Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Spotted Pig and Live Squid
Do you guys remember that scene in Old Boy when the main character devours an entire squid? The squid's tentacles writhe all over his face in an attempt to escape his throat but he barbarically crushes the life out of it with his molars.
With this in mind, Andy, Sarah C, Sarah V, and I went out to eat live squid on one of our last nights in Korea.
I'm sad that I can't put videos on this blog...I took a great one of the little pieces wriggling around on the plate. I didn't know that the tentacles suction onto the inside of your cheek until I tried my first piece and freaked out as the little suckers started hanging on for dear life. You have to chew really hard and beat the squid pieces into submission! I'm not sure if I would eat it again, but it was an interesting experience, I guess.
Sarah and Andy!
Sarah and I are shocked.
The prawns, thankfully, were not alive.
The Spotted Pig! Oh ye famed, michelin-adorned gastropub of the west village!
This set-up reminded me so much of 8th grade art class...Do you remember those projects where you had to put your hand behind a glass of water and sketch how it got distorted, and then use some sort of weird greyscale shading to make it look realistic? Mine never looked realistic.
The prosciutto and ricotta tart.
Cheeseburger with shoestring fries.I haven't had a good burger in a while so it was blissful being reunited with the triumvirate of cheese, bread, and meat. However, I found the roquefort cheese too overpowering so the burger might have been better without it. The spotted pig gets bonus points for not trying to put any wimpy vegetables on the burger and even extra bonus points for toasting the bun beforehand. One word of caution for future diners- this burger and fries entree is rather massive and might induce severe food coma if eaten at one sitting.
Inside the belly of the beast that ended up in my belly.
I think I have to go to the Spotted Pig several more times to see why it merited a Michelin star. In any case, the waiters pressed me to order wine several times so I'm guessing that they don't care what age you are!
The Squid Place
Somewhere in Hongdae, Seoul
The Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St # 1
New York, NY 10014-2369
(212) 620-0393
With this in mind, Andy, Sarah C, Sarah V, and I went out to eat live squid on one of our last nights in Korea.
I'm sad that I can't put videos on this blog...I took a great one of the little pieces wriggling around on the plate. I didn't know that the tentacles suction onto the inside of your cheek until I tried my first piece and freaked out as the little suckers started hanging on for dear life. You have to chew really hard and beat the squid pieces into submission! I'm not sure if I would eat it again, but it was an interesting experience, I guess. 
Sarah and Andy!
Sarah and I are shocked.
The prawns, thankfully, were not alive. 
The Spotted Pig! Oh ye famed, michelin-adorned gastropub of the west village!
This set-up reminded me so much of 8th grade art class...Do you remember those projects where you had to put your hand behind a glass of water and sketch how it got distorted, and then use some sort of weird greyscale shading to make it look realistic? Mine never looked realistic.
The prosciutto and ricotta tart. 
Cheeseburger with shoestring fries.I haven't had a good burger in a while so it was blissful being reunited with the triumvirate of cheese, bread, and meat. However, I found the roquefort cheese too overpowering so the burger might have been better without it. The spotted pig gets bonus points for not trying to put any wimpy vegetables on the burger and even extra bonus points for toasting the bun beforehand. One word of caution for future diners- this burger and fries entree is rather massive and might induce severe food coma if eaten at one sitting. 
Inside the belly of the beast that ended up in my belly.I think I have to go to the Spotted Pig several more times to see why it merited a Michelin star. In any case, the waiters pressed me to order wine several times so I'm guessing that they don't care what age you are!
The Squid Place
Somewhere in Hongdae, Seoul
The Spotted Pig
314 W 11th St # 1
New York, NY 10014-2369
(212) 620-0393
Happy Days
:)
I think I've pretty much adjusted to being back home...Korea was brilliantly fun but it's also lovely to be back in ny and amongst english speakers. Here are the photos that I never got to put up before I left!
So here is my beloved Sarah in front of Batali's Otto.
