Least Convenient Toilet Ever?

I love popping into the Gasum Lounge near Hangangjin station. It's an odd little art cafe that serves a decent hot chocolate and has its own stuffed goat.



But best of all, it has the greatest obstacle filled toilet ever... You must negotiate the heavy glass beads as they bang against you and the fully mirrored walls. A challenge, especially for those who may have imbibed something a little stronger than hot chocolate.



The Gasum lounge offers something a little out of the ordinary and is well worth a visit if you're in the area. Head out of Hangangjin station, past Passion Five and Edward Kwon's Spice, turn left and Gasum Lounge is on the right hand side.

Chairman Duck

Beijing duck from 2009...

After I first discovered Mao back in March 2009 I've been back a number of times to gorge on their Beijing duck, but I've only just realized that I've never blogged about it again since my first visit.

Dimsum selection from 2009...


Black bean noodles from 2009...

So here for your delectation are a few photos from my trip last Monday:

The dumplings are still up to scratch. Both prawn, and prawn and chive dumplings were handmade on the premises and were steamed to perfection.



We went for a whole Beijing duck complete with crispy skin, tender meat and a plate full of legs and wings to gnaw on. Mao will happily restock your pancakes whenever you need more and there's plenty of cucumber, spring onion and hoisin sauce to accompany your juicy pieces of duck.



We also ordered the deep fried noodles with seafood in oyster sauce. A large portion, dotted with tiny scallops, large prawns and soft squid pieces. The noodles hold their crispness if you get to them fast enough, but then they absorb the unctuous sauce and become delightfully chewy.



Mao is about 300 metres down the hill from the Grand Hyatt Hotel and is opposite the Sri Lankan embassy. Call them on 02 793 8845. If you have enough spare cash then pop down there for some of the best duck in town, you won't be disappointed.

KTX And The Blue Screen Of Death

Who knew that even on the KTX, the blue screen of death can raise its ugly head?

Macaroni Grill

On the ninth floor of The World's Largest Department Store in Busan lies the Macaroni Grill. This place used to be partnered with Itaewon's Macaroni Market and even though they share the same emblem, they have since separated.



Macaroni Grill offers a range of dishes to its customers, but the main draw is the 17,000 won buffet.



The modestly sized buffet includes a small salad bar, two pastas, one pizza, pus five or six other hot dishes of the day.



Plate Number One: Juicy roast chicken, decent fried rice and unfortunately sweet cheese pizza.



Plate Number Two: More delicious roast chicken, a rather boring pasta bake and a green salad.



Random Plate: Bananas, cheesy french fries and steamed seafood.



But now back to the roast chicken. Crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked and slathered with a beautiful sauce. The chicken is the only reason to visit Macaroni Grill. The other dishes aren't particularly exciting (bog-standard buffet fare), but the roast chicken will keep any fowl loving carnivore happy.



Macaroni Grill is located on the ninth floor of the Centum City Shinsaegae department store in Busan. If you're interested in their chicken you can give them a call on 051 745 1952.

Busan - A Week In Food

Last month our team were down in Busan for almost a week for a few shows and two days of filming for our DVD. Here's a selection of tasty (and sometimes not so tasty) things that were consumed in the process...



Jambalaya from Vecchia & Nuovo in the basement of The Largest Department Store In The World.



Giant apple flavoured rice cake from the aforementioned store's food court.



Dak Galbi set from the food court, unfortunately very little chicken and far too many glass noodles.



Heart attack on a hot plate. Donkass with melted cheese... A brave friend of mine ordered it, once again from that food court.



Worryingly bright yellow macaroon. Reminiscent of lemon scented washing-up liquid.



Roast chicken and rice from the Macaroni Grill. More on this place to come.



Vietnamese bbq at Saigon, the best South East Asian restaurant in Gwangalli.



The most exciting find of the week: blackcurrant conserve at Centum City Homeplus. Scandinavian blackcurrants... mmmmh.



Anna Bini offers and interesting bread plate, with surprise sweet potato.



Though their gorgonzola con filetto di manzo grigliata is to die for.



Food was provided for us during the DVD shoot. However, both cast and crew were rather shocked by our first meal. What I like to describe as "the saddest lunchbox in the world".



Things started to look up when they ordered 돼지국밥 for dinner. This is one of my favourite Korean soups, stuffed with pork offcuts and blood sausage (plus plenty of fermented shrimp on the side for dipping action). If you happen to be visiting Gwangalli, then I'd advise a quick trip to this place if you're feeling peckish.



Our final meal of the DVD shoot was a rather boring black bean noodle dish. I love good 짜장면, but this bowl was rather uninspiring.



Our final meal in Busan took us to possibly the best Chinese dumpling restaurant in Korea. I don't know whether the chef has changed or if they've been forced to buy cheaper ingredients, but the dumplings weren't quite as good as in 2010.

So there you have it, my culinary adventures in Busan. Deliciousness in Daejeon still to come.

Maybe...

"Maybe fashion will ask and the wanting and to be what once challenge will try"

Wisdom from a clothes shop in Itaewon...

Theatrical Treats This Weekend

There's a bumper crop of theatrical things to do in Seoul this weekend if you feel so inclined...

First up Home Soil Theatre are putting on Perfect Working Models at the Seoul Center for Culture and Tourism on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to celebrate International Women's Day.

Next the Seoul Players are heading to Bar Carmen to put on their production of The Ravagers. Saturday and Sunday only.

And finally over at the Namsan Arts Centre you can catch the last few subtitled performances of Hotel Splendid. Running until Sunday.

Plus next week I'll have more information for you on an English surtitled production coming to the Seoul Namsan Traditional Theater this month (Surtitles translated and created by a certain Ajosshi).

Anniversary Ajosshi

Three years ago today my wife and I got dressed up in silly costumes, took lots of photos and ate a very large leg of pork (provided by Chef Meili) with family and friends.

Yay!

Fortunately, my wife has graced me with a rather larger tin of French shortbread biscuits; which, as far as I'm concerned, is the best way to celebrate the anniversary of our wedding...

Unfortunately, I went off to work early this morning and she won't be back till close to midnight, so any kind of celebration will be put on hold till Monday.

Still, I have plenty of shortbread and cups of tea to tide me over.

Subtitled Shotgun Love

It has been a little quiet on the subtitled movie front in 2011. The CGV English subtitle program seems to be on hold until April (or perhaps more permanently I fear) and I was worried that we wouldn't have the chance to see any films with English subtitles in the cinemas of Korea this year.

However, I received an email yesterday informing me that from March 10th we're going to be treated to subtitled screenings of 사랑이 무서워 (Shotgun Love) at Lotte Cinemas in Hongdae, Gondae, and Busan's Seomyeon.

The producer describes it as "a raunchy romantic comedy about home shopping models" with "one of the most squeamish scenes in Korean cinema".

If you're as intrigued as I am you can watch the trailer here (non -subtitled) and I'll keep you up to date on screenings as I hear of them.

One Last week Of Employment

Things are changing in my life and this week is the last one (for the moment) which will see me gainfully employed on a regular basis.

We've got a rehearsal or two, a session in the recording studio and one final day of shooting at a blue screen studio on Sunday before it's all over.

Quite a weird feeling to be approaching the end of my life at Latt Children's Theatre, but at the same time it's exciting to be venturing down new paths and starting new projects.