Vegan Crunk'n and in need of somethin'

     When you drink, what do you eat? Most people, especially in Korea, go for animal bits and pieces. Eating and drinking is a HUGE part all over the world. But Seoul-side...what's a vegan gal to do?
     There are classics, the essentials, the delicious and not to girthy, dotori muk, acorn jelly salad!

glory~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     It's great for a million reasons, even when I'm not throwing back alcohol, I'm secretly spying for places that have this! I LOVE it...it's got an interesting texture, super light, spicy, full of veggies, and slurp-worthy! yummm~
      Another easy vegan/veggie way to pack the tummy whilst marinating it...steamed tofu and kimchi. Make sure to ask if the kimchi is fried in butter, with pork, or has fishies in it! A lot of the time...vegan kids pull of lucky.

steamed tofu and kimchi~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     Usually, I go for the drink on empty route, but every so often...re-fueling is absolutely necessary and these are the two dishes that most, if not all Korean alcohol places always have available!! The Tofu kimchi is much heavier...but the body wants what it wants...

Cheers~

Savoring Seoul with Alex~

     Before Alex got here, I was stressing~ I was to be the appointed "travel guide" and find places that may be of interest...I translate this into "food guide." Whenever I travel to a new country, I do MAJOR research, more because I'm interested but also because with this lifestyle, it's crucial. I create a food list where I get to experience the Country's cuisine. Alex did zip research~ Clearly my food preferences will differ from the bro, one he's an omnivore, two he likes hot foods and, three, his metabolism is MUCH better than mine... Where would we eat?!
     I know I'm a pickier vegan than most, I own this, but I feel like it's my responsibility to share Korea and its cuisine with those that make the effort to come to this country. Korean food isn't very well represented over the states, there's the Korea towns, New York, Boston, California...but other than that...even 비빔밥 is messed with!
     Luckily, I wasn't fully responsible for every meal, only maybe one per day...I hope I did okay~ I stick to my fruits, so all these cooked good gave me a whee Buddha Belly (it's there...I feel it!!) The following pictures are just things we ate, we savored Seoul~

latte and my Americano~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Coffee in Korea is stil not really coffee, it's weak, watered down, and mostly reaches a meh level...because of the fragile acidic waters, Alex and I hit up a lot of cafes, downed "caffeine" like it was....well water!
     전 is an easy "meal", it should be downed with some sort of alcohol, and I don't like eating it often...but it's a vacation. I steered as clear as I could from the flour based 전 and went with the protein packed and veggie studded 빈대떡! We got this one in 동대문 and both swooned over how beany it was and that crunch!!

빈대떡 from 동대문 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     We also got treated to a buffet at the Hyatt...about 70,000원 for veggies...I ate til it hurt. I mentioned a while back how buffets are all around dangerous. As kids we ate at them to get calories in, and because...well we weren't the wealthiest. Buffets filled hungry kids tummies, provided more than enough calories to last day(s) and required little to no work. Sadly, I'm still in that survival mindset, it gets triggered at buffets. I travel back to when I had to fill myself up, get your moneys worth...and damned veggies for nearly $70.00....grumble.
     Thankfully veggies are loaded with fiber...
             ...yes, I just went there..

so much, so many greens...ughhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I loaded my two plates with things I barely buy, can't find, and feel too guilty forking cash over for. Grapefruit (my FAVORITE), pine nuts (literally cups of these), iceberg (it's pricey here and I love it...I don' care if it's crunchy water), sprouts, arugula, artichokes, and sweet cherry tomatoes. Alex and I tumbled home, and went straight into food coma...

loaded plate~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Alex's final night was a family dinner at my uncle's house. The entire family gathered around a nearly 100% vegan spread of homemade greatness. Everything but the 불고기 (bulgogi) was vegan. My family is beyond accommodating and so very supportive.

widespread Vegan love~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     I swear, every Korean meal resembles a U.S Thanksgiving, all these various plates of foods, colors vibrantly feeding your eyes...we all ate well and traveled back to a time when Alex and I were children, and these meals were shared in a tiny apartment in Boston.

so much Korean Vegan Noms~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Post dinner we got fruit...mangoes, apples, grapes~ Give me a mango any-day!!

fruits~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My brother and mama Beats hadn't yet met my new cousin, he's all smiles now! I got him dancing with a little LMFAO...

wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle, yeah! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     He really likes "I'm Sexy and I Know It!"

