Raiding the Photo Album of Editor Meokjjang ①
Suddenly looking through my photo album, I realized all the pictures are just of eating and enjoying myself. From the end of December, year-end parties and New Year’s gatherings kept coming one after another, leaving only delicious memories of eating and having fun. Since these memories remain only in photos and it feels a shame to keep them to myself, I decided to share some restaurant recommendations. As a food enthusiast editor, I’m about to start sharing some tasty stories.
At a Friend’s House (December 29)
Around this time of year, I had to eat yellowtail sashimi. I bought it from Uribada Susan and rushed to my friend’s house. Whiskey and soda are inseparable best friends too. To keep things light and tasty rather than heavy food, I didn’t forget to bring vegetables. I mixed the whiskey with black tea tonic zero to set the mood. There was napa cabbage in my friend’s fridge, so eating it together felt like heaven on earth. The yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) was a gift from a friend of unknown origin. What does it matter if it’s cold outside! Eating such delicious food together in my friend’s warm house made the year-end feel rich and cozy. This isn’t because of the alcohol (emphasis)
Address: Friend’s House
(Uribada Susan: 102 World Cup-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul)
Cheong-eo-ram (December 30)
Gopchang jeongol (beef tripe hot pot) is truly the best. Following side dishes like broccoli and stir-fried fish cakes, the grand appearance of the gopchang jeongol was impressive! The spicy broth with various ingredients floating on top made me salivate even before it started boiling. Green onions, carrots, mushrooms, napa cabbage, and udon noodles are the basic ingredients. It has that spicy broth we all know with tender gopchang inside. Even those sensitive to spice can enjoy it without tears, so it might be a bit mild for friends who love spicy food. However, I highly recommend this place because you can enjoy gopchang without any unpleasant smell and sweet vegetables in a hearty way.
Address: 97 Mangwon-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
At a Friend’s House (December 31)
Since it was said not to go out at the end of the year, I headed to a friend’s house. I quickly shopped and made a salmon salad, and added weight to the table with ordered chicken and pasta made from a meal kit. Since we had to chat and eat heartily, I also carefully brought coffee when entering the house. It was a day of intentional indulgence, but with lots of vegetables and salmon, I felt healthier. Ending 2022 like this, before I knew it, fireworks went off and it became 2023. However, the food enthusiast editor’s restaurant tour will continue non-stop, so please wait for more.
Myeongdong Yuktongryeong (January 2)
Meat is a must for New Year’s parties. I met a friend after work and arrived around the peak time of 7 PM, and as expected, the wait was long. It was so cold I felt like crying, but since it was New Year, the atmosphere was warm everywhere! While exchanging well wishes and talking about plans for this year with my friend, we were admitted. The meat appeared right after entering! They grilled it for us, so watching was fun, and the side dishes were so delicious I kept wanting to eat more. A warm bowl of rice, juicy meat, and a must-have glass of soju. I renewed my resolution to eat a lot of meat this year as well.
Address: 37-2 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Myeongdong Mano the Chef (January 6)
Having eaten sashimi, gopchang jeongol, and samgyeopsal, the next menu to enjoy had to be pizza, right? I visited a famous restaurant known for its steak pizza, and even though it was early evening, there was a wait. The pizza topped with steak and tomatoes, along with the risotto that had a satisfying amount of seafood, were great. Overall, it wasn’t greasy but light and chewy in texture, which I liked. Especially, the city night view including Namsan Tower left me speechless. You can enjoy both the atmosphere and the taste, so it’s a great place to visit on a special day. The New Year’s parties will continue until before Lunar New Year~
Address: 11th Floor, UNESCO Hall, 26 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
Photo=TY
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