Next stop: Hong Kong & Singapore

Hi everyone!

Am away for a extended weekend. I will be back next week with more exciting posts.

Stay tuned and happy Sunday!

Fabulously yours x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Seoul gastronomical affair

Everything about Korea is pretty amazing (no I am not biased). Korea is truly a country full of discoveries, many of them culinary. 

There’s just something unique about how Koreans present every aspect of their lives. I came to realise I was taken aback by the korean culture through watching K-dramas. The emotions and good looking-ness of the characters in the movie I was definitely drawn to, the sense of fashion awed me, the animated expressions of the characters amuse me, the beautiful scenery of the locations mesmerised me and last but not least, I am so totally intrigued by the korean etiquette and the way the Koreans have their meals makes me almost want to taste them immediately.

I’ll let you know a secret – I have a fetish for the Korean spoon, have you ever noticed how cute they look? Just eating my meals with the long metal spoons somehow makes the food tastier! I sometimes have my instant noodles with the korean spoon, just because.

If you have not noticed all that I mentioned, try watching an episode of a Korean drama – there is bound to be at least one scene in every episode where the family is having a meal. Or could just be one of the characters preparing their breakfast (rather elaborate if you ask me – can’t compare to a cuppa coffee and toast) or eating from a porcelain pot or simply sampling soju (Korean alcohol akin to the Japanese sake) at the road side, more or less you get the picture.

I always dreamed of visiting Korea, and I finally fixed that part of my wish list last year. Best trip ever (for my belly too), no regrets! My regret: I wished I had done it sooner.

Today, I will take you through the TOP must have Korean food and streetfood (in no particular order).

Bibimbap : hard not to love at first bite. wow. wow. wow.

Bibimbap is a mixture of rice and a variety of vegetables (beans sprout, carrots, lettuce). Notice how dainty and thinly sliced the veggies are? Easy for digestion presumably.

Japjae: clear pork/chicken broth vermicilli (with tofu, carrots, bean sprouts)

After sampling many spicy Korean dishes, this is the perfect spice reliever for your throat and tongue. Often, japjae comes fried as well.

Daeji bulgogi: marinated thin sliced pork loin.

The pork is marinated in a specially blended red chili pepper paste, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, ginger roots, rice wine and gojujang (bean paste) which is the base sauce for this dish. Usually served with a side dish of lettuce to wrap this tender daeji (pork) together with slices of raw garlic and dipped with gojujang. Just thinking about it makes me drool.

Samgyetang: ginseng chicken soup

Clear chicken broth with a dash of ginseng on a cold day is just purrr-fect! Occasionally paired with japjae. If you feel you need to get away from alcohol but yet just maybe would like a little reminiscence, splash your samgyetang with a shot of shoju – it tastes amazing and helps keep you warm too. Seriously, do it.

Kimchi: Cabbage (or radish, cucumber etc)

And that’s how kimchi is marinated. In a porcelain pot, cabbage or radish is marinated with minced garlic, diced green onion, salted fish and salt. Then bury under soil in your backyard until it is ready to be savoured.

Haemultang: seafood stew

Various seafood are boiled together, this includes clams, crab, shrimp, fish and loads of veggie. Healthy yet refreshing with a tinge of sweetness.

Stir fried korean rice

After finishing all the meat, try frying the glutinous rice with remnants of the cabbage. It was really nice and definitely (full)filling.

Different types of kimchi: cabbage kimchi (most common), cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, green onion kimchi, tofu kimchi (?) and more. And if you can’t enough of them, just reach for them – with ladles, plier, chopsticks and they come in big metal bowls (totally Korean style) too.

Moving on, streetfood is also a  must try in Korea. Your trip would not be complete without sampling these:

Stuffed Cuttlefish (with glutinous rice): so deliriously good! Best street food ever!

Panjeon: savoury Korean pancakes (sliced into square pieces for you to snack on the go with a toothpick or your fingers)

Seasoned dried cuttlefish: crispy, fried, baked, grilled (any way you like them). Wonder if they come steamed…

French fries, breaded sausage & pressed squid

And saving the best for last, this is what I really loved: french fries breaded sausage a.k.a. corn/hot dogs!

Checking off the quintessential Korean food list: my trip was complete. My belly was completely, truly and madly satisfied.

Verdict: What do all Korean food have in common: they are fabulous! Best of all, they are pretty affordable and really, bursting in flavours…

Where can you find all of the above?

Arrhh, well here comes the tricky part. They are generally available in most Korean F&B outlets or any corner of the Korean streets. I am not a Korean food connoiseur, enough to tell you where to find the best of them – just trust your instincts. You just gotta be a wee bit more adventurous, and if all hells break loose, you have your diarrheoa pills (on standby). On a serious note, you’ll survive.

My advice: practise safe eating – when in doubt, always use condiments!

Fabulously yours x

Coco Tei, Kuala Lumpur

I am not kidding when I tell my friends from abroad that Kuala Lumpur will definitely tickle and satisfy your gastronomical cravings.

