Seoul Food

As a food lover and food traveler, Korea has been on the top of my list to discover.  For years, I've been drooling over food magazines and television shows highlighting the best of Korean grills and the spreads of kimchi and banchan.

In my traveling experience, very few cuisines are as good abroad compared to their homelands.  There's a certain vibrancy to the food in their own respective countries.  It just tastes more right, as it should be.  So now that I was in Seoul, I was so excited to eat from the source.

Because of the comparisons to Japan, I was expecting the prices to be similar.  Despite it reputation, eating in Japan is actually incredibly affordable for the quality.  Surprisingly then, Seoul was really expensive.  Everything was surprisingly expensive, especially compared to the rest of Asia.

We varied our eating with restaurants, take out from the food markets, and also with room service meals at our hotel.  Before you knock it, room service at luxury hotels can be a phenomenal experience.  You have the comfort of your room, the fun of eating in your hotel robe, and the luxury of a fine dining setting all cooked by high quality hotel chefs.  After long, hot days out under the Korean sun and on our feet all day, taking a shower and eating in the atmosphere of our spacious room was just the best.

Aside from meals, I was impressed with the numerous coffee and bread shops and their food packaging.  There is a coffee and bread store almost in every corner of the city.  As for their food packaging in the groceries, it's admirable with the care they take for their products.  They also give so much importance to their fruits and vegetables.  They obviously learned from Japan and have made the produce thrive beautifully in their own country.

The fruits and vegetable were too nice just to look at, and because we flew back to Manila where you can bring back produce and meats, we were able to enjoy at home the apples, grapes, gigantic cabbages and radishes, and some of the sweetest sweet potatoes.   (Travel tip: Always pack a foldable duffel that you can put into your luggage.  That way you have an extra bag for goods on the flight back home.)

After a week of eating in Seoul, I'm really happy to find that some of the Korean food served in the states (the Bay Area and Los Angeles particularly) is actually pretty darn authentic.  The Koreans and Americanized Koreans have done a great job of upholding their cuisine.  I came back home from the trip more educated with how well the Koreans have lived over the recent years, post-Korean War.  They have educated themselves and can take pride in the good their country continues to produce.

Grilled beef and ban chan

The tables

Cooking at Home

Between trips, I tend to become a homebody and really enjoying staying in and eating at home.  That allows me to occasionally try out recipes and flavor combinations that spontaneously pop in my head.  I don't really cook line by line with recipes.  I read cooking books, food articles, and blogs for ideas.  And then, I use them as a base and inspiration for my own recipe.  I get this idea in my head and flavors on the tip of my palate, and I use whatever we have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry to execute the vision.  It's like I've made myself my own cooking challenge/game.

Here are some dishes that my family and I have whipped up in the past few weeks.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinners; and mostly Asian-inspired.
Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: At Home

Brunch at Stormies in Hong Kong

Planning for a weekend lunch in Hong Kong almost naturally implies dim sum or brunch. When I'm meeting up with my best friend who is native to Hong Kong, that always means brunch.

Because my flight back home to Manila was in a few hours, I opted not to go to SoHo and stay closer to my hotel. 100+ floors below the Ritz is Elements Mall with many excellent restaurant choices.

Since the rains had yet to descend, we preferred to dine al fresco at Stormies. Of the 8 restaurants on that outdoor section, they had the most appealing brunch/lunch special - 2 courses & coffee/tea for 98 HKD (just over 12 USD).

Along with a couple of spicy Bloody Marys, this was a most delightful setting and meal for a quiet brunch with a longtime friend.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show, check out my Flickr album: Stormies HK

Hotel Eats in the Peninsula Shanghai

The first time I visited Shanghai last year, my parents and I stayed at the brand new Peninsula Shanghai. It was still on it's soft opening and it had already impressed up. Peninsula Hotels really stand up to their reputation of great service and a memorable stay.

So for my second trip back to Shanghai, we happily came back. After long days of touring and eating through Shanghai, it's such a great feeling to come back to a comfortable, clean hotel.

Last time, we dined in the Lobby Lounge for breakfast and at Sir Elly's for a special dinner. All the meals were excellent and memorable.

This time around we had breakfasts and also a late night meal in the Lobby Lounge. The food is satisfying and filling, and the portions are generous! After a long day of flying and driving, settling into the hotel with a comforting meal is the best way to end the day.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Peninsula Shanghai Lobby Lounge

Aside from the Lobby Lounge, we also tried out the Chinese restaurant, Yi Long Court. I was a bit disappointed that they served only Cantonese cuisine and not Shanghainese cuisine. When I'm in Shanghai, I want to have all the local specialities.

That disappoint lead to greater disappointments. The food was decent and the service was poor, especially for a Peninsula establishment. What happened?? They were all young guys who were not trained for high end Chinese dining. You'd expect the Chinese restaurant in Peninsula Shanghai to be really impressive and memorable.. sadly, that was not the case at all. You're definitely better off leaving the hotel for a Chinese dinner. If the service improved, I think the food would have tasted better. This was definitely one of those cases where a negative affected the whole experience.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Peninsula Shanghai Chinese

Tasting the Hype at Benu

New restaurants constantly pop up in San Francisco. Each year, a handful or less of these restaurants make it to the top lists for food critics and food lovers. For the past year, the one restaurant that keeps trending is Chef Corey Lee's Benu.