Vongole pizza with clams, garlic and mozzarella- wonderfully crisp and flavourful without being too heavy. Though I have a personal dislike of clams and mussels because their texture makes me feel like I'm nibbling on a human ear, the clams on this pizza weren't like that at all. I'm sorry if that clam/mussel description disturbed you, but this blog is my soapbox and I will say what I will!
I tried the potato, ricotta, and anchovy pizza two nights ago and it was quite tasty as well, but the anchovies tasted somewhat strange to me.
The rigatoni with sausage and escarole. This photo really doesn't do this dish justice...the pasta is somewhat salty from the sausage but is nicely balanced out by the escarole and the aromatic garlic flavors. Another plus is that there's no danger of splattering sauce on oneself because there isn't any! Score~
The gelato at Otto is reputed to be one of the best in the city, so I had high hopes when Sarah and I first ordered it, but I think I've reached the conclusion that I am just not a gelato girl. I would much rather prefer a dessert that isn't so plain...maybe something that is tall and goes on fire and combines crunchy, smooth, hot and cold elements! But then again I am asking too much of a simple dessert...
Dim sum with Amy!
I love roast pork buns with all my heart! I prefer the steamed ones because the kind that are encased in flaky pastry, like these, are slightly too oily for my taste, but you gotta love 'em anyway. My mom doesn't like pork buns because she finds the neon pink pork somewhat disturbing, but I actually like the color contrast between the pale dough and the bright filling.
I have no idea what this is!
Nor this!
Last dim sum picture!
Otto
1 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 995-9559
I think I've pretty much adjusted to being back home...Korea was brilliantly fun but it's also lovely to be back in ny and amongst english speakers. Here are the photos that I never got to put up before I left!
So here is my beloved Sarah in front of Batali's Otto.
Vongole pizza with clams, garlic and mozzarella- wonderfully crisp and flavourful without being too heavy. Though I have a personal dislike of clams and mussels because their texture makes me feel like I'm nibbling on a human ear, the clams on this pizza weren't like that at all. I'm sorry if that clam/mussel description disturbed you, but this blog is my soapbox and I will say what I will!
I tried the potato, ricotta, and anchovy pizza two nights ago and it was quite tasty as well, but the anchovies tasted somewhat strange to me.
The rigatoni with sausage and escarole. This photo really doesn't do this dish justice...the pasta is somewhat salty from the sausage but is nicely balanced out by the escarole and the aromatic garlic flavors. Another plus is that there's no danger of splattering sauce on oneself because there isn't any! Score~
The gelato at Otto is reputed to be one of the best in the city, so I had high hopes when Sarah and I first ordered it, but I think I've reached the conclusion that I am just not a gelato girl. I would much rather prefer a dessert that isn't so plain...maybe something that is tall and goes on fire and combines crunchy, smooth, hot and cold elements! But then again I am asking too much of a simple dessert...
Dim sum with Amy!
I love roast pork buns with all my heart! I prefer the steamed ones because the kind that are encased in flaky pastry, like these, are slightly too oily for my taste, but you gotta love 'em anyway. My mom doesn't like pork buns because she finds the neon pink pork somewhat disturbing, but I actually like the color contrast between the pale dough and the bright filling.
I have no idea what this is!
Nor this!
Last dim sum picture!Otto
1 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10003
(212) 995-9559
Friday, July 10, 2009
Adventures in Jejudo
I had the good fortune to fit in a quick trip to Jejudo with my family before starting my summer program :)
Marado:
This photo makes me want to graze.
The view from the small restaurant where we had lunch.
I thought that the look on this cartoon diver's face was oddly provocative. What exactly is she trying to communicate,and to whom?
Seafood jjajangmyun! This was probably the worst bowl of noodles I've ever had in my life. Actually I jest, for the noodles were delicious and the sea breezes clean and refreshing.
Apparently, the cast of infinite challenge also visited the same noodle place a while ago.
