Tteok Galbi: Beef Patties in Damyang, Korea

February 5, 2014

It is said that tteok galbi (Korean beef patties) originated from Damyang, Korea. To get a taste of this famous dish, my food crew and I headed over to Deokin Gwan (덕인관). After the popularity of its first establishment the restaurant opened up more locations. The particular one we went to happened to be the same spot where they shot "2 Days & 1 Night." Yup. Comedian and ex-wrestler Kang Hodong ate here.

You can't help but love the photo of the grandmother on the storefront. No doubt she's the owner. The restaurant name is in Chinese, so don't look for Korean letters and end up passing by it!

Our table was already prepared for us when we entered the room. The pan of tteok galbi was ready for action along with a colorful set of banchan (sidedishes). Expect stronger flavors in Jeollado cuisine compared to Seoul. As said by my native Korean friend, kimchi in the Jeollado Province contains more jeotgal than Seoul Kimchi. Generally speaking food in Seoul tastes sweeter than its southern counterparts. PS: Don't be too surprised about the bill placed on the table before even having your first bite.

Sizzle sizzle. The sound of tteok galbi heaven. Eat the outer parts, put the bone back on the pan, then chew off the final bits. I recommend going ssam style. Take a leaf of lettuce and place a piece of meat on top. Maybe even add in a slice of kimchi. Whatever makes your heart fly, put it all in. Wrap up the goodies and into the mouth!

The tteok galbi at the first Deokin Gwan location tastes even better I hear.

The chueotang (추어탕) looked more spicy than it actually was. The soup tasted healthy, which is a positive or negative connotation depending on your perspective on food. Being a lover of vegetables and herbal medicine, I thoroughly enjoyed the chueotang. This particular soup contained baby bamboo, which is not found in your average chueotang. Why? Many bamboo trees grow in Damyang, thus they end up using them in their cuisine.

Rice, gingko, mushroom and pumpkin seed steamed in a bamboo shoot. So magical. A vegan dream come true.

You can sit in the more open and public area or go into one of the rooms. Just remember to take your shoes off :)

Deokin Gwan
Phone: 061-381-7881
Website: http://www.deokinkwan.com
Address (in Korean): 전라남도 담양군 담양읍 죽향대로 1121 (담양읍)
Address: (in English): 408-5, Baekdong-ri, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do

Delicious Beef Soup at Naju Gomtang Bongsungwan

February 3, 2014

First question: what is gomtang (곰탕)? Gomtang is a soup that contains various parts of beef simmered under low heat. Some people use just one portion of beef, such as oxtail or ox's head, while others combine various parts. Gomtang tends to have a white, cloudy look to it. But not always. Next question: Where do you get the softest gomtang in Korea? Let's get real. No one ever ate at every existing gomtang restaurant. However Naju Gomtang Bongsungwan (나주곰탕 봉선관) in Gwangju serves the some of the most memorable beef soup your taste buds will encounter.

During peak lunch hours, the place gets packed. My friends and I waited 10 minutes for our seats. You will most likely end up sharing a long table with strangers. Everyone minds their own business so no worries if you're introverted or in a hurry. Just remember to take off your shoes! :)

We ordered three bowls of suyuk gomtang (수육곰탕) by the recommendation of our friend, who is a resident of the neighborhood. Word is: the regular gomtang is likeable, but the suyuk gomtang far tastier.

The minute you have your first bite, you'll wish to rewind time and experience the moment all over again. The meat used in the suyuk gomtang is so soft that it melts in your mouth. The restaurant uses female cow head. They say it's softer than the male cow head. It may sound sexist, but biologically it works.

Another element to love about Naju Gomtang Bongsungwan: self-service kimchi. Eat as much as you want or as little. Saves the server's time from refilling your dishes and limits waste. Or at least that's the goal.

The napa cabbage kimchi was better than the average restaurant kimchi. The radish kimchi tasted sweet like candy.

Suzy from Miss A eats here. After all she's a native of Gwangju, Korea. The owner gave me a copy of this photo after seeing me film in his restaurant. Smart choice. You scored yourself some brownie points, Monsieur. I shall go to your restaurant every time I visit Gwangju. Actually you don't have to be a YouTuber to receive a photo. Simply ask the front desk for a copy.

The menu is simple. Soup and drinks. There's no need for anything else here. If you're known for one thing, why muddy it up with too many options?

The storefront of Naju Gomtang Bongsungwan. There are many restaurants with a similar name. Make sure you go to the one at the address below.

Naju Gomtang Bongsungwan
Address (in Korean): 광주 남구 봉선동 494 494
Address (in English): Bongseon-dong (127 Bongseon-ro)
Namgu, Gwangju, South Korea
Phone: 062-675-8250

Where did you try the tastiest gomtang in your life? Let us know in the comment section :)

Cafe O'Fete at Seorae Village

January 29, 2014

After a hearty brunch at The Page, my cousins and I looked for a cafe. We originally wanted to go to Hotel Douce, but there were only two tables which sat two people each. Needless to say, it was a tiny cafe. We wandered to the heart of Seorae Village hoping to find a Frenchy spot. There was a place called Cafe O'Fete (오페뜨). It sounded promising. So in we went! Considering it was Sunday it was no surprise how long we waited to get seats. There's a covered patio with heaters. However the inside is unarguably nicer.

Two Americanos for my cousins. A cup of African Solstice tea for me. The sinfully glossy Petit Cacao (카카오 쁘띠) indulges in each bit of light it can get. The Petit Fig Tart (무화과 타르트 쁘띠) looks like a macro view of a Monet painting.