Some Things Make Me Angry...

This advert makes me angry.

I'm not a fan of censorship, but I'm a big believer in corporate responsibility. The glamorization of suicide is not the nicest way to help you sell your fizzy water and let's not forget that South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the 30 OECD countries. What a classy method to advertise your product in the country that claimed nine celebrity suicides last year...

Congratulations Trevi (produced by Lotte Chilsung), you win the prize for sleaziest exploitation of unhappiness in a printed bus stop advertisement for 2010.

Mistaken Identity at the Naked Bar & Grill

Round the side of the Hamilton Hotel, tucked away in the sub-basement of a shabby little building is a rather sparkly new restaurant and bar.

Silvers and purples dazzle you as you enter the Naked Bar & Grill; this restaurant come cocktail hangout strives to be cool even though Shania Twain blares out of the speakers ever so slightly disturbing your lunchtime mood.

Like its sister restaurant in Hannam-dong, the Naked Bar & Grill's menu focuses on burgers, tacos and burritos ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 won. All very reasonably priced with only an extra 4,000 won to add fries and a soft drink. However I was feeling in the mood for something a little more Italian and decided to go for their "Twisted macaroni and cheese (fusilli pasta, grilled chicken)" at 16,000 won. At over three times the price of a taco I was sure to be treated to a spectacular dish, wasn't I? The concept of a fusilli and grilled chicken mutation of mac and cheese was too much to refuse and after previous experiences at Macaroni Market, I was expecting something exciting...

What came out looked appetizing and tasted wonderful. Crispy unsweetened garlic bread, perfectly tender grilled chicken and al dente fusilli served in a creamy delicious sauce. A beautifully cooked pasta dish that I'd happily order again, but, and this is a big but, it was nowhere near anything like macaroni and cheese...

Here's some advice for the Naked Bar & Grill: if you label a dish in a certain way, then the customer may well have certain expectations as to what the dish may be like. Using words such as "twisted" may lead your customer to expect certain changes or substitutions in the dish and said customer will probably be very happy to discover that an old favourite has been given a makeover. However if you promise a "Twisted macaroni and cheese" and serve a cream sauce pasta then you shouldn't be surprised if your customer is a little disappointed at receiving a dish which does not really have any relation to the name it has been given. Call me a pedant, go on I know you want to, but I expect my food to be given a moniker it deserves. If I order a "pepperoni pizza" I'm not expecting to be served a grilled cheese and salami sandwich.

I digress...

Gratuitous pickle shot.

The food was good, pricey, but delicious. I doubt you'll find a better grilled chicken breast in Itaewon and the service was very friendly and helpful. If you like casual dining with loud music and a nightclub atmosphere then Naked Bar & Grill could well be the place for you.

Naked Bar & Grill is just round the corner from the Hamilton Hotel, just turn right at KFC and it's on the left hand side of the alley. I couldn't get any contact details for them (no business cards as yet), but you could always give their Hannam-dong branch a ring on 02 749 4225.

James Cameron and His Korean Viral Campaign

James Cameron's Avatar has been sixteen years in the making and by the looks of this shop front in Gwangju, he started his viral marketing in Korea a little earlier than usual. The subliminal messages may be brutal, but have proven their worth in 12 million ticket sales on the Korean peninsula... You truly are King of the World, James... King of the World...

A Guide To Korean Slang

This year being the tenth anniversary of my arrival in Korea, I have decided to improve my knowledge of the Korean language. I can have a conversation, I can make myself understood, I've even worked as a translator on theatre projects, but I still can't pick up a newspaper and read it cover to cover. So I've got myself a lovely new teacher who'll hopefully boost my Korean up a notch and in the spirit of education I thought I'd recommend a lovely little book I found just before Christmas.

As Much As A Rat's Tail (쥐꼬리만쿰) by Peter Liptak and Siwoo Lee comes in at just under two hundred pages and is a fantastic way to learn all the words and phrases that your Korean friends won't dare explain to you. It covers such popular expressions as 고고씽 (explaining its origins and giving example sentences) as well as letting you know what you shouldn't say in front of your boss. This guide is not for the faint of heart, children or those with prudish sensibilities; but it will help adults studying Korean understand more about the culture and the language.

It may not be a comprehensive dictionary of slang, yet it does entertain and enlighten non-native Korean speakers as to what people may be saying around them. At 15,000 won it's a great deal and a worthy addition to any Korean language student's bookshelf. I picked my copy up at Seoul Selection, but it may be available elsewhere...

Fantastic Map of Vegetarian Restaurants in Korea

Saw this floating around on Dave's ESL cafe and thought it deserved wider recognition:


View Vegetarian Restaurants in Seoul, Korea in a larger map

Thanks to all involved for creating such a useful guide!

The Drive Home Service From Hell...

Who knew that Yeosu had such a satanic 대리운전 service...

Korean Movies Not Subtitled in English...

I've skipped the last two updates of subtitled cinema listings for two simple reasons: Firstly, I've been far too busy playing Legend of Zelda - Spirit Tracks... and secondly, there aren't any subtitled films around.

Joy of joys, we start the new year the same way we started last year... with no subtitled films. Hopefully this will change, but for the moment we are bereft of translated Korean cinematic adventures.

I'll list listings as and when they appear. Hopefully we have't seen the last of them.

Korean Movies Subtitled in English 2012/01/04-2012/01/06

전우치 (Woochi) is still running and Cinus don't seem to care...

Woochi is on at CGV Yongsan:

Monday (4th) - 1025, 1315, 1605, 1855, 2145 and 2435

Tuesday (5th) - 1025, 1315, 1605, 1855, 2145 and 2435

Wednesday (6th) - 1025, 1315, 1605, 1855, 2145 and 2435

And at CGV Apgujeong:

Monday (4th) - 1120 and 1410

Tuesday (5th) - 1125 and 1410

Wednesday (6th) - 1125 and 1410

All listings are correct at time of posting, but may be shivering in the corner of the room.

Crepe Fail

Sometimes life is far too absurd. I was out with Joe from Zenkimchi for a spot of lunch and a crepe today, but we were scuppered in our attempts to achieve pancake satisfaction.

"et M'amie", in Itaewon, promises "Bistro Cafe Creperie Sucrerie" on their signs and yet there is not a single pancake on their menu. Complete crepe fail... The manager claimed that there were crepes at other branches of this chain, but to be honest if I see the word "creperie" in a restaurant window then I expect to be able to order a pancake or galette right there and then.

I'm not angry at you "et M'amie", I'm just disappointed...

Christmas Catch Up Part Two

Christmas lunch for most people is a leisurely affair filled with wine song and Christmas pudding, but for a jobbing actor with a show to do, it was more a case of what was open near work. So off to Lanna Thai I went...



This cosy little Thai restaurant next to Yangjae station was the perfect location for pre-performance sustenance. I settled on some 뽀삐아 (Spring rolls) for 4,000 won and the 깽펫느아 (beef red curry) for 12,000 won.



Crispy little treats... Simple yet delicious.



The red curry was equally tasty. Very hot, very creamy and filled with aubergines, baby corn and beef. A wonderful winter warmer and guaranteed to fill up even the largest of stomaches. The chefs at Lanna Thai hail from Thailand and are able to produce some of the best Thai curries in Gangnam.



To get to this reasonably priced franchise take the subway to Yangjae station and use exit 3 or 4. Lanna Thai is directly under the Daiso shop... You can call them on 02 577 0913 or visit their website here.