Art and Outhouses~ Alex's Last Saturday

     This past Saturday was Alex's last weekend here, I was going to bring him to 홍대 but everything pointed to my area! Pol and David were at the Seoul Art Center and plans for a big dinner were in action. Thanks to Kakao (communication ease) a day of loose plans became a great evening! Prokop was up to something so he would join Alex and I to meet up with Pol and David. The Seoul Art Center  is only 20 minutes from my house and I've always wanted to check it out, the place is huge so while searching for Pol and David, us three stumbled into some exhibits!

painting~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     The galleries were free (except the Finland furniture one) and features local artist paintings that resembled old style Korean art. It was very beautiful...we were trekking mountains!

Prokop hikes~ photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Seeing these paintings reminds me how much I miss making and creating art. I've been sketching, but getting messy with paint...ugh~

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Once we met up with the guys we went to the Finland Furniture Exhibit that offered a decent variety of stop motions works, teen creations, film, clothing, etc. I think the stop motion stuff is pretty trendy, there was a lot of it!

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Playing with simple structures and using simplicity to create intricate works was a strong point...I was more into the shadow creations though.

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     If any of this stuff was in my house, I'd either never leave it, or fear breaking everything!!

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

     We got to test out the furniture and we all nearly moaned upon seating ourselves...how comfy can chairs be?!

ahhhhh~ photo taken by VeganBeats

comfy Pol~ photo taken by VeganBeats

     My favorite part of the exhibit was the outhouse. Maybe I'm immature but toilet humor is still enough to get me giggling like a kindy kid. Maybe I embarrassed Alex and my friends with my antics, we sure got some stares but hey...I'm still a child somewhere!

Shut the door!!! (photo taken by Alex, for VeganBeats)

     After the exhibit, Phil joined us and we went to 교대곱창, a restaurant famous for it's animal bits and intestines.
      I know, what kind of Vegan books a table for this kind of joint?
You don't judge!!!  
     Apparently though, eating animal stomach, liver, and tripe "cures sexual dysfunction in men." People must believe it because guys are slamming away intestines like it's their job!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     Bottles of 막골리 later, and enough cabbage to give me a Buddha belly, we were all off for more adventures...and more 막골리~


I end this with my poopin' Pol~

'plop'~ photo taken by Alex, for VeganBeats

Caffe Paws

So my brother is now flying over stateside and we've done a bunch of stuff while he was here...the next couple posts will be Alex editions~~


     Besides my brother being beyond AWEsome, he's down to go on hour long walks with me~ and he doesn't do the "we've got to get back" or time excuse...we just wander! I like being on the go and having a buddy makes it even more peaceful...I'm out of my head and it's safer, and all sorts of new spots are discovered!
     After a super long day, I wrapped up a long work day and Alex was all over Seoul meeting with old friends, he zipped over and we grabbed coffees and went for an excursion. After about 3 hours we stumbled upon a puppy cafe! The only other one I really know of is over in 홍대 and this one is only a 25 minute walk from my place!! This cafe is called Caffe Pawz!
     Puppy cafes don't pop up often, and I've never even heard of one stateside. And I love my Hamlet and 고구마 but I want to snuggle up with something that actually weighs something! Another coffee and we were settled in this beautiful open cafe crawling in pups of all sizes!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     The drinks are a bit steep but you're really paying for the environment and energy of the place! Where else can you play with pups while living in literal rooms?!

Squee~photo taken by VeganBeats

Directions:
교대역 (Seoul University of Education station) line 2. Get out of exit 13 and walk straight for about 5-7 minutes, pass the University on your left. You will reach a four way, there take a left...now walk for about 20 minutes or so, on your Left (across the street) will be Caffe Pawz!!..

bite bite bite~ photo taken by VeganBeats

전 Jeon with Alex

     전, or jeon is typically eaten as 안주~ (food partnered with alcohol) and typically on rainy days; but for my brother and I, these veggie packed pancakes are our childhood. My mom would usually make 호박전, (hobak) zucchini pancakes and they'd be perfect; crispy, hot, LOADED with zukes and requiring nothing but chopsticks! 전 is really easy to make too (flour, salt, water, veggies) but I didn't know this as a child. We weren't rich when we were young and these ingredients can fill hungry bellies up while keeping your wallet safe~ jeon is a treat! If and when my mom announced 전 night, waiting for the sun to set was painful. Now a days, I barely, if ever nom on any 전. The oil, flour, etc, bothers me, but it could be because every single one I've had here can't compete with mama beats cooking!
     The other day Alex claimed hunger and wasn't wanting barbecue or any animal parts, he was craving something crispy and "something you can eat." My place is by food street and there are loads of 안주 places, after walking in drizzle we found one open 전집 (pancake house) and ordered a plate of 전's and some 야채비빔밥 (vegetable bibimbap).

