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

Eating my way through Tokyo

When I travel I tend to let go of my health conscious eating.  I eat more salads than usual and workout double time prior to these trips.  As a result, I fly into the city a couple pounds lighter just so I can freely gain a few pounds over the next days of travel.  All to I eat carbs, fats, and sugars with no abandon.

Tokyo was certainly no exception.  I felt like I ate 5 meals a day, including soba for breakfast from 7-11 (it's so fresh and a clean way to start the day).   Every one of these "nibblings" are still ingrained in my head as some fantastically memorable bites.

The handmade ramen noodles from Ramen Street in the Tokyo Station, the tonkatsu and katsudons, curry over rice, fresh sushi and seafood from the department store grocery, a huge piece of karaage from the department store food hall, Korean food with loads of vegetables, Japanese Italian pizza done to perfection, beer beer and more beer, convenience store soba, the tastiest salted caramel crepe, the fluffiest cheesecake, and sinful croissants that are worth all the butter intake.

Whew, I cannot wait to go back to Japan and eat all this and more finds.  In the meantime I'll look fondly at these photos and workout for the next big weight-gaining trip.

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

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

Korean Food in Taipei Food Courts

From the variety of cuisines available in Taipei, it is obvious that locals appreciate an eclectic range of foods. This is seen at the malls' food courts. I LOVE Asian malls' food courts. These food courts are nothing like those in the states. They are a food lovers Disneyland - the happiest place on earth.

In Taipei, small stalls have fun snacks and desserts. The eating area have a representation of Taiwanese eats, specialty Japanese, Malaysian, Indian, Western, Korean, and so many more. If you can't think of what to eat, there is always something for everyone. Places that you'd think are only for nice restaurants settings, they are here at the common food courts.

These Taipei food courts were the perfect place to fulfill our Korean cravings. Some of the tastiest bowls of sizzling dolsot bibimbap and some fun hands-on bulgogi cooking.

Taiwanese know and enjoy some good food at these everyday food courts.

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: Korean - Food Courts - Taipei

Banchan at B/a/n/n/c/h/an in Taipei's ATT4Fun

Sometimes I crave for a specific dish - a burger, a bowl of ramen, a solid burrito, etc. And sometimes I crave for a specific cuisine - Vietnamese, Mexican, Spanish, and lately, for Korean.

Korean cuisine is flavorfully and visually vibrant. Plus, all the banchan (small plates of kimchis and more) is a great source of free-flowing vegetables.

B/a/n/n/c/h/a/n in ATT4Fun in Taipei serves up fun Korean classics with the usual banchan of kimchi variations, seaweed, and even a whole fried sardine. Our orders included cold Korean chili noodles, fried chicken (one of my Korean favorites), bibimbap, and seafood tofu stew.

All this for 3 hungry Korean-food cravers. Our stomachs were stuffed and happy.

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: Banchan ATT4fun

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.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read a little more about each picture.

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

Neighborhood Korean Restaurant

About a month ago I watched a National Geographic special about the customs and traditions of Korean cuisine. There's a balance to the meal - that yin and yang. The food consist of a colorful and bountiful display. And the flavors play with all your taste perceptions - salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy.

I needed to eat some quality Korean food after seeing this show! So for one of our first meals here in Las Vegas, we tried a new Korean restaurant right in our neighborhood. I love it when there's a great restaurant so close to home!

Soyo Korean Barstaurant is such a fun place to get quality and authentic Korean cuisine! Just note, the portions are huge! Even if it's in the "Tapas" section of the menu, it's actually entree sized. The prices are really reasonable, too. I can't wait to go back to try more of their menu selections.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read a little more about each picture.

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

Korean Food!

The Hong Kong Airport has so many food choices, all of which are decently priced, too. It's one airport that I wouldn't mind being stranded at if my flight was delayed. After arriving from my most recent trip, my best friend, Alvin, and I decided to eat at Sorabol for dinner before heading to his place.

The location of my college and post college years in Santa Clara introduced me to some pretty good Korean places - whether it was barbeque, fried chicken, etc. I was exposed to the South Bay's local eats for a solid 7 years. So, I was happy to eat at Sorabol to fulfill my Korean food craving. I usually wait until I'm back in the Bay Area because Manila's Korean restaurants all look pretty run down.

For it's price, the quality is pretty good. It's authentic Korean food with all the sides and sauces. I love cuisines that balance the meal with lots of fresh vegetables.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about each picture.

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