Thursday, May 31, 2012

Restaurant Review - Coco Curry

Coco Curry is one of the most popular curry restaurant chains in Korea. Cooking up Korean-infused curry dishes for an average price of $9, it is a must visit place for curry. The simplest way to order is to pick and choose from their prepared dishes, but you can also choose the ingredients that you wish to consume. Adding additional ingredients alters the price of course, but it is definitely worth it.

Unlike other curry restaurants, Coco Curry offers customers the option to choose their level of spiciness. It is perfect for those who are unsure of how spicy a dish is because you can order a level that is within your range. In addition to catering the level of spice to your tastes, Coco Curry also provides the option of rice consumption. There are three different rice amounts which include regular, more (which costs a bit more) and less (the best part is they decrease the price of the meal). I’ve never seen a restaurant take away from the set price, but is awesome to have that option.

The recommend dish is the beef curry with vegetables. The beef is extremely soft that it practically just melts in your mouth. With a blend of mixed vegetables, it is the perfect compliment of ingredients that will have your mouth watering for more. With so many locations in Seoul, this is a must visit.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Product Review - Tony Moly Intense Care Dual Effect Sleeping Pack

The Tony Moly Intense Care Dual Sleeping Pack is a gel-like mask that you pack onto your skin overnight. It is extremely gentle on the skin and works through the night to brighten the face, reduce wrinkles, and of course provide moisture to the skin. The product claims to also have "good sleep mechanism technology" which I do not understand, but I am a fan of this product because of its texture. Unlike other overnight masks, it is extremely light and a little goes a long way. There is no need to pack on a thick amount and it washes off smoothly. I hate going through the fuss of washing off a thick amount of overnight sleeping pack but I had no troubles with this product.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Salam Bakery


Salam Mart has one of the best Turkish and Arabic goodies in town, Itaewon to be exact. The store is filled with freshly baked breads and sweet pastries. Depending on the bread and pastry that you are looking to get, the prices will vary. Salam Mart has low prices for breads which is worth it for fresh bread.

On the other hand, their Turkish desserts which include Baklava being one of their top sellers (four pieces for the equivalent of three dollars). It is one the I definitely recommend for anyone who is new to Turkish goodies with a fluffy pastry stop that is coated with a sugary glaze and extremely sweet filling. I am absolutely in love with this dessert. 

In addition to the Baklava, I also picked up a mixed nut pastry bar for the equivalent of two dollars. It is not as sweet as the Baklava, but is is made of a thick jelly textured goody. I wish I remembered the name to this dessert, but it would be great if anyone was able to help! Itaewon is definitely one of the must visit places for foreigners to get all the great eats and bring you back home, especially someone who came from New York where foreign food is a regular.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Café Iceberry

After a hike and a long walk over transportation, I couldn’t help but to pay a visit to Café Iceberry in Gangnam. The café contains all sorts of food which include sandwiches (hot and cold), refreshing drinks, dessert, and more. Prices are fairly average, but the food is delectable. It is well worth eating back all the calories that were burned off that very same morning.

For starters, the drinks at Café Iceberry are freshly made. There is such a large selection of drinks that it may be difficult to find the right one. I definitely suggest their coffees and fresh smoothies. In addition to refreshing drinks, their dessert selection is amazing. From waffles to gelatos to soft serve ice cream to bing-su (fruit and ice dessert) to a combination of the two, there is a wide range of goodies waiting to be consumed. Everything is just so good, the calories will be packing on.
In regards to their foods, their bread ball is a freshly baked and unique ball of bread that is chewy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I recommend the cheese bread ball which is sliced open and topped with melted cheese. Their tomato and cheese tortilla is also mouth watering. Freshly baked on the premises, it is made up of a crispy tortilla shell topped with fresh tomatoes and melted cheese. It is a great compliment and too good to be true from a café.
I am a little disappointed when it came to their sandwiches. It does not measure up to everything else on the menu. Worst of all, the sandwich you receive does not compare to the one on display. There is a lot less meat, mostly vegetables but the bread is fresh and soft. Nonetheless, the café is amazing for the many goodies it whips up and I would return!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

My Current Obsession - Holika Holika Premium Sheep Milk Yogurt


One of my recent purchases from Holika Holika is the Premium Sheep Milk Yogurt in Wild Berry. I am in love with the thick berry scent that leaves my face moisturized and glowing after one use. Simply leave to soak in on a clean face for 10-15 minutes and wash off. It is a bit of a hassle to wash off this thick mask so it is recommended to use a towel or a sponge, but be careful to wipe off all of the milk yogurt. Leave some to soak in on the skin to get that extra benefit. 

Friday, May 18, 2012

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction - Waffle Bant

Feeding off my obsession with waffles, Waffle Bant is a small Korean waffle chain in Korea is known for their coffee, waffle, and ice creams. I suggest the classic waffle with their classic ice cream. I warn you that their ice cream is not like that in America. The texture of the ice cream is actually made from their yogurt milk and not the mill form we are accustomed to in America. Although the ice cream may be a bit peculiar and something you can skip out on, the waffle is a must.

It may be a bit pricey for a small piece of waffle that costs two to three dollars as compared to the street food cheap eat, but this waffle is absolutely delicious. This small bite size piece of waffle is extremely fluffy and crispy on the outside that it makes you crave for more! It can be hard to resist the crave, but that supports the reason for its deliciousness and why you should definitely give it a go.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Bottoms Up - Gong Cha

With my cravings for bubble tea (boba tea), Gong Cha is definitely a café from heaven. Gong Cha offers one of the best bubble tea selections that I have ever had. With a number of locations across Asia, Gong Cha has finally made it’s way to Hongdae. It is my favorite spot for bubble tea! They try to stray away from the traditional and classic milk teas and fruit teas by offering other blends.

In addition to the traditional take on bubble tea, Gong Cha finds ways to cater to the customers tastes by adjusting the sweetness and ice level for each customer. When placing an order, they ask for the level of sugar which is important because we all know that sweetness is a constant complaint which differs from person to person. Depending on who is making the drink, the taste varies, but Gong Cha offers a more consistent and stable taste by monitoring the sugar and ice level.

I think it is a great concept, but the one complaint is the price. The drinks are a bit on the expensive side, but I think it is definitely worth it. The one recommendation that is my all time favorite is the Caramel Milk Tea with pearl bubbles. There are a handful of different topping choices that I have yet to try, but I will constantly visit!