Crêpes, Galettes and a Bottle of Cider at La Celtique

La Celtique 

서울특별시 종로구 체부동 19

5-10 ChangCheon-dong,

Seodaemungu, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA

google map// naver map

Galettes (11,000 ~ 13,000 won) + Crêpe (5,000 ~10,000 won)

Merry Christmas!!

Although I had not been expecting today would be the day I would write about this crêperie, as I did visit the place as an 'early christmas celebration' that I so dearly miss AND after what is my 3rd glass of wine... I thought it would be a good secret place to share. 

Ever since falling in love with Galettes (which I learnt later on were buckwheat crêpes) in Hong Kong, I've been trying to look out for anything similar ever since. Yet despite the surge in brunch spots around town, there seemed to be a distinct lack of anything as similar to a half-cooked egg bathed in melted emmanuel cheese with truffles.

Anyhow, as we were in a mood for a 'light' lunch before our  'early christmas celebration', I was searching for later brunch options when I stumbled across this crêperie that was apparently run by an actual french guy (who we later discovered looks like an aging Waldo). After quickly convincing my early christmas date on merits of a crêpe, we made our way to Shinchon for my very first crêpe in Seoul.

And look they even have proper cider that is not magners or strongbow! :D

The place was very very homey and christmas themed (and you can see our aged waldo lookalike chef in the back-ground!

After getting a glass or two of french cider (which seem to be a lot less sweet and stronger than the apple-flavoured Strongbow and Magners!), we finally decided on our galettes :) we got the supreme with mushrooms, cheese and half-cooked egg and the galette Saucisse which came with homemade sausages and onions!

Our chef cooking away :)

He even kindly explained that the egg should be cut and spread before eating, which I never knew before. But there, now I know how to properly eat a galette.
If you're into a dish full of strong bold flavours then you should definitely go for the sausage galette instead.. as the dish was very simple and rustic tasting (which I loved).
If there was one thing i would do differently... would be either to add more cheese :D :D and definitely definitely a scoop of truffle to go with it.

Although I've never been much of a dessert person, we thought it was only fair if we left the crêperie after trying a crêpe as well.. .which led to us having one with chocolate and orange marmalade! I had never tried the combination before.. and it turned out to be a divine surprise to eat and munch our way through!

Our lunch was definitely a success! And I have a feeling I will be returning to this place time after time maybe even just to say hi at the adorable french waldo chef. 

Lemon Tarts at Aux Petits Verre

Aux Petits Verre

서울특별시 종로구 체부동 19

19 Chebu-dong (24 Jahamunro 5gagil), 

Jongrogu, SEOUL, KOREA

google map// naver map

Lemon Tart (7,000 WON) + Tea (5,000 WON)

Although I didn't think it would take this long for me to start blogging about the food, drinks, places or any odd bits and pieces of my life in Seoul...it has been more than 4 months since I started my hectic life here. 

Although I've been to several excellent restaurants, today's little dessert shop was just what I needed on a sunday afternoon feeling slightly home-sick and slightly displaced. 

The shop is apparently owned by Master Chef Korea season one runner-up Park Jun Ooh (박준우),

and is famous for their lemon tarts!

I've come to learn that everything that's 'famous' in Korea, means that it's super over-crowded, super unfriendly and usually not that impressive.. (especially the western cuisine/desserts).

However I was surprised to visit on a sunday afternoon a rather tiny and quiet shop, where there was nothing on the menu except 5-6 tarts (and meringue cake), teas and french wine.

It is strange but the more concentrated and short the menus are these days... the more faith I have in the quality of the food... :)

Anyhow.. after looking through the menu and walking around to take a peak at the tarts,

we decided to share a lemon tart and a glass of tea (which I forgotten the name of.. )

It was a nice concept to be able to smell the teas prior to choosing them, and we were soon persuaded to try a cup of tea rather than a cup of coffee.

I think I'll just have to come back for the chocolate tart and the strawberry one...

Although i really was not expecting a proper lemon tart... This little surprise turned out to be one of the best lemon tarts I've tasted in a while. Delightfully light on top of a perfect crust..., it was neither overly sweet nor sour and really (ACTUALLY) tasted like lemons! 

It took enormous amount of self-control to not suggest to my friend to order another one.. perhaps the strawberry one.. going along the lines of "how much damage can a little tart do?"

But going along with the rationale it better to leave the place craving for another bite so that soon i'll just have to return for another bite, we quickly exited the tiny little place hidden in Seoul.

And now, although i'm not sure if anyone does read my blog anymore,

begins my journey through finding what I love to eat in Seoul!