Corey Lee made his name as the chef de cuisine at Thomas Keller's French Laundry. Prior to the opening of Benu until even today, the restaurant has been dubbed The SF Restaurant to go to.

Benu creates original Asian and Modern American inspired dishes that delights and surprises. At a place like Benu, the best way to dive in to this cuisine is with the extensive tasting menu. Don't let the cost scare you. $180 is quite a deal for 18+ courses packed with quality of ingredients, artistry, and superb chefs' touches. $10 per course for all that's put into it!

The beverage pairing price maybe be intimidating, too, but again, it's such a deal for 10 high quality beverages. Plus, it's like a lesson per pour. You get to enjoy the wine, the pairing, and the information about the pour from the sommeliers.

Finalizing the brilliant tasting experience is the friendly staff. I was worried that the reception might be snooty and stiff. It's totally the opposite. They are so friendly, welcoming, and humorous. The service matches the atmosphere and the food - five star. Attentive and detailed.


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Benu

Home Made Sake Steamed Chicken

It's dinner time again! This time, I used a recipe that I've been wanting to cook for awhile now.

Sake Steamed Chicken
(FYI, it's a NY Times recipe if you're keeping count of your 20 articles per month)

I was so curious about this tender, tender chicken that the author wrote about. I've only steamed a fish before, which is a delicious way to eat fish. I've eaten boiled chicken, and so I was curious how steamed chicken could be even better.

This is a great recipe. The chicken came out very tender and very moist. The rest period after the steaming is really important. It brings the juices together and stays in the chicken.

The original recipe had only a sliight sake taste. Non-existent if you didn't know about the sake. My adjustment that I want to try next time is to marinate the chicken for a bit in the sake, and then steam it in water. I can't wait to try this again!

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Steamed Chicken

Asian Burgers at Bachi Burger in Las Vegas

Asian fusion can totally be overused and overrated. But when it's done well, it's still a pretty awesome concept.

Bachi Burger, located off The Strip in Las Vegas, executes some awesome Asian fusion burgers. They combine a classic Asian staple into a burger. The flavors are authentic and, at the same time, you're also enjoying a quality burger.

The only critique I have is that the bun is too soft. The bottom bun gets so smashed from the weight of the burger. With only your first bite, the bun is already getting to be paper thin. Some people like that, but maybe they should also provide bun options for those that want wheat or heftier breads for their burgers.

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The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album.

Authentic Japanese Izakaya in Las Vegas

Back in the states! And, back in Las Vegas. Even though we just came from Asia, we still have cravings for Asian foods we don't easily find in Manila. One of those cravings is Japanese izakaya.

One of my favorite restaurants in Las Vegas is Ichiza. You get a variety of plates, fresh beer, and a great dessert all at a pretty good price. The atmosphere is very casual and fun. The menu is not just the lamented menu you're given at the table, but it's also all the additions all over the walls. A lot of the menu items change daily - which totally encourages you to keep coming back. A good place for a great dinner!

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The slideshow here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album.

Baos at Baohaus

Bao is a fluffy, steamed Chinese bun. It's a very popular dim sum and street food snack found around all over Asia. Each country has their own bao with their local fillings, usually a type of meat.

At Baohaus, traditional Taiwanese street food is brought to New York City. Because it's in New York City, it comes with that Manhattan price. But, it stands by it's quality of products and the generous heap of meat between the bun.

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Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slideshow here.

Home-Cooked Asian Food

Sometimes when I consume too much meat, or fried foods, or eat out too often, my body craves for a healthy night in. So for a detox night, we cooked some Filipino Pancit Sotanghon Guisado and Thai Green Vegetable Curry. It was a vegetarian night that was satisfying, comforting, delicious, and healthy all at the same time.

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Check out my Flickr album here if you can't see this slideshow.

Starting Off Restaurant Week with Spices

Many cities around the world these days have "Restaurant Weeks" which typically lower the prices of dining to encourage locals and tourists to dine out. If I'm in a city which hosts Restaurant Week, I always try to take advantage of it and eat out as often as I can in that one week. It's a great way to try new restaurants, too!

Restaurant Week was hosted here in Manila. It was an even better deal than those in the states because it had a Wine and Dine theme thanks to Wine Depot. For 999PHP or less (that's under $23 USD), you can enjoy a three course meal with at least one glass of wine!

We went to four restaurants in the course of the week. The first was Spices at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati. It was a great start to the week. The food was memorable and the three wines were generously poured!

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Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slideshow here.

I Can Live at Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung has quickly become one of my all time favorite restaurants. The food comes out of the kitchen so fresh. The ingredients, preparation, and presentation are so quality. You can eat the foods over and over again. And, it's a cheap eats place!

I could seriously live here and just eat their entire menu. They really have the best xiao long bao (steamed pork dumplings) I've ever had. Taipei's branches also taste far superior to the other locations around the world, too. The dumplings are amazingly thin and full of quality flavor. How can I have xiao long bao anywhere else now??

