pierre gagnaire à séoul

November 23, 2011 sarah lee

“Creativity is born from authenticity, but it is supported by tradition. An artist does not reinvent the rainbow; he uses the colors in a different way.”
-Pierre Gagnaire

Pierre Gagnaire’s food conceals my peculiarity.

So he’s a 3 michelin star, world renown French chef. Yes. Most of us may know that...In truth, I was a bit too nervous the first time I met him because I wanted to be ‘as professional’ as possible (so this is the before meeting him planning in my head thoughts). Then in actuality, as soon as I saw his smile, I melted. Hahaha. Ok. Not so much in the romantic sense. Chef Gagnaire has a tender soul and a genuine spirit about him. I could see why he’s a natural leader in the kitchen, and why his staff waits for the beat of his drum.

I stole a few peeks of him working with other staff members in the kitchen during a busy lunch hour...impressive. His staff was all open ears with every word he uttered...and they listened with eagerness and a thirst to learn. He visits the Seoul restaurant twice a year, and with each visit, you can feel the excitement.

o kitchen

September 12, 2011 sarah lee

“What you want is to make things personal. Might not be spectacular, but from there you can say it’s mine. Personal doesn’t mean it’s bad, it’s just personal. It’s memorable to you. Your identity: who you are, where you were, where you have been. Everything connects to everything.”

Susumu Yonaguni’s words as I have an afternoon chat over pasta and wine.

This space in a hanok (Korean traditional house) converted to a restaurant, has an energy that words cannot define. Upon entering, you immediately feel like you want to take off your shoes…like entering your own house. There is no host, or a manager with a suit, but a chef that will guide you to your table with a smile.

First impression? Hmm…definitely something different. As you finger through the menu, you will soon notice that there is no front of the house staff! Well, the usual servers with matching uniforms, aprons, or name tags (as this is the common standard in Korea) are no where to be found. The back of the house runs the show…yup...everything from the kitchen to the main floor…creating dishes, washing dishes, to pouring wine and greeting customers. I think I would say this is a first of its kind in Seoul, and my excitement grew even before I started on the wine…

culinaria 12538

April 24, 2011 sarah lee

Culinaria 12538 in Apkujung (technically the address is Sinsa-dong) re-defines modern French. Chef Darren and I thoroughly enjoyed a 7-course lunch at Culinaria for 40,000 won! (approximately $40, actually 5 courses, but if you include the palate cleanser, coffee and additional sweets-7). This just has to be the deal of the century in Seoul, because some of you may know that a plate of pasta usually ranges b/w 12,000-15,000 won!

With modest expectations, the meal was outstanding. Personally, I was impressed that lime and avocado was utilized in multiple courses (as it's a hard find in Seoul, and very $$). Presentation was inspiring, and service was respectable.

a little bit of paris in seoul

February 7, 2011 sarah lee

Who would have known that there is a 'little bit of paris' in the heart of Seoul??? Also known as '서래마을' or the Seorae French village. I recently enjoyed a decadent brunch with good friend Eunice Cho at this French Atelier. The Green Table is a collaboration of 3 sisters that form a culinary dream team-style, pastry, and all things food!

You will see the demeanor of Paris as soon as you step foot into this space, and your immediately greeted with a warm smile. The main dining hall is on the first floor, and brunch is served daily on the second floor. Daily brunch is definitely a hard find in Seoul, since it's usually offered on weekends elsewhere.