread that good in Italy! The roast beef was intense. There was a flavor explosion the second the meat hit my tongue. The beef had been seared and it had that beautiful  barbecue taste. Every aspect of this sandwich had been planned meticulously. Even the accompanying sauces were insatiable. They were  fruity whole grain mustard, basil mayo or spicy sambal. The waitress told me they are hoping to sell these once things get off the ground.

Niall went for the ham. Personally I don’t like ham, but if I was ever to give it a go this would be the stuff to try. It was great to see some real ham as you don’t see it all that often in Korea. This sandwich contained real cheese, none of that plastic crap that features in far too many sandwiches these days. It was a joy to behold and just watching him tuck into the sandwich I knew it must be good.

As well as my roast beef sandwich I also ordered the porchetta to take away. The porchetta is roasted pork beautifully glazed with a swirl of herb stuffing inside. It certainly looked good and it more or less lived up to all my expectations, although I think for me it couldn’t quite take the top spot off the beef.

Wanting to do a thorough job I also ordered a portion of the dry rib appetizer. When I opened the lid on the box the aroma was intoxicating. Not the best ribs I have ever eaten but a good deep flavour. I think they would be improved if they were a rack of ribs rather than the short ones. It was a little hard to gnaw the meat from the bones because of their shape.

Porchetta is located in Kyungridan.  658 Itaewon 2 dong, Yongsan -Gu, Seoul. Take a train to Noksapyeong Station (Line 6) Come out of exit 2 and walk straight for about 200 meters. Go underneath the underpass to get to the other side of the road. Take the road leading right and walk about 50 yards, Porchetta is between Concorde and Toucan. Check out their facebook page, if you befriend them they will send you a coupon. http://www.facebook.com/porchettalove