Check out my Flickr album if you can't see the slideshow here.

Last Night's Meal in Taipei

Because we had an early morning flight the next morning, we decided to stay at our hotel and enjoy another meal at Le Palais, their Cantonese restaurant. The meal was satisfying, but our dinner their two nights before was far better. One of the advantages of staying at a nicer hotel is that the hotel cuisine is usually delicious and authentic.

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Museum Break at its Tea House

Halfway through our exploration of the National Palace Museum, our stomachs were calling our attention away from the artifacts. So we took a break at the tea house located on the top level of the museum. I was expecting a museum coffee shop. Wow, what a surprise!

San-Hsi-T'Ang Tea House is a sight on its own. It's a modern tea house with some fun small plates, both savory and sweet. It's such a great place to take a break.

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Seafood Shabu Shabu

For our second trip to Taipei, we knew we'd have to revisit the Shabu Shabu place we ate at the first time. This was the first place I encountered seafood shabu shabu, and it's presented and executed so well! The selection of seafood and the quality are so delicious and memorable. After eating beef or pork shabu shabu, I feel full yet unoily. After enjoying this seafood version, I felt full, satisfied, and healthier.

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Back in Taipei

My parents and I flew to Taipei for another short stay. We stayed at the same hotel, Palais de Chine, because of its great service and cleanliness. Thanks to the director of rooms, we were welcomed back with open arms.

Since we had to get up early each morning, we decided to have dinner closer to our hotel, if not, in our hotel. So on the first night, we enjoyed their Cantonese restaurant, Le Palais.

We dined on one of the set menus which had eight courses (and unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the fish course - it was excellent, though). This meal was a great opener to the beginning of our trip.

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Lunch at the Museum Cafe

For a quick weekday lunch, my dad and I walked to Greenbelt 4 for a bite at the Museum Cafe, or M Cafe. It was surprisingly pleasant outside, so we enjoyed their outdoor eating. The food was pretty good and nicely presented. If I do go back, I think I would go back just for a casual drink, though. Although it still isn't to my standard of a good strong drink, it is the least watered down cocktail I've encountered thus far.

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Din Tai Fung - The Original Location

For my first trip to Taipei, I knew I had to visit Din Tai Fung. I first tried the restaurant in Shanghai - it was some of the best xiao long bao that I've encountered. Taipei houses the original location. So, a visit here was a must!

The xiao long bao were even better than in Shanghai! Delicately thin wrapper, a delicious pork flavored soup inside, and a succulent pork filling. This applies to everything: After eating some of the best, it is so hard to eat something that is just average - I'd rather not waste my calorie intake. My mark for good xiao long bao now stands with Taipei's Din Tai Fung.

Here are pictures from our memorable meal. Place your cursor on "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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Meals at Home

After going on trips and frequently eating out, it's really nice to have that balance and cook some fresh homemade meals. You know the quality of all the ingredients and you can control the amount of ingredients.

Here are a couple picture from an "Italian Night In":

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Here are a few pictures from our "Hainanese Night":

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Two Restaurants for One Meal

The last meal before we leave Hong Kong. We've stayed at the W Hotel in our last few trips to HK. It is located in the Elements center in Kowloon, where there are the MRT station and the Airport Express stop (where you can check in your bags instead of waiting to get to the airport). The center also houses boutique shopping and some fantastic restaurants. So for our last hour in town, we decided to stay in Elements for lunch. For one meal, we went to two restaurants - Xia Mian Guan for noodles and Sen-ryo for sushi. Appetizer then the main course or the main course then dessert. I'll choose the latter because sushi is always as good as dessert for me.


Xia Mian Guan
In past trips, we passed by this place every time and even watched how they made fresh noodles. But, this was our first time trying it out. What a great noodle place! Soup noodles, dry noodles, and even dim sum. All that we tried was delicious!

Hot Soy Milk
Slightly sweetened. A great pairing with dim sum. And healthy, too!

Steamed Pork Dumpling
With Crab Meat and Roe. Nice thin wrapper and a tasty inside. We found another good restaurant with some great dumplings.

Shanghainese Sticky Rice Dumpling
Another delicious dim sum order. Thin wrapper and perfectly cooked sticky rice.

Stir Fried Shanghai Noodle
With Dried Shrimp and Spring Onion. Super fresh hand made noodles! We also got an order of Noodle Soup in Chili Peanut Sauce, but I was too eager to devour it before realizing I forgot to take a picture. I also recommend that dish.

Fried Pork Liver in Brown Sauce
A generous order. Tasty, but I could only have a couple pieces because I wanted to focus my appetite on the noodles and for our next round.

Sen-ryo
I HAVE to visit this place at least once every time I go to HK. This trip I went twice, and my parents and brother went three times. They consistently serve fresh fish and a wide selection. I can't wait for my next visit to HK to go here again!

Toro (Tuna Belly)
One order of toro is about $7 USD. CHEAP (compared to U.S. prices). The grade of the toro is even otoro - the fattier and more expensive part of the tuna. (I only took this picture to show how much we love toro. We ate so much more than this - as always.)