Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Butter Lane Cupcakes

Butter Lane Cupcakes are one of the local favorites that originated in Park Slope, Brooklyn. With a second location in the East Village, the store is filled with all goodies that include their signature cupcakes, pies, pastries, and breakfast goods. Butter Lane Cupcakes are

The cake bottoms from Butter Lane Cupcakes are made with a thicker batter, with a less airy cake. Cupcakes are topped with a thick, heavy flavored creme frosting which does not quite compliment my personal taste for cupcakes, but is an extremely filling snack that becomes a meal in itself for anyone who is interested in trying!

The one thing I would recommend is to check out the baking classes that Butter Lane Cupcakes offer. It is a great date setting as well as a little girl's day out. You can learn the basics and incorporate your own after to make your perfect cupcake!

Hidden Treasures - Kam Hing Coffee Shop

Kam Hing Coffee Shop
Address: 119 Baxter Street, New York, NY 10013

Phone Number: 212-925-0425

One of the hidden treasures for generations now is the Kam Hing Coffee Shop that many local residents are familiar with. In fact, they are regulars here where their orders are pretty much picked up once they enter the door and delivered by the time they get to the counter without having to wait. Keeping the tradition of generations of soft and moist Chinese sponge cakes (the Chinese version of a cupcake that is less sweet without the icing), the exterior has been maintained for years already. 

This is reflected with their original cafe layout. The door, sign, store front and even most of the store is preserved since the beginning. The best part, of course, is the sponge cakes that have been handed down from generation to generation. With the original sponge cakes, Kam Hing Coffee Shop has been making small tweaks on the this traditional cheap eat.

In addition to the best seller original for the older generations and even young children who crave for a twist on the morning cupcake, the Kam Hing Coffee Shop in Chinatown has added new flavors of green tea and chocolate chip. The green tea, also known as matcha is fused with sweet and bitter green tea which may not look appealing, but it is the first twist on the traditional recipe that has customers craving for more. The chocolate chip sponge cake is just as popular made with thinly sliced chocolate chips baked in rather than the traditional chocolate chip muffin.  These two are blasted with flavors that simply just melt in your mouth along with the sponge cake. Those at the Kam Hing Coffee shop is now experimenting with new flavors that include the sweet strawberry. This is definitely one to be anticipated!

Be sure to swing by Kam Hing Coffee shop and pick up your morning coffee or milk tea along with their traditional Chinese style cup cakes; you definitely won't regret this one located at the Southern end of Chinatown just before Little Italy. There's definitely some competition there, but nothing beats the price of Kam Hing's sponge cakes for just a dollar, especially with early hours of operation to cater to the early birds of both the younger school generation along with the older working generation.

Hidden Treasures - The Baker's Table

The Baker's Table
is one place by the Noksapyeong station of Itaewon-Haebangchon area that has all of the foreigners raving. Baking up fresh bread daily, it is the go to place for a handful of bread and pastries that range on the menu. The best part is that this small cozy shack uses their fresh breads in their menu with selections of panini, sandwiches, and breakfast goods that is the most popular option for many.

Incorporating the all American and European breakfast, many of the locals and foreigners visit the Baker's Table. The only problem is the small number of seating that is available which means that it is always packed. For this reason, many locals drop by to have sandwiches and baked goods for takeout. 

In regards to the menu, everything is listed at an affordable and not outrageous price which is how most brunch locations price their foods. There is a lot of rave behind Baker's Table. The only problem is I didn't find much hype behind some of their food. The chicken and cilantro panini seemed to be on a little of the dry end with not so much of a cilantro kick. The bread was definitely on point, but the combination did not do it for me. 

The potato wedges on the other hand is a must order. Fresh potatoes are sliced, coated with seasoning, pan fried, deep fried, and served with a side of salsa. This unique kick definitely offers something different and because it is made fresh, it may take a bit of time to whip up, but definitely worth the wait. 

On average, sandwiches cost $7 and breakfast plasters around $11. Portions are average, but satisfactory for the price. Breads and baked goodies range in price that start at $2. With great combinations and a wide option that does not subject to just the Korean take of bakery items, grabbing a few pieces to go is recommended. Their goods are extremely fluffy and tasty, something that is worth sharing with others. 

Directions: Take exit 2 of the Noksaypyeong station and go straight until you see an underpass to go across the street. Take the underpass going down to the other side. Take the exit on your left and go straight across the street. Walk straight for almost two blocks, past Craftworks and Once Upon a Milkshake and you will see the Baker's Table on your right.

Address: 244-1 Noksapyeong daero Itaewon-dong Yongsan Gu, Seoul, Korea
녹사평 대로 이태원동 용산구 244-1
Phone: 070-7717-3501

Restaurant Review - Stone Wall Brasserie

One of the most famous places in Bundang which is south of Seoul is Jeongja-dong for the street of coffee shops. In addition to having the best coffee shops and outdoor setting, brunch is one recommendation when you are in town served from 10Am to 3PM. Bundang is known to be a quiet residential and family area which is the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor brunch, especially at Stone Wall Brasserie. 

