Time Flies When You're in Suwon

This morning, after an awesome three-week vacation, I reluctantly watched Rachael board a red coach bus and depart for Incheon International Airport. As I’m writing this she is probably somewhere over the Pacific watching bad movies and spending what’s left of her Won on airplane snacks. I’ll certainly miss her over the next seven months but at least I have a weeks worth of fun things to write about.

The first day back from Boracay I took Rachael to my school for a quick tour and to introduce her to Ms. Huh. Additionally I needed Ms. Huh to help me transfer money back to the states so I can make payments on my massive student loans. Why did I go to college again? Later in the week we met Ms. Huh for dinner at a really awesome vegetarian buffet. It’s strange…I go jogging past that place all the time but have never noticed it. On Tuesday we headed up to Seoul for some sightseeing. The first stop was an awesome aquarium in the basement of an ominous skyscraper known only as Building 63.

Later we explored Gyeongbokgung, the major palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Amongst numerous other atrocities during times of occupation, the Japanese actually destroyed this palace twice, once in 1592 and again in 1915. At present, much of the palace is still being reconstructed. I can understand why some Koreans still view their neighbors to the east with contempt.

After exploring the palace grounds we wandered around Insa-Dong market.

Later in the week we set off to grab some coffee at a unique café known as Dr. Fish, where you can receive a pedicure via little fish eating the dead skin off of your feet. It should be noted that this establishment came recommended by the knowledgeable folks at TheYeogiyo.com.

As soon as our feet were adequately feasted upon it was up to the top of Namsang Tower for a breathtaking view of the city.

Also managed to score another restaurant review at a fashionable little place called Baek Seju Maul while Rachael was in town. Here is a link to the website I’m writing for – NowSeoul.com- (it needs some work) but just for the sake of convenience I’ll post the review here as well.

So it’s Friday night and you’re looking for a trendy eatery in Seoul to fill both you and your date’s stomach before gallivanting around Hongik Dae. Naturally hundreds of restaurants in the greater Seoul area fit these criteria but why search around heedlessly when a hip little pub by the name of Baek SeJu Maul will satisfy your expectations and more without completely emptying your wallet. It’s very easy to get to. All you have to do is walk straight out Exit 3 of Sinchon Station for about three blocks. The red, neon entrance resembling a misshapen letter A will appear diagonally on your right.

The interior is wood paneling and intricate stonework above mellow marble floors. Red accents, sheet metal, and blue glass pillars under a dim, white ambiance make for a modish, relaxing atmosphere.

Our meal started with an ambush of three dishes accompanied by a pitcher of Ulin Saeng Baek Seju, a frozen alcoholic beverage that is peach colored and mixed with up to twelve traditional Chinese medicines, Gin-Sing being the most notable. The Baek Seju was initially very bitter but once your throat opens to the taste it goes down quite enjoyably.

The prettiest of the three dishes was Tang Pyeong Chae, consisting of shredded portions of baby shoots, egg, peppers, Mung-Bean sprouts, mushrooms, beef, dried seaweed, and an unusual green-bean jelly known as Chang Po.As my host mixed the neat, portioned rows, drizzling the concoction with a sesame balsamic, she explained that in centuries past only persons of noble descent were able to enjoy this dish.

My girlfriend’s favorite dish was Hukim Ja Dubu, a mild, wet tofu encrusted with black sesame and resting on a bed of pickled onions. The flavorful cubes of soy were garnished with thinly sliced, white chicken, orange sardine caviar, and sprouts.

The third dish of our first course was Gangjang Yangnyum Dak Tui Kim, moist and tender chicken nuggets, battered in rye and deep-fried before coming to rest on a bed of lettuce. The plate is decorated with sliced red and green peppers before receiving a soy, honey, and oyster dressing. Easily my favorite dish of the evening, I found myself shamelessly plotting against my fellow diners when but one crispy piece remained.

The second course was a fried seafood cake of welsh spring onions, red peppers, squid, prawn, mussels, rye, and ginger called Hae Mul Pa Jeon. It was a crunchy treat served with a gigantic bowl of 100% rice Makali and the pair tied the meal together quite effectively.

The service in Baek Seju Maul was friendly and timely at the start but the cumbersome dishes from the first course remained at the table long after their contents had been consumed and indirectly led to water spilling on my notes when the server sought a resting place for the second course. This is a minor complaint, I know, but as someone who has himself cleared thousands of tables in a high-end restaurant during the notorious college years I feel that efficient table management is basic modus operandi in the service industry and it therefore warrants a brief acknowledgment. But this minor hindrance borders on nit-picking when combined with the collective experience at Baek Seju Maul. The food is astounding and the chic atmosphere is a natural place to cultivate conversation amongst new and old friends alike. So call a date, make some plans, and spend your next weekend out at a sure-fire hit in the heart of Seoul.

The only other highlight of Rachael’s week in Korea that comes to mind is the fact that she smuggled four pounds of fresh Mexican Organic coffee here for me.No more of that cold sugary crap out of a can. Oh, and thanks to Fennario Coffee and Tobacco of West Chester, Pennsylvania for getting me hooked on the stuff. One more thing, I broke down and bought a domain name so is now www.deadlyquests.blogspot.com is just www.deadlyquests.com. Finally some legitimacy.

Cool Thing About Korea #24: School starts tomorrow! Yay!