Sunday food diary

Dear Food Diary:

과식했나보다... > _ <

#1) Lunch at a noisy and packed institution in Myeongdong for gom tang (곰탕), beef soup with rice (no, I still don't eat beef) and way too much ggakdugi (깍두기). This was my first time trying it with ggak guk (깍국), basically the "soup" (liquid) from ggakdugi kimchi - good stuff, Koreans sure do know how to make the most of everything!




#2) Afternoon UFO pastry from the "dessert gallery" at Passion 5...it tasted like a cross between a roti bun and gyeran bbang (egg bread) minus the huge boiled egg.




#3) Passion 5 pudding... yum.




#4) Afternoon iced mocha latte, a rich dessert in itself, from Wein Bakery (because apparently you can't sit at Passion 5 without making a reservation).



#5) Dinner at Czen Asian Noodle Bar, nothing special. At this point, I was already stuffed and really didn't feel like eating (gasp!) but still managed to throw down some kung pao chicken and noodles.






#6) An impromptu roti bun from Rotiboy... because roti buns are good even when you think you can't possibly eat another bite!



#7) Iced dark chocolate (70%) in a cup from Lucycato. (I have to say, the 45% dark blend goes down much smoother.)




Off to Jeju in a few hours to visit some fam where the eating inevitably continues... wish me luck.

Sincerely stuffed and yours,
C

Tuesday food diary

I started a food diary on Monday with intentions of whipping myself into shape, but it looks like I've already fallen off the wagon. GG and I were discussing how our weight has changed for the worse since we first landed on motherland soil (he gained 5 kgs, I've played the fluctuation game), and we joked about Koreans' tendency to be brutally honest, which I've sincerely come to appreciate - it keeps me somewhat in check. So here we go... my publicized food journal. I welcome any emails, comments, text, calls, or FB messages to help me fix this addiction. Half kidding.

Bibimbap: Nice start! Lots of root veggies, Mom would be proud.


Boneless Fried Chicken: A couple pieces won't kill anyone...


Red Mango Yogurt: Er...it's healthier than ice cream.


Roasted Chestnuts: Very nutritional and high in complex carbohydrates, people.


This is DEFINITELY good for you. ^^


Dong Dong Ju: For the record, I had two sips (and pretended to refill my cup, shh.)


Mung Bean Jun (녹두전): I admit, not the wisest choice.


Fried Chicken and Beer: Out of excuses.




Here's to a better Wednesday!

Where's the mac salad?

Anna and I were craving fried chicken and this was the closest thing we could find on the menu... (I've gotten confused... do we usually serve our chicken with fruit in the States, or is this a Korean tendency? I kind of like it.)



It strangely reminded me of huli huli chicken, only it smelled of ham, was a little pink for our taste, and I still haven't gotten used to the idea of chicken necks on a platter. Either way, it was very plate lunch reminiscent - some mac salad and a scoop of white rice might have done the trick.

Of course the Hawaii kids ordered the pineapple soju "slushy"... I mean, who could resist? With a name like that, there's potential for many wonderful things - imagine this flowing out of your local 7-Eleven Icee machine? Besides, the waiter told us that this drink would require ten minute lead time... it must have been something special, right?



Unfortunately it tasted like a bad bag of over concentrated Capri Sun, or perhaps simple syrup mixed with yellow tie dye. Eck.

This made us thirsty for some watered down mekju, and upon arrival at a "western style bar," we then realized just how much we really enjoyed plain nori dipped in shoyu-vinegar... yep, good ol' seaweed and beer. I really don't think I'll be able to go back to vodka tonics.

Bread and beer

That honey toast looks delicious. (Note: It's not that photogenic.)



Uh, is that a parsley garnish?



Guys, I just realized...we're eating a loaf of bread with whipped cream. Like, an entire loaf of bread. Did we just order an entire loaf of bread?

You're only realizing that now?

And we're eating it with beer.

Is that strange?

You're in Korea.

Right.

It's like drinking chocolate

Iced chocolate heaven is now available at the recently opened Lucycato shop around Ewha Women's University. If you like to chew on your drinks (yes, it's sort of like drinking melted chocolate), then this is the place for you. Plus, it's pretty and girly and a little Jetsons-esque, if that's your sort of thing. Not only do they sell chocolate in a cup, but you can also find ice cream, fancy little cakes, and truffles... everything chocolate, just my kind of place. ^^

Chubby cheeks in a week, the pictorial explanation