Coffee on the 'Ga

Cafe Harrar

Most coffee shop owners on Hagwon-ga know me quite well by now~ almost as well as I know the coffee selection in the neighborhood. My favorite shop, tucked behind Hagwon-ga is Cafe Harrar. A woodsy feel gives that cozy upstate-NY feel that a girl just needs sometimes. They also play Norah Jones regularly which soothes the soul well when you have delicately brewed coffee in front of you.

The owner is fond of foreigners; he loves to chat in English and give discounts. ;) The menu is nicely rounded out with cakes and brownies that will have you hooked, and a solid wine selection. If you're into specialty coffee, or want fresh beans to brew at home this is the spot~

On the McDonalds side of Hagwon-ga, turn at the corner with Tous Les Jour. Walk all the way back to the park, hang a left and you will see the wooden door propped on the corner.

Sanchon~ Vegetarian Dining in SK~

I gathered my vegetarian friend Jaime, culinary star Brooke, and her future-husband Mike, to check out a popular restaurant in Insa-dong. Serving Buddhist food prepared by a stellar chef, Sanchon is a golden ticket to Korean vegetarian eating. There are no chemical additives, stimulant spices, or meat products used on the menu.

We began the course with walnut porridge and vegetable soup. The main spread included seven seasonal vegetables, rice, tofu soup, three types of pajeon (Korean style pancakes), fried vegetables, acorn gelatin (which sounds so bizarre to us western folk, but is so so SO tasty), japchae, my favorite, (potato starch noodles with stir fried veggies), spring rolls and MORE! There are twenty dishes in total, including the cinnamon tea and rice cakes served as a dessert. There was so much food to sample, all cooked without a touch of meat, and the vegetables are collected from the mountains.

Even with a restriction on seasoning the food was so tasty; I dare classify is as one of the best meals I've had in Korea.... and I still cant get that tea off my mind! [Jaime, we have to go back to the ajumma and buy some!]

In addition to the wholesome meal the interior space is natural and cozy with floor seating and wood finishes everywhere. Set in a traditional Hanok, it is filled with tokens of Buddhism and lotus lanterns illuminate the space.

The dishes and flatware are identical to what Monks use and are handmade from Zelkova trees found on Jiri-san. From 8 to 9 every night there is a traditional Korean dance performance. Eight dances and ornate traditional Korean dress flow around the stage. The performance wraps up with a collective performance by diners, so bring your dancing shoes, but be sure to leave them at the door.

Dinner and show costs 40,000 Won; Lunch special 20,000 Won. You can buy many of the foods and teas, as well as cookbooks by the master chef. Sanchon is located off the main drag in Insa-dong. Look for the Sanchon Tea and Gift Shop, wind your way to the very back and you will be at the door to the vegetarian paradise.

http://www.sanchon.com/english/

Cafe Gureum

I've been eyeing Cafe Gureum since I arrived in Korea. On Subway Line 4, from Beomgye to Seoul, as we cross over the Han River the view is amazing and this cafe sits atop the highway taking it all. An ideal place to sip a cup o' joe, I ventured there with a friend last week. The Friday night view offered sweet sights of the river, Namsan (Seoul's mountain) and Namsan Tower, evening rush hour, and subway trains zooming across the bridge.

Let me recommend the chicken salad and tomato seafood spaghetti dish. After dinner we relaxed in the atmosphere with a costly brew, but really, we don't go here for the coffee, we go for the view. Arrive there before 8 o'clock, which is when things got hopping and all the sweet window seats were taken! Take Line 4 to Dongjak Station. Exit number one, and go up the stairs. Cross the bridge till you see the elevator that takes you up to the cafe. I also advise making your potty stop before arrival because the nearest toilet is 500 meters away, in a park below the bridge that lines the river. Enjoy the view! ^^

BUSTED!

Remember that Korean inspired pagoda I spent weeks carefully building up and piecing together....

Yea, that one. Well it made its way into the kiln last week.....

And it made its way out in eight pieces. BUSTED.

The construction method left gaps of air between the tiers. In the heat of the kiln the pressure built and caused the project to disassemble into a nice pile of rubble. So, I'm pretty sure that means I failed my hand building final, but my teacher hasn't asked me to step down from the wheel yet. [maybe it's the language barrier]

Here's a few shots of my beginner attempts at cup making. I'm awaiting a video demonstration from Greg and Justin. Until then I'll just keep pulling, changing variables, and studying Korean with hopes to fully understand my teacher.