I have lost count of the number of F&B outlets (more so Japanese cuisine) that have mushroomed over the years and they continue to do so, much to my delight and amazement!

Coco Tei, yet another Japanese establishment has probably been around for years now. Formerly known as Hajime, it has reincarnated as Coco Tei. It must have slipped my radar somehow for I only got to know about it when the girls decided on this place for our weekly get together, also known as the bitching session. I’m kidding – it was our much awaited highlight of the week, Friday night out with good food and company.

Fresh salmon sashimi

Hotate ninniku yaki (scallops yakitori)

Shisamo - do not be fooled by this simple looking fish.

It was somewhat very tasty! I couldn’t get enough of it, there was a certain after-taste sweetness lingering. Or it might just be a sign of aging, when one starts appreciating “bland” food.  *Gasps*

More bland food : Tofu salad

Soft shell crab maki

Avocado Love Roll: Octopus and avocado maki

Something to wash your palate: Sukiyaki (beef hot pot with egg)

We never forget our desserts: Yuzu, black sesame and macha ice cream

Verdict: I love this place, will definitely be back soon enough. The only setback is that Coco Tei is located right smack in town and getting there might be a pain, especially on a Friday evening. Not to worry, there are ample parking spaces available. Be sure to make your reservation ahead.

Where can you find Coco Tei?

No. 5, Jalan Delima, Kuala Lumpur

 

T: 1800-88-6655

http://www.cocotei.com/

Fabulously yours x

Bottega Louie, Downtown, Los Angeles

Who’s ready for a night out at Downtown?

The local residents brought us to Bottega Louie for a nice hearty LA meal. What more lovely way than to start with a little action in Downtown LA.

It’s no wonder that Bottega Louie has graced many online food review: Yelp, Urbanspoon, Zagat, Los Angeles Times and even TripAdvisor. And finally making its debut here at Fabulous Actually, much long overdue review.

Pretty ladies await. Business was brisk, as is evident.

Bottega Louie, a palatial restaurant, gourmet market and patisserie. As you step foot into the restaurant, you would never have thought that the economy was slowing down at all.

Bottega Louie has 20-foot ceilings, more than 2,000 feet of brass millwork, marble-tiled floors, custom deli cases and tables, and about 200 employees. The kitchen handles 600 recipes for the Italian menu and the prepared dishes for the market. The bakers turn out 800 pastries a day; stacks of pastel boxes tied with silk ribbon decorate the windows along Grand Avenue. Check out my earlier write-up.

The men were busy at work too.

We were still pretty hungry by the time we were seated. And this was after indulging in macarons to layer our stomachs with some sweetness.

Margherita Pizza

Mozzarella, Grand Parmesan, tomato sauce, basil and oregano

We opted for a variety small plates. I can’t remember what this is – and it’s no longer on the menu, unfortunately.

Portobello Fries were highly recommended by the local residents.

Asparagus Poached Egg

Trenne (braised rib eye with parmesan flakes) – my personal favourite!

Chocolate Souffle(a must try and worth the 20 minute wait)

Verdict: A place you would want to visit, only if you are not too hungry and ready to fight the crowd. Great for old friends catching up, for you’d be drowned with the loud surroundings. Tables are arranged pretty close to one another so if privacy and some quiet time is what you are looking for, this may not be the best option.

This is definitely a place which makes you feel like you’re in New York, right in Downtown, LA though. Amazing isn’t it? I certainly felt like a million bucks being able to savour this beautiful place.

Where can you find Bottega Louie?

700 South Grand Avenue  Los Angeles, CA 90017, United States

T: (213) 802-1470

www.bottegalouie.com

Fabulously yours x

Cudos Restaurant & Bar, Surin Beach, Phuket

Hello everyone!

Monday is my least favourite day. I dread having to wake up to get to work, but things start to look slightly better around mid-day when I thought of my next vacation (coming soon…).

My last beach holiday break was in Phuket earlier this year. I cannot even begin to describe how awesome it was. It’s not my first time in Phuket, but this time round I was feeling a little more adventurous so  I learnt how to ride a scooter and manouvere the jet-ski! What great memories..

But Phuket is not all about the outdoor activities, it is an extremely self-sufficient town with many delightful eateries. Located near Surin beach in Phuket, Cudos which hails from England (yes, its owners are from England) offers an excellent selection of modern inspired Mediterranean cuisine capturing the true essence of Mediterranean flavors from Italy, Spain, Southern France, Greece, Turkey and North Africa.

This lovely place was highly recommended on TripAdvisor so we did not even hesitate to check it out.

Cudos has a very lovely, romantic (almost zen like) and dim ambience.

Breads to start with, followed by 3 entrees and a main.

Garlic Prawns with Chorizo and Chilli (tasty!)

Tuna Carpaccio, parsley, hazelnut dukkah and quail eggs

Grilled calamari, salmogrigo, avocado and fennel

Seabass fillet, roast capsicum, eggplant, zucchini and red onion

Hazelnut baklava, orange syrup and pistachio ice cream ((thumbs up!)