Stone Wall Brasserie is a spacious restaurant that offers outdoor seating to guests to enjoy during a sunny day. The best part is their menu. The brunch menu offers a plate of deliciousness served American style. Everything on the menu is a recommendation, but the one thing that definitely does stand out is Sunday Brunch - the French Toast platter. Served with a slice of french toast made fresh, two eggs, sausage, bacon, and fries are served on a huge plate with the option of a coffee or orange juice. It is an extremely filling meal to have for just $15. 

With friendly service and a menu in English, eating at Stone Wall Brasserie makes life easy. It is particularly hard to get an American breakfast, especially for Sunday brunch, but this is the one place to go. It makes it that much better that you escape the crazy city life in Seoul. Able to enjoy fresh air and family-oriented neighborhoods is one thing that is needed every now and then.

Address: 101 Paragon, 13-1 Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-shi, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: 031-719-1542
Directions: Straight from exit 4 of Jeongja station on the yellow Bundang line. Take a left at Woori Bank and a right at Waffle Bant. Stone wall will be on your right between Paragon 104 and 105 with a stone exterior.

Restaurant Review - Clinton Street Baking Co & Restaurant

Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant

4 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002 

The Clinton Street Baking Co is the place to be. Known for serving up breakfast goods and brunch delicious everything, the Clinton Street Baking Co has been featured on a handful of magazines, newspapers, and television shows, including Throwdown with Bobby Flay. What is so special about this spot? Everything. 

Do not take that with a grain of salt. The restaurant is a tiny, I mean tiny spot that constantly has a line, even before doors open! With a menu that caters to all breakfast goodies: pancakes, waffles, omlettes, toast, they even make their own homemade jam that is to die for. Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant definitely lives up to their title to have the best pancakes in town. They are made with the freshest ingredients and the seasonal recommendations are worth trying as well. They cater to the best ingredients of each season, incorporating it in the best way possible.

The best part is probably being able to get breakfast foods at any time of the day for many. From 9am to 6pm, breakfast is served fresh and practically the perfect early dinner, 7 days a week. Making a trip to Lower East Side is definitely worth it and it is recommended to be there before doors open, thats if you don't want to wait outside with the many locals and tourists that come around the world to sample their goodies. At the very minimum, staff comes out from time to time with goodies to hold your stomach as you wait for your seat inside. 

Restaurant Review - Butterfingers

For those who live in Korea, you know how impossible it is to find home comfort food, especially diner food. Most of us miss the after clubbing diners and home comfort breakfast foods in waffles, pancakes, eggs, and home fries. One of the ultimate popular spots in Korea for almost all foreigners is Butterfingers. With a few locations around Seoul which include, but are not limited to Gangnam and Bundang, it is the one place to go for the best diner foods.

Although it can be a bit pricey compared to the prices we are used to back at home, it is definitely worth a visit every once in a while to satisfy those cravings. The suggested is their waffles (we are in Korea after all), the Butterfingers shake, their pumpkin walnut pancake and their breakfast platter. The platter is a little big, recommended to be shared between two. In addition to the breakfast goods, there are a handful of other home comfort foods which include salads and burgers. I have yet to try those, but it will probably be on the menu next time!

Upon ordering breakfast goods, there is a choice for syrup which include honey or maple, and the choice of a sweet or regular butter. Korea is a bit fan of all things sweet so do not find these things peculiar, it's just the cultural differences but the sweet butter is recommended for pancakes and waffles! There's a crystallization of sugars that just melt in your mouth. 

Story of My Life - Hong Kong Travels

Hong Kong, one of the few places that speak Cantonese is an extremely popular tourist spot for many. Life in Hong Kong is very much like Korea with everything that is available everywhere, advanced technologies and extremely good food.

Because the city is small, you can knock out all of the tourist attractions within three days if you really wanted to, but it is nearly impossible to eat all the good eats Hong Kong has to offer. My album consists mostly of landscapes and food in Hong Kong which is all you really need to know!

To keep this blog as short as possible, the must visit place in Hong Kong: Victoria's Peak, Big Buddha via a crystal 360 cable car, Lan Kwai Fong, and of course all the shopping districts and streets.

Number one rule in Hong Kong is to haggle and bargain everywhere you go, including department stores because "discounts" will be offered. Be wise about it because certain items are already on sale for a low price so haggling is just asking for someone to give you a mean face.

One thing to be aware of is that you will get rude comments and yelled at by the locals. For one, they speak a little louder than others and two, there is little patience because of the stress of making money to buy a home which is practically impossible because of sparse amount of land. For many foreigners, this is something that is unacceptable, especially in restaurants but expect it to come unless you are dining at a five star hotel for every meal.

Now for the more entertaining and better part of the blog: