mary eats

Midterms are rapidly approaching, and that means Kevie-poo and I will soon be off to Shanghai.

Today, after having read Bob Sloan’s article “Mario’s Excellent Adventure,” in the April issue of Gourmet, we’ve decided upon a three day fast pre-departure.

Our goal may not be 62 courses in 5 days, but we are anticipating stuffing our mouths and guts with any and everything steamed, fried, seared, baked, roasted, skewered treat we can get out greedy hands on.

However, this fast could be in vein! We only have a small list of must try restaurants, including the infamous M on the Bund. So please, if you have been to Shanghai, or know of any fabulous restaurants, let me know.

Recipe testing began today on The Korean Vegetarian. Tonight’s menu, Kimchi bokkum bap (Kimchi fried rice), Pan fried Melon (Squash) and Eggplant, and a variety of sausages from E-Mart. Ok, I know what you are thinking. “Um, hello. Last time I checked Sausages aren’t vegetarian.” Yes, you’re right. The sausages weren’t part of the cookbook.

A month or two, while cruising the aisles of the Yongsan Emart, we came across a deli counter pushing techno colored sausages. Before we could continue, the sample ajuma lured us in with kimchi sausages, sweetly roasting away in a pan. We were putty in her toothpicks. 2 minutes later, we walked out with kimchi sausages. Yum. Eerily uniformly textured, and none of the fermented cabbage taste. Just beautifully potent garlic and fiery pepper. Does it get any better? Not in Korea.

Tonight’s choices included curry, hot peppers, and kimchi. If you can get these where you live, go. Go now. This is what has been missing from your life.

Personally, I prefer mine sliced on the diagonal, served with grainy mustard.

Stick reviewed in the Korea Times Friday, June 23

My review of Stick, an Asian bistro in Ichon-don ran in Friday’s edition of the Korea Times.

Ichon-dong is the Japanese area of Seoul. The main street is lined with little Izakayas, all donning the iconic red lanterns. Sushi restaurants abound, and are, apparently hard to get into if you don’t have a reservation. One tiny Japanese grocery store sits at the end of the street, peddling Japanese miso, umae plums, and dozens of snacks to test out.

I think the review speaks for itself. This is a place to see and be seen. The food is passable, but more thought appears to have gone into the interior than ingredients.

If you are looking for a leisurely snack and a glass of Thai beer make a pit stop.

I love tuna packed in oil. I love chili peppers. Therefore, I love these chili peppers stuffed with tuna and capers, packed in oil. Bite sized with kisses of heat and brine, these protein packed snacks are perfect as appertivo and party appetizers. Hell, they are even better forked from the jar, at 2 am in front of the refrigerator in your robe and fuzzy slippers.

If you live in the greater Puget Sound area, you can find them at De Laurenti for under $7. If you live in Seoul, get a dose of sticker shock by picking up a jar at the Galleria for 24,000 won (US 26.50).

Yum.

Our trip to Seattle was successful for several reasons. The first being that I am “on the list” to start at the Seattle Culinary Academy in winter of 2007. The second being that both kev and I are still recovering from meal after fabulous meal, and the last being that my trip happened to coincide with the Nordstrom’s Women and Children’s sale. Ah-sa (Korean for Awesome)!

It had been over a year since I last strolled through Pike’s Market. My mother, sister and I stocked up on imported goods at Seattle’s best Italian market Delaurenti. Stop by for marinated mushrooms, artichokes, and baby buffalo mozzarella along with various salamis and prosciutto.

Daily we checked off restaurants from our to-eat list, only missing a couple in our short week home. The first must eat was Salumi in Pioneer Square. The closet sized Italian sandwich joint belongs to the father of Mario Batalli. Though we arrived 8 minutes after opening, the line stretched out into the street. Lucky for us we arrived on Aunt Izzy’s last day, granting us a plate of her hand rolled gnocchi. Right now she’s on holiday, and is expected back to her window pasta making station sometime in September.

Other hits included Etta’s, one of Tom Dogulas’ restaurants. Clockwise from the top right: Mom buying Sockeye salmon at Pike’s Market. Etta’s Crab Eggs Benedict with Chipotle hollandaise. Avocado, Crab, and Watercress salad. Halibut Fish and Chips with Red Cabbage Slaw.

The Noodle Ranch in Bell town, a favorite for Asian cuisine ranging from Green Thai Curry to Singaporean Noodles. The Alibi Room, Seattle’s sexiest watering hole, who puts down a mean diced tuna carpaccio. McCormick and Schmicks in the new Bellevue Lincoln Center, an overpriced fish house, but a fun spot for a family meal. Thai Gingerin Bellevue for halibut cheeks in panang curry. Tosoni, for a painting worthy last supper complete with lobster, filet mignon, salmon, veil fillets and sausage. And last but not least Pagliacci, Seattle’s number one pizza joint. For a piece of heaven in a pie, look no further than the Brooklyn Bridge; pepperoni, sausage, peppers, and no corn in sight (Korean pizza places commonly use canned baby corn as a pizza topping, which isn’t too bad, just not something I’d ask for on a pizza).

Yum, look what I found at Costo recently.

Direct from the freezers of Japan to yours, come these cute, and tasty, shrimp dumplings. A two pack will set you back around 5,000 won. Perfect for snacking or building a meal around (a dumpling soup?). Those with an aversion to MSG will want to steer clear.