Verdict: I can still remember vividly how each of these dishes tasted. I liked that the concoction for every dish is unique in it’s own way – sort of an interesting twist to your daily grind. Perhaps it’s to do with the fact that it’s quite rare to find a good Mediterranean restaurant, particularly in Kuala Lumpur. So for me, it was a pleasant surprise to my taste buds. It was almost like bursting flavours, simply because I have not encountered them before.

Ps. I do feel bad that the pictures (they either look a shade of green or orange) do not do the food justice at all! Having said that, it’s not all about the looks – it really does taste much better than it looks. Above all, Mediterranean food is still a rather acquired taste (I think), so I definitely hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Where can you find Cudos?

117 Moo 3, Srisoonthorn Road , Cherngtalay Talang Phuket 83000 Thailand

T: +66 (0)76 386 598

http://www.cudosrestaurant.com/

Fabulously yours x

Ten, Solaris Dutamas

To get your week going, as promised here’s a more comprehensive review of Ten (literal translation of Heaven in Mandarin).

If you were to google “Ten, Solaris Dutamas”, you’d find its reviews are not short (of good ones).

Ten, an Australian-Japanese fine dining probably came into the local scenes rather recently. I note that most of the floggers had their entries updated between October to December 2011. All reviews seem to have something in common – most of them raved about Ten. Suffice to say, this warranted a visit to Ten.

Its menu was simple and easy to read, in that it did not contain lengthy descriptions of its selection. After putzing around for half an hour (mainly because we were too busy catching up), we caved in and asked for a bit of help instead. The waitress was very friendly and helpful, in fact she recommended some pretty good stuff.

Tokyo Duck. This is very much akin to the Peking Duck, except it was served with a miso dip. Very cleverly done!

I loved the tenderness of the Wagyu Tataki which reminded me a lot of teppanyaki., served with slightly crispy fried garlic slices making it extremely tasty. Sort of a yin and yang combination.

Sashimi Moriawase (feeds 2 to 3 pax). An extremely fresh platter of sashimi – I particularly enjoyed the emperor fish and horse mackerel.

Wagyu Steak. I always like working for my meal.

Seafood gratin. Really loved the buttermilk after-taste.

By far, the highlight of the meal. Traditional vanilla ice-cream served with green tea ice (really creatively concocted!)

Verdict: By far, Ten has now risen to my top favourite place for authentic Japanese delicacy. At the end, it’s always the company that counts. The fact that it is good food is always a bonus. This meal not only perked up my Tuesday, it has definitely set my appreciation for Japanese cuisine to higher standards.

Where can you find Ten?

D5-G3-5, Solaris Dutamas, No.1, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

T: +60 3 6211 9910

http://www.tenrestaurant.com.my/

Fabulously yours x

Seongbukdong, Korea Town, Los Angeles

I am a HUGE fan of Korean food, and anything Korean related that is.

I don’t know when it was that I was hit by the Korean craze. I suspect it had to do with those cold winter days back in Sheffield, when crying was probably the only way to keep warm (physically, and to mend one’s home sick heart).

Admittedly I watched many Korean dramas back in those days. Fast forward 10 years, I am still very much a fan of those K-dramas, K-pop and K-culture. **Listening to K-music as I’m blogging. >.<

Little did I expect to find Korea town in Los Angeles (and New York too!). Well, I was more actually than happy to try Korean food in America. Especially since I was told that Seongbukdong served really good korean comfort food.

Its speciality, it seems was its braised short ribs – that in itself sounded really appealing to me. In Malaysia, what you would normally find is the bulgagi grilled over charcoal plates, and that’s if you are lucky. Most places have those electronic stoves (tastes much less delicious, as you would have guessed) where you cook your meats over them.

We arrived at Seongbukdong, relatively hungry. We found a small cosy diner with a long queue. That’s always a good sign of good food when you have to queue for your meal.

The infamous galbi jjim (short braised ribs). So good, you feel like tucking in with your fingers. Go on, I dare you.

To be honest, I can’t quite remember what this dish was. An assortment of beef I’d imagine. But very tasty as well. Grilled on a hot platter!

There’s something unique about this bowl of rice. It’s brown rice, cooked so well you can taste each grain.

What makes this pairing different is that typically you would find steam glutinous rice served in metal bowl. This however, I loved it so much I had two bowls. Because it doesn’t fill me up, it sat well with my stomach leaving ample space for me to sample the other dishes.

Right behind my bowl of rice, you can see a bowl of kimchi chigae (spicy sour kimchi soup). Marinated to perfection, it was the perfect soup to keep you warm. I love spicy food on cold days!

As with all Korean cuisine, you can always tell the quality of the food from the side dishes. We had a fairly wide spread of dishes, generally most of them were pretty commendable.

Verdict: If you were to be around the corner, be sure to drop by Seongbukdong. You can never go wrong with this one! Just remember to try the braised short ribs! I wonder how long it would be before I visit Los Angeles again..

Where can you find Seongbukdong?

All this late night food blogging is making me hungry. Tactically, I decided to blog so I wouldn’t snack. Yeah, right.

Until next time!

Fabulously yours x