We stopped at one last place before we left the island...
...for these carp-shaped delights.
Hot carp pastries are almost always filled with red bean whereas cold ones contain a mixture of vanilla ice cream AND red bean. yom.
And we head back to the boat.
Marado:
This photo makes me want to graze.
The view from the small restaurant where we had lunch.
I thought that the look on this cartoon diver's face was oddly provocative. What exactly is she trying to communicate,and to whom?
Seafood jjajangmyun! This was probably the worst bowl of noodles I've ever had in my life. Actually I jest, for the noodles were delicious and the sea breezes clean and refreshing.
Apparently, the cast of infinite challenge also visited the same noodle place a while ago.
We stopped at one last place before we left the island...
...for these carp-shaped delights.
Hot carp pastries are almost always filled with red bean whereas cold ones contain a mixture of vanilla ice cream AND red bean. yom.
And we head back to the boat.
Returning from a two month hiatus
I have triumphantly returned to blogger! I've been terrible about keeping good track of my fooding ever since summer vacation started...
In any case, now that I'm in Korea I will have lots of good photos to show yall.
I had lunch with my auntie about a month ago at the Hyundai department store in Apgujeong. Apgu is characterized mostly by astronomical prices for everything from coffee to clothes (i.e. $10 lemonade!), lots of reed-thin young people, and plastic surgery clinics. It's clean and bright, like wealthy neighborhoods should be, but can't escape the terrible traffic that plagues seoul.
The italian restaurant that we went to was fairly busy and added a little asian flair to all the dishes, as asian restaurants are wont to do.
My seafood salad- crunchy, warm, and filled with little wriggling bits of aquatic creatures.
Pasta served on a traditional glazed ceramic plate.
We then went for coffee!
I am pretending to contemplate a deep matter as I drink my latte.
It was a very fuzzy little flower.
Il Cipriani
Hyundai Department Store
Apgujeongdong, Gangnamgu,429
Bloom& Goute
In roughly the same neighborhood
In any case, now that I'm in Korea I will have lots of good photos to show yall.
I had lunch with my auntie about a month ago at the Hyundai department store in Apgujeong. Apgu is characterized mostly by astronomical prices for everything from coffee to clothes (i.e. $10 lemonade!), lots of reed-thin young people, and plastic surgery clinics. It's clean and bright, like wealthy neighborhoods should be, but can't escape the terrible traffic that plagues seoul.
The italian restaurant that we went to was fairly busy and added a little asian flair to all the dishes, as asian restaurants are wont to do.
My seafood salad- crunchy, warm, and filled with little wriggling bits of aquatic creatures.
Pasta served on a traditional glazed ceramic plate.We then went for coffee!
I am pretending to contemplate a deep matter as I drink my latte.
It was a very fuzzy little flower.Il Cipriani
Hyundai Department Store
Apgujeongdong, Gangnamgu,429
Bloom& Goute
In roughly the same neighborhood
Friday, May 1, 2009
Pastries!
Finals are now upon us and freshman year is coming to an end! I would normally try to come up with something poignant and perhaps alliterative about the passage of time, but I won't even try because I really have nothing to say.
Derrick and I recently saw the movie Antique Bakery (korean title: 서양골동양과자점 앤티크), a seemingly light-hearted romantic comedy about four men working at a bakery. I expected it to be full of a lot of pastry porn, which it was, but didn't expect the weird kidnapping-subplot and personal redemption that takes over the second half of the movie. It's kind of strange but hilarious and well-made. The head patissier in the movie also happens to be the same actor who played the handsome but emotionally distant Japanese waffle-man in the hit drama Coffee Prince.
After the movie we couldn't help but go eat pastries at Cafe Napoleon.
The weather was perfect for venturing out...the gloomy sky intimidated everyone into staying inside, but there wasn't any real rain, so we walked around without our umbrellas on deserted streets. The air is always so nice and unspoilt after a storm, but you have to go out and take it in quickly before other people start breathing on it.
