McCormick Korean Fried Chicken Recipe Mix

January 10, 2013

Launching of McCormick Korean Fried Chicken Recipe Mix
The Cookery Place
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

I became a chef for a night at the launching of McCormick Korean Fried Chicken. The event was held in one of the cooking schools at The Fort called The Cookery Place.

McCormick Korean Fried Chicken Soy Garlic

To be honest, this is the first time that I came to know McCormick Korean Fried Chicken Recipe Mix. This event is a good opportunity for me because I want to try something new for a change. Instead of just plain fried chicken, I can now cook 4 varieties of Korean fried chicken. One more thing, little did I know that we were going to cook our own dinner that night. Exciting, yeah?

During the event, all the bloggers were provided with a black apron embossed with McCormick logo. Of course, I want to share with you how to cook your very own Korean fried chicken in 4 easy step. With McCormick Korean Fried Chicken Recipe Mix, it's so easy! Please read after the break....

Chung Mi Rae Korean Delicacies in Timog, Quezon City

May 19, 2012

Chung Mi Rae
Unit #6 24K Mansion
Timog Ave. cor. Scout Tuazon,
Quezon City
37272000

The day we arrived from Taiwan, DH and I realized how much we miss Korean BBQ. We remembered the waitress in Yawori who has told us that there were several Korean restaurants around the area so we went around Timog Ave. and found a hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant- Chung Mi Rae.

 Anshim (grilled tenderloin) PhP1200

When you get past the stench and settled in your seat, you will discover that Chung Mi Rae serves delectable Korean BBQ. 

We only ordered Anshim, pretty pricey but well worth every peso. An order of grilled tenderloin comes with slices of onions and potaoes, garlic and enoki mushroom. 

My Sariwon Korean Barbecue Birthday Celebration!

May 2, 2012

Sariwon Korean Barbecue Since 1938
7th Avenue corner 29th Street,
Bonifacio High Street Central,
Taguig City

Ever since we came back from South Korea last January, DH and I has always been on a look out for new Korean restaurants in the metro. Days before my birthday, I got an email from no less than the owner herself asking if I wanted to try a newly opened Korean restaurant in Bonifacio High Street Central. Boy, I am glad I said yes!

Cheers to long life and good health! 

House Blend Iced Tea PhP80

We usually celebrate my birthday in a fine dining restaurant but for the love of Korean food, we tried Sariwon for a change. As it turned out, we were very full and satisfied at the end of our meal.

Read all about our experience after the break...

Love Locks in N Seoul Tower

My visit: January 1, 2012

Day 10 (5th day DIY Seoul Tour)

Love Padlocks (Love Locks)

N Seoul Tower

Korea

Our flight back to Manila leaves at 8:00 in the evening, we have plenty of time in the morning so we hie off to N Seoul Tower where Love Locks is located. 

brought our own lock and key; N Seoul Tower as background

 Love Padlocks are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love- Wikipedia

We brought the oldest lock & key we could possibly find in our house and a pen to write down our names and the date of our visit.

Want to know how to get there? Read after the break...

Charlie Brown Cafe Korea

My visit: December 31, 2011

Day 9 (4th day DIY Seoul Tour)

Charlie Brown Cafe Korea
Hongik University,
Hongdae, Korea
02-26520106

You would think that after eating several cakes at Hello Kitty Cafe, we would proceed to Myeongdong to have our money exchanged, right? No, instead we went looking for another famous cafe in Hongdae- Charlie Brown Cafe ; p

I <3 you, Charlie Brown!

You would not miss this cafe because it has several character standees (I don't know the right term, heeelp!) outside like in the photo above. Cute, huh?

These characters are almost the same height as me ; p

Hello Kitty Cafe Seoul Korea

My visit: December 31, 2011

Day 9 (4th day DIY Seoul Tour)

Hello Kitty Cafe Coffee & Dessert
Hongik University
Hongdae, Seoul,
Korea
02-3346570

Remember my post about Hongdae where we don't have enough cash for that one day? Before leaving for Myeongdong to exchange more WON, Korea's currency, we see to it that we first visit Hongdae's cafes. It was a good thing that we brought our credit cards, we were able to seat and relax at two of the most famous cafe in the university- Hello Kitty Cafe and Charlie Brown Cafe.

Happy New Year written on Cafe Latte W3, 800 (PhP152) ; p

It was hard to look for the area where the cafe is located, it didn't help when we asked the woman in the Information Center for directions because she can barely speak english. We did not bother to ask the people around us, we decided it would be better to explore the area by ourselves.

Korea Chronicle: Myeongdong

My visit: December 30, 2011

Day 8 (3rd day DIY Seoul Tour)

Myeongdong
Seoul, Korea

A few days before, I was disappointed when we visited Dongdaemun with our tour group as part of our itinerary. It is much like an open air market place. The place is huge, there is one area that sold meat, an alley that sold cameras and another that sold dry goods. During winter, you can't possibly stay outdoors long enough without getting chills. Needless to say, during our DIY tour, we never went back ; p We choose to visit Myeongdong instead.

at Myeongdong eating chestnuts

Myeongdong is big too. Sure, some wares are also peddled on the streets but at least here, you can go inside a department store or in my case beauty stores whenever I felt shivers because of the cold.

Korea Chronicle: Lotte World Korea

My visit: December 29, 2011

Day 7 (2nd day DIY Seoul Tour)

Lotte World
40-1, Songpa- Ku Chamshil- dong,
Seoul, Korea
02- 4112000

Weekday: 9:30am to 7:30pm
Weekend: 9:30am to 8:30pm

We were already in Lotte World around 11:30am but decided to wait until it was 4pm before buying a ticket. The After4 Special Pass entrance fee is cheaper- W23, 000 (PhP 920) per person ; p

There were ticket booths/ticket vending machines located on all 4 levels. It was not even weekend- it's Thursday but the line was really long when we got there. We saw a lot of tourists flocked near the entrance and also visitors in their teens plus families with kids in tow. We assumed that the waiting time for rides is going to be longer in the morning than in the afternoon.

welcome to Lotte World

While waiting, we had lunch at Lotteria. It's like Korea's version of McDonald's. We spent like W5, 900 (PhP236) for lunch- a meal consisting of a burger, fries & drink. We shared 1 order ; p Pa sweet effect! The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping looking around  Lotte Department Store and Shopping Mall for cheap finds.

How to eat Sangchu-ssam

When in Korea, learn how to eat the Korean way. On our first day, our tour guide, Mike taught us how to eat Sangchu-ssam.

DH holding sangchu-ssam

Cooked rice and other food wrapped in Korean lettuce is called Sangchu- ssam- Wikipedia

sangchu- lettuce

ssam means wrap

We ate at Korean Restaurant- what a creative name, huh?- when we went to check out in advance our ride for our trip back to the airport using KORAIL Seoul Station.

Korea Chronicle: Ramada Seoul

My visit: December 28, 2011 to January 1, 2012

Ramada Seoul

112-5 Samseong-dong

Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea

02-62022000

Located an hour's drive from Incheon airport, Ramada Seoul is 40 minutes away from Kimpo Airport and 20 minutes from down town by car. Approximately, 10 minutes walk from Seolleung Station Subway Line 7. 

Executive Room for $195

We were not as lucky as with our other trips abroad, most of the rooms we got have either twin or double bed. I am very picky with the size of bed I sleep in because I can hardly sleep without anyone by my side. We I have been bugging our tour guide to check and double check the bed that we will be having on our four nights stay in Ramada Seoul. Up until our check in date, my efforts remained futile. The hotel cannot accommodate our request so instead of giving us a Superior Room, we were upgraded to an Executive Room with twin beds... waaaaaah!

New find: Min Sok Restaurant Makati

My visit: January 21, 2012

Min Sok Saeng Deung Sim

5655 Don Pedro St., cor Jacobo,

Poblacion, Makati 

8959586

After coming back from our 10-day Korean vacation, we had enough of Korean barbecue, or so we thought. DH and I miss Korean barbecue so much so that for two consecutive Saturdays, we were on a look out for authentic Korean restaurants. 

Last January 14, we went to Korean Village in Nakpil, Malate after going to Quiapo. The week after, we paid Min Sok- a hole in the wall restaurant in Poblacion, Makati, a visit. 

sangchu-ssam; short ribs PhP490

It was a post I read in FB by Dr. Allan Pua last January 7 that pique my curiosity. In his post, he was raving about Min Sok Saeng Deung Sim- an authentic Korean Restaurant. I only got a vague description on where it is located. Thank goodness Min Sok is known within the area where the go-so dance clubs are located. After asking a couple of bystanders, we were able to locate the restaurant.

Sangchu-ssam is a term used for cooked rice and other food wrapped in lettuce

Korea Chronicle: Fashionista in Starbucks

My visit: December 28, 2011

Day 6 (1st day DIY Seoul Tour)

Fashionista? Ako yun ; p lol 

The hotel that we stayed in Seoul did not include breakfast in the package. It was a good thing that Seoul have a lot of coffee shops around. But we opted to enter a familiar coffee shop- Starbucks.

me and my signature hot chocolate W4, 800 (PhP192)

It was too late when I saw a menu with calorie count near the cashier. I already ordered a hot chocolate which has around 478 kcal, if I remembered it right. I should have just ordered Starbucks' Coffee Frappuccino which has less than 200 kcal... waaaaaah!

We also ordered Cranberry Chicken sandwich (not in the photo) for W3, 900 (PhP156).

Korea Chronicle: Kimchi School

My visit: December 27, 2011

Day 5 (afternoon)

Kimchi School

Seoul, Korea

02-3089688

After visiting Changdeok Palace in the morning, we went to KimChi School where according to our tour guide, we will make our very own kimchi. 

infront of KimChi School

Kimchi also spelled gimchi, kimchee or kim chee is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetable and varied seasonings.

Korea Chronicle: Changdeokgung Palace

My visit: December 2, 2011

Day 5 (morning)

Changdeok Palace

99 Yulgong- no,

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Korea

02-7629513

Schedule:

April- October 9am- 6:30pm

December-February 9am-5pm

November & March 9am- 5:30pm

Closed on Mondays

The Palace Admission:

Adults W3, 000

Children W1, 500

The Secret Garden Admission:

Adults W5, 000

Children W2, 500

No smoking and No pets allowed within the palace grounds.

Changdeok Palace literally means "Palace of Prospering Virtue". It is referred to as the East Palace because it is located at the east of Gyeongbok Palace.

  It was the secondary palace of Gyeongbokgung, the main palace. All 5 palaces were destroyed by fire during Japanese invasion in 1592. It was restored in 1610 and served as the main palace when for about 270 years until Gyeongbokgung was finally reconstructed in 1868.- taken from back of the ticket

 Injeongjeon (Main Hall)

Changdeokgung is one of the 5 Grand Palaces in Seoul built by Joseon Dynasty. The other four are Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung and Gyeonghuigung.

In 1997, Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design- Wikipedia

Cookin' Nanta Since 1997

My visit: December 26, 2011

Day 4

Nanta

Nanta- Hong Dae

Yellow Stone Bldg.,

B2 & B3, 357-5

Seokyo- Dong, Mapo- Gu

Seoul, Korea

02- 7398288

064- 7238878 (Jeju Nanta Theater)

Schedule:

Everyday including Holidays

2pm (Myeongdong only), 5pm, 8pm 

After Everland, we travelled to Hong Dae to catch the 5pm Cookin' Nanta show. It is a non verbal performance presented through rhythm and beats using everyday tools found in the kitchen like knives, pots and pans. Audience participation is highly appreciated. 

Cookin' Nanta non verbal performance

People, young and old, can relate to the story line no wonder it is visited by tourists all over the world. I am now part of the 7, 000, 000 people around the world who has seen this show since its first performance in October 10, 1997.

Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips by Etude House

I hoarded a lot of makeup from Etude House while in Korea. One of the products that caught my attention was the Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips #4 Miss Tangerine Tangerine from the Tangerine line... whew!

Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips in Miss Tangerine Tangerine W8500 (PhP340)

I got the true tangerine color, the rest of the colors are called Shiny Pinkshower, Sweetberry Blossom, Miss Sunny Tangerine and Sweet Peach Shower. 

Etude House's Miss Tangerine Sweet Shower Lips

Glossy, moist lipstick in fabulous shades for juicy, tangy lips

Korea Chronicle: Everland Winter Wonderland

My visit: December 26, 2011

Day 4

Everland Resort

Korea

031-320-5000

After nature tripping, skiing & apple wine making, we went to Korea's biggest playground, Everland Resort. I am so excited even if I despised thrill rides! I am like a kid in wonderland!

Welcome to Everland!

Our tour guide did not follow the sequence written in our itinerary. Instead of going to Everland on the fifth day, we went on the fourth day. We didn't mind as long as we visit every place written in our itinerary ; p

GS Plaza Hotel Korea

My visit: December 25, 2011

GS Plaza Hotel

1060-1 BangChon-Dong, 

Dong-Gu, Daegu, Korea

+53-9862500

On our first and second night in Korea, I was disappointed to see the twin beds in our room. For our third night, I specifically asked Mike, our Korean tour guide, to request for one huge bed for DH & I- think king sized bed. But what we got is this---> a double bed from GS Plaza Hotel; p 

double bed... waaaaaaah!

The bed was way too small for the two of us! We could have fit in if we were model thin lol We were better off with twin beds but I have a hard time sleeping alone. I was hoping we could at least sleep on a queen sized bed that night; p We could not change rooms because the hotel was fully booked on Christmas day ; (

Han's Farm Zu Ji Mong Apple Wine by Applease Korea Brewery Co.

My visit: December 25, 2011

Day 3 (afternoon)

Applease Korea Brewery Co. Ltd.,

69 Hupyeong-ri, Danchon-myeon,

Euiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Korea

After taking in the stunning view of Mount Sorak, we travelled for several hours before reaching Applease Korea Brewery Co. Ltd.- an apple wine making factory. 

our very own bottle of Zu Ji Mong Apple Wine

The factory was closed because it's Christmas day but we were still able to see the machines used in making apple wine.

Korea Chronicle: Mount Sorak (Seoraksan National Park)

My visit: December 25, 2011

Day 3 (morning)

Seoraksan National Park

Korea

We brought two Canon cameras (IXUS 860IS & 350D) for our Korea trip. DH even got his tripod packed together with his clothes. You can just imagine how many luggage that we brought with us lol Anyway, what's my point?! I think the stunning view that we captured with our cameras speaks for itself! The agony of bringing 5 luggage is well worth it!

Mt. Sorak

DH & I were at Mt. Sorak on Christmas day. The view is breathtaking! Can I just say that it is picture perfect too?