Eats with Jeff #5: Grilled Clams

Grilled Clams

In this installment of Eats with Jeff, we ate something I've been dying to try since we came to Korea, grilled clams. Whenever we visit Haeundae Beach or Gwangalli Beach, I see these little nondescript restaurants that are always packed with people. People usually sit outside when the weather is nice, but I think it's also to show off their delicious meals. They crowd around little plastic tables equipped with grills jam packed full of clams. I'm not sure why Markus and I haven't had it before now, but I'm glad that we waited. 

Clam Banchan

Clam banchan

Jeff took us to a restaurant in Jagalchi that his friend's recommended. Right outside the main market, there is a street full of seafood restaurants. The year that his friends lived in Busan, they tried every single one of those places and recommended this one as the best.

The banchan, side dishes, were so delicious. They were, of course, clams and they were prepared in different ways. One was pickled and the other was raw with spices. They were so tasty that we fought over the last ones and poor Markus missed out on his fair share.

Creepy Abalone

Oh Abalone...

The actual grilled clams were so good and really fresh. The restaurant had aquariums outside and we watched the ahjumma fish out the clams and shuck them before they came to our table. As they are grilled, the butter cooks the clams and only enhances the flavor. We wanted to get abalone as well, but it was much more expensive than the clams. Thankfully, they included two abalones with our grilled clams. One abalone was a bit creepy and squirmed the whole time it cooked. I felt bad, but not bad enough not to eat it.

Grilled Fish

You would think that all those grilled clams would be filling, but it wasn't. We had just enough room for some grilled fish. When you walk around Jagalchi Market, there are lots of restaurants that have grill stations outside too. They sell fish to those passing by. The first time I went to Jagalchi, I wanted to try it, but never had the chance. I guess this Eats with Jeff was making all my seafood dreams come true.

Souffle

Apple Tart

Chocolate Fondant

After we engorged ourselves on grilled clams and fish, we walked around Nampodong and went shopping for a bit. We said it was because the boys needed clothes, but I know the real reason. We were burning calories and killing time so we could eat dessert. Previously, I found this really cute French cafe with my friend and told the boys about it. The desserts are all made to order and freaking amazing. It didn't take much convincing and we headed to the cafe. I don't know what we were thinking, but I think on this Saturday afternoon we might have gone a bit overboard. Usually, we order one or two desserts and share them, but this time we ordered three! Needless to say, every dessert was amazing. They were all so good and even though we only needed to order two, I'm glad we ordered three. It was the perfect ending, to a great Eats with Jeff.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia | 1 of 3

The amount of temples and structures at Angkor complex is overwhelming. There is so much to see and explore. The main temple, Angkor Wat, is one of the most recognizable. When you think of Cambodian ruins, the image of Angkor Wat easily comes to mind. Angkor Wat itself, is quite big and includes a other smaller structures and a marketplace for souvenirs. 

Unfortunately, when we visited, the main temple was under construction. There was a horrible green tarp over a very visible section. There were also heaps of tourists, which got annoying after a while. The temple itself wasn't what I expected and I'm not sure it was my favorite, but it's one of those things you have to see when you go to Angkor. It's like going to Paris and skipping out on the Eiffel Tower, you just don't do it.

Spamalot and the West End | London, England | 6 of 6

Piccadilly Circus

On our last and final night in England, we went to see Spamalot in the West End. Its always been on my wishlist to see a production on Broadway or the West End. Before we left for London, Ari and I had made a last minute decision to go for James' birthday. Growing up I went a lot of musicals. My mother loves them and because of her that I enjoy these sort of things.
 

Piccadilly Circus

The Harold Pinter Theatre

Before the musical, we walked around a bit and toured the West End. There were so many theaters and so many different productions. There were a few other ones that I wished we were able to see, but I guess I should be thankful we were able to see one at all. Spamalot was showing at The Harold Pinter Theatre, one of the smaller theaters, but that made the experience even better. It felt more personal and intimate. It was a great production and I loved hearing all the familiar songs but also new ones. Spamalot was very similar to the film, but different enough to make it enjoyable. Although, if it was the same as the film, I still would have loved it just the same.

I am a huge fan of Monty Python, especially the Holy Grail. I watched the movie for the first time when I was a freshman in high school. After that first experience, I gobbled up everything Monty Python. I would quote the movie all the time, even when no one had any idea what I was talking about. So, it was only fitting that my last night in London would be watching Spamalot. It was one of the greatest moments of my life and something I will always cherish.

Cherry Blossom Explosion Part 2

Recently, Markus and I both had a random Monday off. It rarely happens, so we decided to make the most of it and went out for a few hours to see the cherry blossoms. They only last for about two weeks, so any chance we had to see them, we took. I always get sad when the cherry blossoms disappear. It feels like I'm living in a fairy tale for two weeks. It's so magical. The city is filled with beautiful pink flowers and before you know it they're gone.

We didn't need to go to any special street or place. Our neighborhood also had heaps of cherry blossoms. We walked around and stopped to take a photo at any spot that we liked. Markus and I are so busy, so we rarely have time to relax. It's a bit sad, but it's the reality of our lives. I'm thankful we were able to have this afternoon to explore and enjoy the little things. We only have five months left in Korea, so every moment counts.

Eats with Jeff #4: Samgyetang and Crispy Chicken

Crispy Chicken

If you know me, you know that I'm obsessed with chicken, especially if it's fried. Anytime I know chicken is in my future, I even do a little chicken dance. It's strange, but it's very much a part of who I am. Jeff knows this about me and suggested that we go to a samgyetang restaurant in Sajik. Samgyetang is a delicious soup that consists of a whole chicken, rice and ginseng. There are other components and they all meld together to create this savory stew. Most samgyetang restaurants only serve the one dish, but Jeff found a restaurant that also served crispy chicken. This chicken is special because it's cooked in an electric grill and not fried. The minute he mentioned the crispy chicken, I knew we had to go.

Banchan

The banchan or side dishes were really good. Most restaurants tend to stick to the same dishes, but this place had a few different ones. Also, everything was fresh and definitely tasty. After being in Korea for 18 months, I've had my fair share of banchan. I can tell if there is a lot of care put into the dishes and these were good quality. The flavors were not too overwhelming and had the write amount of spice and sourness. Surprisingly, my favorite was the chicken gizzards.

Samgyetang

Me, the owner and Jeff

We ordered two plates of the crispy chicken and one samgyetang. I think our stomachs lead the decision making. When it arrived, there was so much, but I tore into that delicious crispy goodness. The difference between crispy chicken and fried chicken wasn't that obvious. It tasted just like fried chicken and I didn't feel as guilty eating it. The samgyetang was delicious and very similar to the banchan. It tasted very clean and the major highlight was the chicken. I've eaten samgyetang before, but I try not to eat it often, since it is the highest calorie meal in Korea coming in at 918 kcal per serving.

The owner of the restaurant remembered Jeff and kept bringing little extras to us. He was so sweet and and seriously adorable. He walked over and would drop something off with a huge smile. His kindness only added to a delicious and wonderful experience.