Let's Consider the Waiting Time!
The weather naturally makes you think of a picnic. You can’t help but want to spread out a mat and leisurely enjoy the sunshine and the gentle breeze. It’s like wanting to experience being the heroine in a movie, carrying bread wrapped in a brown paper bag under your arm as you stroll leisurely. Among the places that come to mind is Seongsu-dong, where Seoul Forest and Ttukseom Hangang Park are nearby. It retains the old factory sites while appealing to the MZ generation, giving every alley a hip vibe. Stop by the bakeries recommended by the editor and enjoy a picnic this weekend!
Seoul Parrot
“I want to go to Seoul Parrot Cafe!” a friend said, and I remember asking, “Is there a parrot in the cafe?” When I visited, there was no parrot, as expected, or is that obvious? The cafe reminded me of colorful parrots. The brightly colored entrance is eye-catching even from afar and is perfect for finding your personal color. The biggest charm of this place is browsing limited edition goods and leaving your mark by doodling with ink on the provided dishes. Among the bakeries introduced today, this is the only place where you can eat inside the store.
The signature menu is the Quenelle Amann, which means kouign (cake) and amann (butter). It is a dessert with layers of crispy pastry coated with chocolate, strawberry, matcha, and more. The double cheddar cheese Quenelle Amann perfectly delivered the texture and taste you expect from its appearance, but the basil onion cinnamon roll and Lotus cinnamon roll were different. The combination of cream cheese, basil, and onion felt just right for brunch, making me crave a picnic even more. The Lotus cinnamon roll was sweet enough to melt your teeth with its moist texture and rich peanut cream.
Herge
Herge is a place that sells sourdough, croissants, and ingredients. They also sell wine and champagne, so you can purchase matching alcoholic beverages together. All Herge products are made from organic flour and dough prepared fresh daily. The hard bread varieties are vegan breads made by cultivating levain (the bread’s base dough) daily without adding milk or butter.
The popular menu item is Jambon Beurre, a French sandwich with thinly sliced ham (Jambon) and butter (Beurre) inside a baguette. The salty ham flavor is more prominent than the rich butter taste. Due to the nature of baguettes, it’s recommended to eat them immediately after purchase. Is there anything more fitting for picnic food than this! If you dislike the hardness of baguettes or have a weak jaw joint, you can opt for the soft Jambon Beurre.
Mildo
The name combines the main ingredient of bread, wheat (mil), which also means meal in English, and the Korean word for humidity, ‘do.’ In other words, Mildo bakes bread considering the daily changing temperature and humidity under the title of the perfect temperature for delicious bread. Located on Seongsu Boulevard, Mildo’s interior is very compact. The space is just enough for two adults, so waiting outside is a must.
At Mildo, you can find two types of bread. The plain bread is made by mixing non-fat milk and clean organic flour, resulting in a mild and chewy texture, while the rich bread is kneaded with fresh cream, making it softer and more savory. If you slice and freeze it, you can still enjoy the chewy texture of the bread after thawing, which is a characteristic of Mildo’s bread.
Another popular menu includes three types: cube chocolate, custard, and red bean paste. Thanks to the generous cream, they are moist while maintaining the bread’s chewiness. They are great for a light snack.
Why don’t I live in Seongsu? Sob sob
Photo by Yoon Eun-ae
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