Tag Archives: Cherry Blossoms

Springtime in Korea

It wasn’t that we had a lot of snow this past winter, it was that winter seemed to last so terribly long. We along with 50 million other Koreans have been patiently awaiting warmer days. The chance for new beginnings, a fresh start, a spring clean!

Springtime in Korea has got to be one of my favorite times of the year! The cherry blossoms are so beautiful! The walking paths and streets are covered in the tiny pink and white petals every time the wind blows. I drive Mr. B crazy insisting that I need to stop and smell or photography almost every flower that we come in contact with. Especially the cherry blossoms and lilac bushes. I can’t help myself. I.am.obsessed.with.flowers. Luckily for the most part he doesn’t mind and even pauses for a moment and points out a flower if he sees something that I will swoon over. That boy of mine, what a catch!

This year we got to experience the cherry blossoms from another view because we moved into a new place at the end of the summer last year. These photos were taken after I had come home from work and the sun was setting with that beautiful warm orange glow. Looking at these photos now, I feel like these photos don’t even do the trees justice. We instantly fell in love with our new place because of the greens and blooming trees just outside of our windows. The daily drive or walk in and out of our little neighborhood just fills my heart and continues to remind me that even in our crazy messy world, there is still so much beauty around us.

Are you seeing buds of greens and new blooms popping up wherever you are located? What is your favorite thing about spring?

UN DEUX TROIS Brasserie (Itaewon)

Cherry blossoms, or fleurs de cerisiers as they would say in French, have been making their perfect pink appearance the past few days in South Korea. Since living here it has been one of the many beautiful things I eagerly look forward to each spring.

Speaking of all things French…I recently took one of those silly Facebook quizzes (you know the ones that secretly gather all of your personal information) and it indicated Paris was the perfect city for us! HA-HA… ttttthhhhanks Facebook, I could have told you that years and years ago. Ever since I was a little girl I have been enchanted by French culture and cuisine.

If you recall from my prior post, we ended our meatless month of March and wanted to celebrate with a feast, something extra special… French cuisine! I spent the entire month of March lusting after the thought of this dinner and it was finally here! So Saturday evening we joined our good friends at UN DEUX TROIS Brasserie for dinner. It was absolutely delightful! We said cheers to some recent job related news for the two of them, but little did we know that we’d be saying an even bigger cheers by the end of the meal. (More on that later)

The reservations were made for 6PM and due to the heavy Seoul weekend/ holiday traffic, we all were running a tad bit late. Luckily the staff were kind and very understanding and there was no issue made. On that note, we do highly recommend making a reservation because as the sun began to set the crowd grew. When we did eventually arrive, we were instantly greeted by the friendly staff and immediately taken to our table. As we walked through the restaurant, I felt like I was in a daydream being whisked through a genuine French brasserie with the decor of small hexagonal white floor tiles and the glow of the tiny white candles arranged on the sleek black furniture. EEK! I swoon for this black and white Parisian style!

We ordered the following and enjoyed tasting one another’s meals as if we were food critiques. I think we made the chef somewhat nervous as he peered out from the open kitchen, watching us savoring each bite, discussing the flavors, insisting that one another try another bite from this section, now this section of the plate. Our many compliments to the chef and kitchen staff as well.

(MAGRET DE CANARD- roasted organic local duck breast from Yeong-Am, orange brine, potato dauphinois 장시간 조리한 영암산 유기농 오리 가슴살 요리 (한국) )

(POTATO DAUPHINOIS)

( ESCARGOTS DE BOURGOGNE AU BEURRE D’AIL escargot in garlic butter – 갈릭버터가 곁들여진 부르고뉴 스타일 달팽이 요리 (프랑스)

(TRUFFÉ BURGER -foie gras, gruyere cheese, truffle mayonnaise and caramelized onions with french fries 거위간 푸아그라 (프랑스) 그뤼에르 치즈, 송로버섯 마요네즈, 카라멜라이즈드 양파가 어우러진 버거와 프렌치 프라이 (미국)

(LAMB ROASTED WITH VARIOUS HERBS)

(“L’OMELETTE NORVEGIENNE” FLAMBÉE AU GRAND MARNIER -baked alaska with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, genoise sponge cake, covered with meringue, finished with grand marnier liqueur flambé 그랑 마니에르로 플랑베한 “베이크 알라스카” )

(VERRINE DE MASCARPONE ET POMME CARAMEL, FEUILLETINE -apple and mascarpone cream trifle, butterscotch and feuilletine flakes 바삭한 크레페 조각과 버터스카치를 곁들인 사과와 마스카르포네)

(HOUSE SPECIAL ALMOND PIE A LA MODE )

Final verdict on the food is…Everything we ate for the most part was fresh, tasty, rich, sophisticated and complex. When are we going back again?! My vote is sometime in late spring, early summer (got that Mr. B?). I keep picturing us dining on the terrace in the evening, with our glass of wine in hand as we watch the world go by. My expectation for this place far exceeded what I even imagined. Overall a wonderful experience and well worth a dining splurged!

I left you guys sort of on a cliffhanger above, I apologize. I think this will make up for it…

YEP! He liked it so much he put a ring on it! (couldn’t help myself)

Seriously….Just by looking at these two, it’s easy to see they’re nuts over each other, since he can’t seem to a keep that gigantic smile off his face when his eyes are on her. Her eyes always have this twinkle when he pulls her in close; honestly, it’s that romantic movie look you that you rarely see in person. The two of them are perfect together and we are so pleased that they found one another. CHEERS (see I told you more to cheers)! I’m not going to spoil the thunder of the engagement details, you will need to ask the happy couple to be. Congratulations guys!

Directions:

Address: 123 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/123Brasserie
Website: http://brasserie123.com

Showers of pink petals

I don’t know where it came from…but the flowers seemed to explode on all the trees this past weekend. Just walking in the wind and shower of delicate pink petals painted this picture to me that everything was right with the world in that very moment.

I met up with Miss Kelsey again this past weekend to get my mop cut. Seriously folks it was getting a bit out of control. I don’t want to go there but I will. Can we say business in the front party in the back?? HA-HA. Kelsey wanted to get a trim and manicure too, so it was a perfect excuse for a girls day.

Before heading off to our salon appointment we strolled all around Itaewon. The weather was a bit brisk but it was perfect for walking. You know the kind right? Not to hot, not to terribly cold. Besides, studies show that because walking is a repetitive activity, it helps trigger the body’s relaxation mode that helps reduce stress (we both needed that after the week we had) plus, at the same time, a ten minute walk provides an immediate energy booster and improves your mood. It’s proven to snap you out of your funk (again needed). Research also suggest that you should aim for a minimum of 10,000 steps a day (equivalent to approximately 5 miles), the magic number that keeps most from gaining weight. Here’s what my Fitbit tracked while strolling around the Itaewon area with Kelsey. Not to shabby right? Okay, I will hop off my soapbox now.

Perhaps all those steps made up for the lunch we had? Softree for a magic lamp. It’s magical all right! Organic vanilla soft-serve with caramel swirls and a fine crushed nut topping. I took notes from my late great-grandmother and do cover the important parts of meals first. Dessert. We then followed up with a chicken pita and greek salad from Greek on the Grill. Delicious and cheap too.

Check them out and let me know what you think.

Directions:

Greek on the Grill Restaurant

마포구 와우산로 66 (본점), Seoul, 121-837

소프트리 SOFTREE Ice Cream Shop

용산구 이태원로 208 (이태원점), Seoul, 140-893

While Spring Is Making Promises Outside

Hello from here, where the big news is spring. Big flowery cotton like blossoms in the most gorgeous shades of pink and white are popping up all over Korea, even this far North. While I cannot say that we’ve been up to anything earth shattering or groundbreaking as of late, we have been making it a point to get out and see all of the incredible seasonal changes occurring right around our home. One bloom in particular is the cherry blossom trees here in Korea. Breathtaking!

I took these last night while on our stroll home from date night. The moon was shining brightly, the sky was a beautiful deep blue. Ah! I just couldn’t help myself from snapping some photos to share with you all.

Have a great weekend, we’ll chat soon!

Blossoms

Today, while most of Korea was still sleeping (including Mr. B), I snuck out into our apartment complex and snapped a few photos of the cherry blossom trees before the rain forecasted for today and all of tomorrow set in.

2012_04_21 Cherry Blossoms at home

2012_04_21 Cherry Blossoms at homeApr 11, 2012Photos: 21

Yes, I graced the world with my bare shins for the first time in at least six months.While snapping I realized that my legs were as white as some of the blossoms I was capturing.But, I didn’t care. (Don’t worry no scary photos included!)

Honestly, I am not sure what my obsession with these trees are. I know I drive Mr. B crazy when we are walking under them and my head and eyes are pointed straight up to the sky with my feet barely shuffling. I’m mesmerized by the beauty of the blossoms. When the wind blows, the delicate flowers fall from their branches, covering the earth like a blanket of pink snow. It is such a magical experience that I look forward to each Spring.

(Hmmm…another lost in translation shot?)I made it in just enough time, as I was wrapping up I felt tiny spritzes of rain starting to fall from the sky. Happy Weekend & of course Happy Spring!