Three meals in Seoul, Korea that could change your life
PUBLISHED August 11th, 2014 04:00 pm | UPDATED January 19th, 2016 03:38 pm
You’ve probably been to Seoul and experienced how yummy those pan-fried scallion pancakes, sauced-up rice cakes and oily barbecued pork can be. While these must have left fond holiday memories, there are some gems in the Land of the Morning Calm that are truly unmatched. Citynomads present three establishments that might re-define your impression of psychedelic Seoul.
Jung Sik Dang
Tucked in a maze of alleys in the uber-hip Gangnam district lies Jung Sik Dang, the brainchild of Chef Yim Jung Sik. Chef Yim is a graduate from the Culinary Institute of America – his Seoul flagship was so successful that he opened a New York branch that has become a Michelin-starred darling ever since.
Minimalist in décor but ambitious in spirit, Jung Sik Dang will challenge your pre-conceived notions of Korean cuisine through modern takes on familiar Korean flavours. For instance, bibimbap takes on a fresh interpretation – seaweed puree coats soft rice grains in place of gochujang sauce, and icebox lettuce lends more crunch than classic carrot slivers. Throw in fried millet, uni and light kimchi, the dish delivers both on flavour and texture.
A dessert of chocolate mousse looks like typical de-constructed detritus, until you discover that makoli (a rice-based alcoholic beverage) is the filling of choice and its surrounding dark crumbs are black sesame-flavoured. A sophisticated, affordable alternative to enjoying Korean food, without losing what is core about the cuisine.
Jung Sik Dang is located at 649-7 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu
Si Wha Dam
Fine art meets fine cuisine in this unassuming two-storey complex. A hard-to-find address on the sides of a hilly but hip Itawon locale adds to its mystique, not helped by the fact that the immediate sight upon entering is not a hostess stand but a compact gallery of Oriental paintings, stone sculptures and cased displays of artefacts.
The artistic tread continues in Si Wha Dam’s Temple Cuisine, decked in painfully immaculate presentations that oblige even the most Instagram-averse to whip out their cameras. Ginseng is not just served with honeycomb on a plate, but nestled in mossy mountainscape complete with soil and bark. Sweet grilled pork, sprigs of chives and a roulade of kimchi each symbolise some element of nature in a dish named ‘As the Boughs Bear Wheat’, stopping short of cheesy and displaying earnestness and deliciousness in equal parts. Food Director Kyungwon Park presents an utterly out-of-this world, almost surreal gastronomic experience, yet evoking a sense of peace not just with oneself but with the world.
Si Wha Dam is located at 5-5 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu
Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul
Pierre Gagnaire may be past his prime, but echoes of his legacy still linger in parts of the world where stoic, classic French never go out of style. Overstated opulence and outlandish grandeur are his signature strokes, and his outpost at Seoul’s Lotte Hotel sports bold purple and splashes of orange under a glistening chandelier.
Every component on the plate speaks of the French chef’s engineering finesse and culinary expertise. Foie gras and chocolate are built to please. Olive and arugula are pieced together in the right proportions for a lovingly herby and nutty cake.
Gorgonzola ice cream enlivens a construction of green mango and pear salad with a blue cheese funk, and souffle as the barometer of a good French restaurant comes flush with chocolate here, melting like a cloud of cotton candy in the mouth. Paired with unrivalled views of the city and service that elevates the sense of occasion, a meal at Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul can be an assault on the senses, in all the good ways, that is.
Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul is located at 1 Sogong-dong, Jung-gu (35F Lotte Hotel)
Singapore Airlines, Asiana Airlines and Korean Airlines fly directly to the capital city of South Korea. For accommodation, budget Mizo Hotel (66-9 Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu) does the trick – not only is it right smack in the middle of a dense shopping grid pulsating with life even in the wee hours, its tatami-style rooms provide a taste of Japanese living with heated floors and plush futons.
For the city’s largest standard rooms, be sure to check out W Seoul Walkerhill (177, Walkerhill-ro, Gwangjin-gu). Oozing sex appeal and artistic flair, the hotel’s far-flung location atop a hill, designer-chic lobby, myriad dining options and contemporary rooms make the occasional splurge on lodging well worth it. Its Heavenly Bed doesn’t hurt too, especially after an energy-sapping night out.
Flights check. Accommodation check. If you haven’t stepped foot into the three restaurants above, or have yet to check out this city with its charming blend of tradition and modernity, a food trip to Seoul should be the perfect reason to jet-set for your next long weekend.
