Rain~~~!!!

Do you know why Rain won the 2010 MTV movie award for biggest badass star?

Just sayin'.

(Of course, having rabid internet voting K-pop fangirls as your main fanbase is a big help.)

Cozy dining at Gallery Hyun

I like eating out a lot. Mostly because I get so darn tired of my own cooking; there's a limit to the experimentation of new recipes one is willing to go through when you're cooking for yourself. And I'm not fond of entertaining either so off to restaurants I go.

Gallery Hyun is a wine and art gallery / Italian restaurant in the alley of Samcheongdong. Besides the hall floors where artwork is on display among the tables, a separate room with a terrace on the top floor and a private table setting in the "cave" (wine cellar) are also available. The view from the terrace is quite lovely, overlooking the Samcheong area and mountains in the background.

We had a light dinner course.

A juicy roasted sweet potato half is served instead of a heavy bread basket.

Grilled pine mushrooms with salad and vinaigrette.

Asparagus with a hint of pumpkin soup.

Simple pasta with spicy heat.

Tomato salad with balsamic sauce.

Mango sherbet as chaser.

Lamb chop with yuzu and mint jelly.
I absolutely love the lamb they serve here. Perfectly cooked. Not too fatty, not too lean.

Dessert: mini meringue, "sturdy" pudding and ice cream.

Had an American pinot noir with the meal; I'm trying to overcome my French wine bias.
They have a great wine list and the staff are well informed.

I appreciate how casual this place is without losing a formal atmosphere. It's not overun by college kids trying to impress their dates nor young career women trying out the trendiest new thing. The staff are friendly and approachable, too.

Gallery Hyun
http://www.galleryhyun.com/

Reservations needed
Tel : 02-722-0701

Bye bye May

May swept by so swiftly, what have I done?

Talked endlessly at softly lit coffee shops,

sewed beads on a painting in progress ("Kitsch Fish"),

reveled in clean and empty city buses.

Drank red red wine,

chilled pink omija tea,

and crisp cold beer.

Took geeky doll photos at fancy restaurants,

and shaky blurry ones with best friend Tanya who flew in from Beijing.

Went to Seonyoo Park on a cloudy day,

window-shopped in Myeongdong.

Enjoyed the lanterns for Buddha's Birthday at Jogyesa,

and took self portraits whenever opportunity arose.

Met a whole lot of interesting new people and potential friends.

It was a good month.