Life in Korea - Take Out

Living in Korea is pretty amazing for a variety of things, especially in comparison to the states for the very reason that it makes life easier and more convenient. One of the amazing things in Korea is of course, the food. It's a little crazy how the same chains that we have back in America are here, but a lot more amazing here. In fact, because of these amazing differences, it is the one reason why I probably eat out here than in back in the states.

Because food in Korea is never a disappointment, eating out all day and grabbing food to go is a common thing. It's also amazing when you are able to get takeout packaged in a special way. There’s a handful of things that is frustrating about getting takeout back at home because the food can get sloppy messy, or simply difficult to handle on the way home. 

Ironic to say the least though, that living in Korea, I’ve definitely learned a handful of new ways and tricks to package takeout which just might come to use when moving back to America. For starters, they always plastic bag everything for you which makes it easy for you to carry it. Utensils are also wrapped in plastic packaging (straws included) which makes it extremely sanitary and you'll always get some kind of utensils, even from Baskin Robbins.

Baskin Robbins is actually amazing in Korea for amazing flavor combinations and a new flavor every month. In addition to this, Baskin Robbins offer actual ice cream cakes that are the cutest thing and made with different flavors. They even slice cakes of different ice cream flavors and piece them together for the ultimate ice cream cake, without an actual cake bottom like back at home. Last rave about Baskin Robbins in Korea is that when you get ice cream packaged up, you actually pick the flavors that you want, not the ones that are fridge packaged already. It is extremely common for families and friends to get buckets to go or enjoy within the ice cream shop. For anything to go, they will offer utensils and candles for cakes, along with dry ice to keep the ice cream from melting.

In addition to my favorite place in Korea, real food takeout in Korea is also amazing. Mini cakes and desserts are always packaged up in palm sized boxes that keeps the cake from sliding around and smashing the cakes against the walls of boxes. Pizza takeout is even more amazing with handles that help to balance the box when walking. This definitely makes it easy to hold a pizza pie without having to burn your hands.

 

The one last thing to rave about is combination takeouts. When ordering a mix of dishes, they will separate the two to prevent any sauces from spilling over. This goes for fried foods as well. When paired with a salad, crispy chicken is separated from the veggies and dressing is on the side (even for doggy bags). It's pretty amazing that Koreans actually care about their food tasting good outside of the restaurant. That's definitely the total package there.

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Tous Les Jours

Tous Les Jours is a French Asian bakery popular chain in Korea for their baked goods. Measurable to the popular Paris Baguette, many of the breads are the same type with their own twist. Because I have previously blogged about it, I wanted to solely concentrate on their other baked goodies. 

In addition to the breads, there are sandwiches, cold refreshing summer drinks, bingsu desserts, ice cream and of course cakes! I love the bakeries in Korea because they are fully equipped for any and every event. This birthday cake was well packaged with a knife, candles, matches, and even poppers for a birthday celebration. Talk about an all in one! The best part about bakeries in Korea is their absolutely gorgeous designed cakes. Everything in Korea is just so pretty that sometimes it is too pretty to eat. I had a bit of trouble cutting into the cake, but of course no one had a problem eating the cake. Unlike cakes back at home, Korean cakes are less sweet. From countless blogs before, it is evident that Koreans are not a big fan of extremely sweet pastries, the cakes alike. This chocolate mousse cake tasted more like a chocolate bread, but that is the culture here and sometimes, you just have to learn to accept that. 

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Tous les Jours

Tous les Jours, is one of the popular bakery chains in Korea. Its pastries and breads are comparable to the famous Paris Baguette here in Korea. One of my favorites of the Tous les Jours bakery is the beautifully designed cakes that they have. It is a small size, that ranges from $12-20. It is perfect for those who have a random craving and would just like to stuff their face full of goodies. Koreans aren't big on sweets and therefore, their pastries tend to be less sweet. They are a big fan of filling they breads with some type of creme or jam so plain bread is a little uncommon here. 

Pastries and coffee are delicious. They range in price depending on what type you get, comparable to the Paris Baguette prices. It is good to switch around between the two, but I admit that I am more in love with the cakes at Tous les Jours than Paris Baguette. 

On another note, I wanted to point out this cute single serving cheesecake. Koreans use a blend of cake powder and cream cheese. Its hard to find a traditional cheesecake in Korea, but luckily I did find one at Vecchia & Nuovo. One thing that I did want to point out is the skinny candle and match that comes with the cake. A big thing in Korea: fit as much candles as you can on one cake!