This was some sort of caffeinated drink...perhaps a vanilla latte?
The lovely, tall piles of thick whipped cream!
Creme Brulee.
I don't really like the taste of creme brulee, but it's always fun to crack the hard, burnt sugary top with a spoon.
The chocolate tart with zabaglione sauce.
I also had a super cup of coffee that filled me with joy. Aspartame-y, caffeinated joy. :)
Cafe Bonaparte
1522 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-8830
Derrick and I recently saw the movie Antique Bakery (korean title: 서양골동양과자점 앤티크), a seemingly light-hearted romantic comedy about four men working at a bakery. I expected it to be full of a lot of pastry porn, which it was, but didn't expect the weird kidnapping-subplot and personal redemption that takes over the second half of the movie. It's kind of strange but hilarious and well-made. The head patissier in the movie also happens to be the same actor who played the handsome but emotionally distant Japanese waffle-man in the hit drama Coffee Prince.
After the movie we couldn't help but go eat pastries at Cafe Napoleon.
The weather was perfect for venturing out...the gloomy sky intimidated everyone into staying inside, but there wasn't any real rain, so we walked around without our umbrellas on deserted streets. The air is always so nice and unspoilt after a storm, but you have to go out and take it in quickly before other people start breathing on it.
This was some sort of caffeinated drink...perhaps a vanilla latte?
The lovely, tall piles of thick whipped cream!
Creme Brulee. 
I don't really like the taste of creme brulee, but it's always fun to crack the hard, burnt sugary top with a spoon. 
The chocolate tart with zabaglione sauce. I also had a super cup of coffee that filled me with joy. Aspartame-y, caffeinated joy. :)
Cafe Bonaparte
1522 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-8830
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Spring Break Part III
Have you heard of Hoagie Haven? To put it in context, I would say that Hoagie Haven is to New Jersey as the Shake Shack is to nyc. It's tiny with a comfortable no-frills vibe to it, and no one seems to know when it got as popular as it is now. After hearing Georgetown Princetonians speak about this place in awed tones for a couple of months, I decided to make a pilgrimage to New Jersey over spring break to see for myself.
Was this a chicken gyro?
The Dirty Sanchez- fried chicken cutlet, deep-fried mozzarella sticks, and french fries on a hoagie, drenched with special sauce. Derrick made his "extra dirty" with more sauce, which tasted suspiciously like thousand island dressing with a bit of spice added to it. I ended up eating half of it and feeling rather ill but content, like a man on his deathbed.
The Heart Stop - bacon, steak, cheese, and assorted vegetables on a hoagie. I hate bacon with a crackling passion. I didn't really like this one too much.
So you might be wondering what my conclusion is to the question, "Does Hoagie Haven live up to the hype?". It does in some ways and doesn't in others. This sounds way too ambiguous but let me explain... At its core, stripped of greasy accoutrement and creatively dubbed sauces, a hoagie is a sandwich. If your first time trying Hoagie Haven is after a house party, sitting with your friends on the curb, still half drunk and clutching at the fat hoagie trying not to let the grease drip off the paper wrapper onto your lap, there's definitely going to be a special place for these hoagies in your heart. Nostalgia makes everything taste better.
Here's a little side note to Hunterites...do you all remember the deli across the street from Starbucks? Everyone used to go there for their morning coffee before it closed (I think it was due to health violations? Eek!). There was something about the proportion of steaming hot coffee to milk that the Korean lady behind the counter got just right...Do you remember getting on the 6 hoping that it would somehow magically go express until 96th street so that you would have an extra couple of minutes to go swing by the deli and grab a coffee and perhaps a glowing green pistachio muffin? Or was that just me? Now that I think about it, I really miss those kryptonite muffins. I hate the sad excuses for muffins here at school...they're these limp, cupcake-like things with tops brown from food coloring rather than a crisp crust. I got off track a bit, but yes, nostalgia does make everything taste better.
