This week : celebrating Chuseok in France and Korea Now! at les Arts Décoratifs
27 septembre 2015 § Poster un commentaire
During this week end is the celebration of the Eid for muslims and also Chuseok 추석 or Hangawi 한가위 for Koreans, which is a three day celebration for a good harvest. The date is chosen according to the lunar calendar and changes every year. Koreans living in the cities return to their grandparents’ house and take time to visit the tombs of their ancestors. 
The symbolic food eaten during Chuseok is the « Songpyeun » 송편, a rice cake filled with red bean paste, sesame seeds, sweetened with honey. Chocolate did not existed yet, the red bean paste was an excellent substitute before chocolate was introduced by the Americans. Songpyeun has the shape of a full moon and is perfumed with pin needles while they are steamed. They can be lightly colored with natural tints such as blueberry or carrot. 
Next year Chuseok will be September 15th! I hope to be in South Korea to celebrate it with my family, I have not seen my cousins reunited all together for a while.
If you are interested in Korean culture, there is the exposition « KOREA NOW! Craft, design and fashion » held at les Arts Décoratifs until January 3rd, 2016. I have never seen so many beautiful korean pieces of pottery gathered in one place.
For those interested in fashion, you will see how South Koreans have changed the Hanbok for more contemporary and minimalist outfits inspired by designers like Juun J.
Dessert spot : Okrumong / 옥루몽 – Seoul
21 avril 2015 § Poster un commentaire
Okrumong is a dessert spot specialized in red bean. The strawberry bingsoo was seasonal but the version with red bean is a classic. The secret of a good bingsoo relies on the red bean paste : the beans should be tender and firm. I can recognize when it is fresh beans or from cans because the last ones are generally too soft and sweet. 
Okrumong is an excellent place for enjoying this ice shaved dessert. For those who may not be familiar to red bean paste, the taste is similar to chocolate! 
You can also try rice cakes made of red beans. There are several locations across South Korea.
Alex and the Coffee at AND – Seoul
21 avril 2015 § Poster un commentaire
I read in a magazine that the owner of this cafe located in Hannam-dong prepared good ice coffee. Until now, the only experience of ice coffee I had were disappointing: just water, loads of ice cube but no taste of « coffee ». With spring and warm temperatures arriving in Seoul, it was the perfect timing to give a try. 
Alex and the coffee is also a restaurant, which I had not the opportunity to visit but their pastries were just amazing (on the picture the salted caramel brownie), if not the best I ever had in Seoul. If pastries are that good, i can’t imagine how nice the dishes must be! 
For coffee lovers, the ice version really has the taste of coffee and not just water. They sell bottles of this cold drink if you want to take away. If you plan to go to Seoul this summer and you appreciate drinking good coffee, you now know where to go!
Address: 684-53 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu and website here
Sugarsheet 