Discovering Gallette at Fleur de Sel

Fleur De Sel

G/F, 51 Graham Street,

Central Hong Kong

Price: 100-150HKD for Gallette, and 60HKD for Glass of Red Wine

Rating: 8/10

Although I've walked pass this restaurant so many times, I never even looked at the menu until the other day.... and what a find! I've always been fan of Crepes, especially with Nutella... I mean who isn't with their paper thin-crispiness with spoonful of nutella or powdered sugar literally flowing on top.

However, It is only now did I discover that there's a savory version of my favorite dessert, that is basially: replace nutella with melted cheese and some other delectable additions such as poached eggs, black truffle, spinach and whatever you desire... and VOILA! Here's a lovely dish of Galette.

The inside of the restaurant is actually really cute (and rather small), and the house red wine is actually much better than some of the wine I've tasted in SOHO (and this was when we had gotten wine for the SAKE of getting wine). There were also a handful of house ciders and organic ciders!!! I seemed to be the only one who absolutely adored ciders... so we went with wine instead but next time (even ALONE) ill sample that lovely (and rather big!) bottle of cider!

Ach, I always forget to note down or at least photograph the menu for later reference so that I can exactly know how much things were.. (or at least keep the receipt)! 
The only one I remember clearly is my heavenly one:

 La Truffe: Ham Emmental Cheese, Egg, Black Truffle Paste,  Camembert Cheese

 I mean just LOOK at it... writing this post even after a rather heavy dinner still makes me hungry.

THis one was with Smoked Salmon with Egg, although he argues that it was too breakfast y for his taste, it tasted perfectly fine (although slightly less delicious than mine) to me. :)

Pictured on the top is with spinach and goat-cheese which was also an excellent choice. I kept on snacking on other people's gallettes before mine.. so I can say for sure mine was the best! 

Oh but the last one that my friend ordered with Roast Vegetables was for some reason triangular and more ornately arranged.. I couln't quite figure out the reason for this.. so I decided it was because he thought my friend was cute. heh. makes a better story anyways :) This one didn't have so much cheese on top, so if you're trying to look for a dish that isn't so heavy.. this would be the one to go for! :)

Best Take-away Ever.... with La Rotisserie

La Rotisserie

255 Queens Road Central,

Sheung Wan 

+852 6901 5778

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Rating: 7.7/10 

Price: Around 70-80 HKD per person 

Roast Chicken will always be a family thing for me,

   I know that it's not very Korean of me (not to associate with beer and bars) but from the first-ever disastrous burnt roast chicken I ever made (and forced my family to eat) to the finally beautifully roasted and deliciously praised roast chicken I now can make on Christmas, all my memories of roast chicken was with my family.

Even when I went to Paris, and had the BEST roast chicken of my life, I was sitting in a cutest french bistro with the cutest french waiter recommending me wine.. in front of my family!

So it seemed like an obvious choice for dinner when you begin missing your beloved oven and home-cooked meals...

(Source: La Rotiseerie's FB page)

Although looking at their FB page, people are complaining about the long-queues that you have to wait in before getting their foods, I was rather lucky to stumble in on a time when there was no one in front of me! Ah, but look at the photo how can it not lure people to its door-steps when there's that smell and SIGHT of a chicken being roasted like below:

(Source: HK-Asia Magazine)

Plus the place is literally just minutes away from the subway station, which makes the whole taking away to home really easy and convenient!

Above is their new menu (from their website)! As i had planned for dinner with 4-5 people, I ended up getting the Set Meal Package for Four People (whole roast chicken + 4 side dishes) and an extra 1/4 roast chicken, to give a total of (290 HKD) which is a definite steal for a proper night's dinner!

They had a wide range of the side-dishes, but I opted for the choice of 2 portions each of Roast Vegetables and Roast Potatoes. Although the vegetables were delicious I would highly recommend the roast potatoes as a side dish! They were amaaaaazing! 

They quickly wrapped up my dinner in this cute little black box that couldnt quite keep the smell of the roast chicken in! I kept on getting such funny (and hungry) looks from the passengers on the MTR (sorry guys!)

Upon finally arriving home, my friends greeted with extra dishes of rice, chocolate and salads (and even a bottle of rose wine). Feeling rather giddy, i also baked some buns to have a proper feast as shown below! 

THE CHICKEN was AMAAAZING! 

It was not dry at all, and so juicy and rich in flavor! The seasoning was perfect too that we really didn't need any extra sauces to eat the chicken with..

Maybe it was because it was so delicious or the fact that we were starving that day but despite our extra dishes the chicken quickly disappeared!

SO if you're planning to JUST eat the side-dishes and the chicken maybe you should order extra chicken like we did just so you ALL of you can be fully satisfied and leave the dinner table with a big grin and bloated stomach like we did :)