And back to more fooding in Princeton.
This is the Bent Spoon, a quaint little ice cream shop in town.
The eerily-illuminated ice cream and gelato selection.
Cupcakes!!!!
For some reason, all of the photos I took of the ice cream post-scooping turned out like dairy mug shots...they look strange and unappetizing, so I won't force you to look at them here.
And for breakfast the next day, we went to PJ's Pancake House!
It kind of felt like a bar inside...but instead of serving drinks they serve flapjacks.
I have read the writing on the wall. haha I kid...
Armando's chocolate chip pancakes. He groaned and clutched his stomach after eating them.
Derrick's lumberjack platter.
And the hand of God descends to butter Derrick's pancakes.
My buckwheat pancakes. This was actually my first time trying them, but I've been curious about them ever since I read a mention in Little House on the Prairie. They were as rustic and delicious as I had hoped they would be.
Hoagie Haven
242 Nassau St
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 921-7723
The Bent Spoon
35 Palmer Sq W
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 924-2368
Pj's Pancake House
154 Nassau St
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-1353
Was this a chicken gyro? 
The Dirty Sanchez- fried chicken cutlet, deep-fried mozzarella sticks, and french fries on a hoagie, drenched with special sauce. Derrick made his "extra dirty" with more sauce, which tasted suspiciously like thousand island dressing with a bit of spice added to it. I ended up eating half of it and feeling rather ill but content, like a man on his deathbed.
The Heart Stop - bacon, steak, cheese, and assorted vegetables on a hoagie. I hate bacon with a crackling passion. I didn't really like this one too much.So you might be wondering what my conclusion is to the question, "Does Hoagie Haven live up to the hype?". It does in some ways and doesn't in others. This sounds way too ambiguous but let me explain... At its core, stripped of greasy accoutrement and creatively dubbed sauces, a hoagie is a sandwich. If your first time trying Hoagie Haven is after a house party, sitting with your friends on the curb, still half drunk and clutching at the fat hoagie trying not to let the grease drip off the paper wrapper onto your lap, there's definitely going to be a special place for these hoagies in your heart. Nostalgia makes everything taste better.
Here's a little side note to Hunterites...do you all remember the deli across the street from Starbucks? Everyone used to go there for their morning coffee before it closed (I think it was due to health violations? Eek!). There was something about the proportion of steaming hot coffee to milk that the Korean lady behind the counter got just right...Do you remember getting on the 6 hoping that it would somehow magically go express until 96th street so that you would have an extra couple of minutes to go swing by the deli and grab a coffee and perhaps a glowing green pistachio muffin? Or was that just me? Now that I think about it, I really miss those kryptonite muffins. I hate the sad excuses for muffins here at school...they're these limp, cupcake-like things with tops brown from food coloring rather than a crisp crust. I got off track a bit, but yes, nostalgia does make everything taste better.
And back to more fooding in Princeton.
This is the Bent Spoon, a quaint little ice cream shop in town.
The eerily-illuminated ice cream and gelato selection.
Cupcakes!!!!
For some reason, all of the photos I took of the ice cream post-scooping turned out like dairy mug shots...they look strange and unappetizing, so I won't force you to look at them here.
And for breakfast the next day, we went to PJ's Pancake House!
It kind of felt like a bar inside...but instead of serving drinks they serve flapjacks.
I have read the writing on the wall. haha I kid...
Armando's chocolate chip pancakes. He groaned and clutched his stomach after eating them.
Derrick's lumberjack platter.
And the hand of God descends to butter Derrick's pancakes.
My buckwheat pancakes. This was actually my first time trying them, but I've been curious about them ever since I read a mention in Little House on the Prairie. They were as rustic and delicious as I had hoped they would be.Hoagie Haven
242 Nassau St
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 921-7723
The Bent Spoon
35 Palmer Sq W
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 924-2368
Pj's Pancake House
154 Nassau St
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-1353
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