A Food Court Like No Other at CJ Food World, Seoul SK

Whenever I hear the word food court, Tapa King, Binalot, Tropical Hut, Hen Lin, Lydia's Lechon, and Sizzling Plate always come to mind. Back in college and striving solely on student allowance, my friends and I would end up at any of these quick-serve restaurants whenever we feel like splurging. The smell and sound of the freshly-laid steak on the sizzling plate never fail to bring excitement to all my senses that I would end up with a burnt tongue every time.

Fast forward to my working class self, I still eat at mall and office building food courts from time to time especially when in a hurry, but this time, I got to visit one in COEX Mall in Seoul, South Korea. Specializing mostly in Korean cuisine, CJ Food World is one of the biggest and most organized food courts I've been to, surely an upgrade from the ones that we're used to locally.

What we ordered

Korean Beef Set - KRW28,600 (Php1,250.00)

Strawberry Ade - KRW5,500 (Php240.00)

Korean Spicy Pork Set - KRW28,600 (Php1,250.00)

Strawberry Latte - KRW5,500 (Php240.00)

A great underground food court with delicious offerings, aesthetically pleasing interiors, plenty of tables, fast service, and reasonable prices (by local standards) - CJ Food World is a worthy find if you get hungry browsing through thousands of books in Starfield Library, a massively beautiful library in COEX Mall and another must-visit when in Seoul.

~o~o~o~

CJ Food World
Starfield Coex Mall
Yeongdongdae-ro, Gangnam-gu
Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (821) 670-0865

Pinoy Food Favorites at Bench Cafe

Since we started staying around Makati area for staycations, we've been frequenting restaurants around Ayala malls as well. One of the few that we recently tried is Bench Cafe, the first food venture of the same local retail brand that's been known for its quality and affordable items. 

Restaurant interiors was chic and modern - very impressive, but I can't say the same for the staff we've encountered on the day we visited. Aside from being slow-moving, most of the staff were busy minding their own business and might have forgotten about the customers they were supposed to serve. In fact, we had to stand up several times to go to the counter and get their attention to ask for a water refill, follow up on our orders, and get the bill.

What we ordered

Pork Binagoongan - Php320.00

My top favorite Pinoy pork dish and my staple order whenever I see it in any restaurant menu. Bench Cafe's take on this classic ulam is crispy and tasty with loads of eggplants to balance the umay feeling. Warning: Extra rice is guaranteed!

Dancing Fish - Php350.00

Anything fried is a sure hit and this Dancing Fish is no exception. But what sets it apart from others is the plum sauce it came with for the tangy flavor instead of the usual sour sauce.

Ube Halo Halo - Php

The most promising yet disappointing dessert in Bench Cafe is definitely IG-worthy but its just that - good to look at but the taste is a totally different story. The halo halo was too sweet and lacks the unique ube flavor that is supposed to be its selling point. Just a waste of money and calories.

~o~o~o~

Bench Cafe
Level 2, Greenbelt 3
Ayala Center, Makati
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (63917) 634-2825

Foodventures: Beansbins Coffee, Seoul SK

No, I still don't drink coffee but I'd take a piping hot cup of chocolate drink anytime of the day. Back in March when the weather in Seoul can go as low as a single digit, wearing thick jackets and thermals is not enough especially come night time. Long walks along the famous Ehwa University Shopping Street brought us to Beansbins Coffee, a great place to chill out and in our case, to warm ourselves with their bestselling hot chocolate drink and snack on their dreamy strawberry waffle.

What we ordered

Hot Chocolate - KRW6,000 (Php300.00)

Beansbins' hot chocolate was bittersweet - just the way I like it! As great as it tastes though, I can't imagine spending this much on a cup everyday as I'd probably go broke in a week or two.

Fresh Strawberry Waffle - KRW16,500 (Php720.00)

Another enticing yet expensive item off the menu is the seasonal strawberry waffle. Served warm and crispy, their version is perfectly cooked with just the right of softness on the inside.

Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.

~o~o~o~

Beansbins Coffee
43 Ewhayeodae-gil
Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 393-1444

More Than Just Desserts at Half Saints

I've been reading about the Half Saints' 64% dark chocolate tart from the popular Instagram handle @masarapba, a no-nonsense and straightforward food/restaurant review all done anonymously. Since her first post of the restaurant's most coveted cake, people have been sending their affirmation that it was indeed, one of the best desserts available in Manila. So on a rare occasion that I was in the area, CS knew that it was all I looked forward to trying out. 

Best to reserve a table in advance since the place can only accommodate a few diners at a time.

What we ordered

Braised Tomato & Mozzarella Cream Penne - Php320.00

At first glance, this pasta dish looks nakakaumay. Too much cream and no protein to balance the flavors, I thought we would be passing on this and just go straight to dessert. After all, it was their chocolate tart I was really excited about. But CS convinced me to try it and he proved me wrong! It was actually every inch a pasta lover's dream in one plate - al dente penne with creamy and flavorful sauce. No heavy feeling even after we devoured the dish down to the last piece.

Shiitake. Goat Cheese. Balsamic Vinegar. - Php495.00

I am not much of a pizza eater but Half Saints' puff pizza is something new and interesting so why not. Compared to the normal crust, puff pizza is flaky and more buttery - more like croissant-type in taste and texture. And of course, how can you go wrong with goat cheese and shiitake mushrooms? A definite must-try especially if you're undecided which ones to try first.

64% Dark Chocolate Tart - Php220/slice

It was the BOMB! You really have to try it to believe that it was and still is the best chocolate dessert that money can buy. It was a simple yet sophisticated dessert of unsweetened crust topped with the smoothest dark chocolate tart directly sourced from cacao farmers in Davao. 

Trivia: Did you know that adding salt in chocolate further enhances its flavor and intensifies the body's ability to taste the sweetness of sugar?

~o~o~o~

Half Saints
G/F The Ignacia Place
62 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (63935) 933-0512

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