blue hill at stone barns

March 25, 2013 sarah lee

I’ve been in New York for close to 3 months now. I can’t love the food enough, and the hustle & bustle really puts you in your place. How can you not love this city? However, as much as I’m an urban girl and love to be out and about…the times that I thoroughly enjoy the most is when I get a moment to breathe. You’ll hear many New Yorkers say they like to leave the city for a quick weekend trip, just to get away from the madness. It didn’t occur to me that I desired to partake in this as well. Something that most people may not know about me is that my ultimate dream is to have a small farm of my own. A girl from Chicago, who loved living in Seoul, love city lights, and now a member of the daily grind in New York is still planning on making this dream happen. So when I stepped foot into Blue Hill, I instantly felt a connection. Almost like I was home. I seriously didn’t want to leave.

Words are limitless to describe my recent experience at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. A few of my co-workers introduced me to this place on our drive back to the city, after some long meetings in Connecticut late January.

If you’re fortunate to take a break and leave town, even if it’s for a one-day trip, it’s so well worth it if you want to get recharged. It definitely doesn’t take long for me to be ‘whole’ again. I just need to squeeze in a little ‘Sarah time’ here and there and I’m in a happy place:)

farm to table goodness

January 3, 2013 sarah lee

Fresh picked baby carrots from the garden

I guess I can't stop talking about this farm-to-table spot a little ways from Seoul. Bean Table. It's time for a revisit. Need to keep sharing the love...

I had an opportunity to stage for Bean Table my last month in Korea before taking off to the states. Good friend and chef Wonil Lee welcomed me as part of his staff, after some serious convincing. Let's just say, this restaurant is on the top of my list for folks visiting Seoul!

The real deal...

*Authentic Korean flavors + modern presentation.

*Non-GMO soybeans (for those who care about this like me).

*Homemade tofu made with natural sea salt coagulants (this part could get pretty technical if you break it down).

*Fresh and organic produce.

*No MSG or preservatives.

I had a real difficult time finding Korean restaurants in Korea that didn't use preservatives. Dining at Bean Table to me is like eating in my moms kitchen-you can feel and taste the love with each dish. Every bite is well balanced, and the variations of the banchan (side dishes) are seriously endless...

pizzeria d'buzza

March 6, 2012 sarah lee

I think this may be one of those posts that my friends have been waiting for. I have to admit that I was kind of holding back a little because I wanted to savor this pizzeria to my self. Ok, maybe with a few others. Although I did recommend this spot to other folks in media, food bloggers and close friends. It came to a point where if I don't share this place with my readers, it would just be unfair. Really.

I stumbled upon this pizzeria in Hannam-dong last fall, recommended by another chef. The moment I sat down I fell in love with the quaint interior, and my expectations slowly arose. As I thumbed through the menu, my hunger got stronger. Then, when I noticed that there were no English mistakes on the menu, I was sold! Hahaha. For those who live in Seoul, you will so understand. My first visit, I fell in love with their calzone and their prosciutto/rucola pizza. Their pizza reminds me of my favorite Neapolitan pizzeria in Chicago-Spacca Napoli. The thin, slightly burnt crispy crust with the utmost fresh ingredients. This is it guys. Seriously. You may just want to 'stop all pizza research' here!

gamrodang 감로당

November 3, 2011 sarah lee

King oyster mushrooms, lotus roots, chinese yam on a bed of pine needles

When it comes to all things vegetarian, I'm definitely in. Well, mostly. One would think that vegetarian cuisine would be an easy find in Seoul, but guess what? Not really. When I first got here early 2010, every time I ordered the 'veggie kimbop' (Korean maki rolls) at restaurants, ham would always be included! Ugh...so I continuously make it a point in asking them to take it out.

I'm not quite a vegetarian, although I took a shot at it for a year, prior to my arrival to Seoul. If you're familiar with Korean food, you may know that a lot of their 'banchan' (side dishes) are mostly vegetables. However, vegetarian spots are a hard find in Seoul. Especially the ones to be noted. I do have a few fave's, but I'm always in search for some more...

bean table 두둑한상

October 4, 2011 sarah lee

Bulgogi with their homemade tofu served with white kimchi was perfect...

So when you first see the name 'Bean Table' what immediately comes to mind? To be honest, tofu wasn't it...hahaha. Good friend and Chef Wonil Lee opened the doors to his tofu haven early this May. When he first tried to explain the concept of his new place, I was like 'uh what? what was that again?' Traditional Korean served on beautiful earthenware with modern presentation...hmm. I seriously questioned this at first, because to be honest, there are tons of amazing Korean restaurants in Seoul. Lee has a background in contemporary European, but has an impressive palate for Korean cuisine. Thus, this is his true ambition.

sunny california

March 30, 2011 sarah lee

*Beaches of San Diego above, Manhattan beach below*

Essential in the enjoyment...was what my trip to Los Angeles was this time around...I ask myself 'why the heck am I not residing in California?' These photos were taken early March...early March!!!

It was a breath of fresh air being out there for a few days...I took advantage of outdoor activities, strolls along the beach, and eating outdoors. Always have a great time visiting friends and family in Los Angeles, and of course hitting the markets and devouring their fresh produce!

Can't wait to go back for some more 'fun in the sun!' hahahaha...pretty cheezy:)

balwoo gongyang- temple cuisine in insadong, seoul

August 2, 2010 sarah lee

the banchan spread

Balwoo Gongyang is truly a spirited, unique restaurant that offers Buddhist temple cuisine, located alongside the art district of Insadong (Anguk station). Insadong is where tourists flock to check out the traditional Korean pottery and artworks, amazing han jung sik restaurants (traditional Korean restaurants that have the amazing banchan spreads), tea houses, the most entertaining street food vendors, and not to mention reporters from local tv stations that will seek out every foreigner for an interview (first hand experience-Kristi and I have been through this when she came to visit!).

this chicagoan knows how to eat!

January 19, 2010 sarah lee

My love affair with food continues...will I really have time to hit all my favorite spots in Chicago by the time I leave? I also recently got back from Los Angeles, and I must admit, I have been pleasantly surprised with the great food every time! The photos will speak for themselves...