sauces and 반찬 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Nearly all the jeon was vegan, there were some though designated for the brother. For 19,900원we got 빈대떡(bindaeddeok, soybean vegetable pancake), 파전 (pajeon, green onion pancake), 김치전 (kimchi pancake), 두부전 (dubu jeon, fried tofu), 생선전 (sangseon jeon, fried fish), 고기전 (gogi jeon, fried beef patty), 깻잎전 (kaennip jeon, sesame leaves filled with meat jeon), and 만두 (mandu, Korean dumpling). The staff was super nice and kept the meaty jazz closer to one another versus the safe ones!

전 platter~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

      The jeons were made egg-free and the portions were rather big. We ate this up free of 막골리(maekgoli) and rather happy about the 전 decision, though...mama beats owns in the 전 department~

     I've thoroughly enjoyed having Alex here, going out to eat alone isn't very fun and the portions in Korea are so big that you can't really finish everything by yourself. More posts to come...Alex edition~

반찬 with the Family (Alex and mom's in Seoul!)

     My brother and mom are kicking it in Seoul!! They got here yesterday afternoon and though tired, my uncle came over and we all went out to dinner. We went to a barbecue/meat house that's a stone's throw away and parts of me were slightly concerned about vegan options, but the 반찬 spread left me full and more than satisfied. I'll let the pictures do the talking~

lettuce, 고추, spicy spring onions, and 단호박 (sweet pumpkin) 튀금 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

pickled radish (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Spicy kale and carrot salad!! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

shredded cabbage in a sweet rice and apple vinegar sauce (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The best 반찬 (banchan- side dish) was a green salad with a raw blueberry dressing! The salad was full of bok choy, spinach greens, romaine lettuce, and cabbage. I usually hate sweet dressings but this was a great change to the mix. There were chunks of little blueberries that hid in the sauce. Considering how everyone around me was throwing back flesh, I was throwing back antioxidants and crunchy glory~ and some maekgoli! >.<#

the blueberry dressing on greens! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     After dinner, Alex and I wandered my hood, did some coffee binging, and caught up! I still can't believe that he's here! The journeys that await us!! 

I look like I'm balding, he's exhausted, and we're both tipsy...ehhh Seoul (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Oh and~ my mom's friend made a batch of sesame crackers for me! I'm a crunch woman, I've always wanted food that way. Crunchy veggies, snappy greens, toasted breads, thin crackers, if it's got a snap it's better in my book. I was genuinely surprised for this~ 

     This post is rushed but I promise there'll be more places I'll talk about~

Until next time^^*

Sorae Villiage Christmas Market

     Last weekend I met up with some wonderful friends (I'm loving this trend) and we trucked it over to the Christmas market that was happening in Sorae villiage. Sorae villiage is the French district in Seoul and is honestly a strip loaded with cafes, bakeries, French cuisine, and is thoroughly dusted with the French language. It's super cute, I recommend just checking the area out!
     The market was quaint, there were lots of tables and foodie items all over the place. Sadly there wasn't much on the Vegan front (Aliensdayout, let's collaborate)! They had everything from wine (^^*), breads, cakes, bindaeddeok (빈대떡), crepes, hot chocolate...ahhh I'll just lay the porn on you~

starry wine (photo taken by VeganBeats)

more vino!!! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

빈대떡 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     The hot chocolate was made with dark chocolate chips and...butter. ugh~ 

hot chocolate (photo taken by VeganBeats)

all sorts of tinned items (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     There was a table LOADED with beautifully dressed pastries and warm crusty breads but...vegan lacks and wallet demanding...my eyes can gorge though right? (I mean, what's porn for!)

look at all that bakey jazz! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

Christmas logs! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

cheesy breads (photo taken by VeganBeats)

decadent (photo taken by VeganBeats)

lemon tarts (photo taken by VeganBeats)

"so good" and the model's gorgeous too! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Christmas decoration! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

olive oil (photo taken by VeganBeats)

not vegan )O: (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     It was mighty cold so we wandered into a small cafe where we sipped on hot coffees and Mipa gifted us with some BEAUTIFUL treats from her bakeshop. Check it out~ buy buy buy!!!

ginger coconut muffins and Boozy Christmas Fruitcake (photo taken by VeganBeats)

hand-dripped coffee..ughhhh (photo taken by VeganBeats)

cute! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

It's around the bend...and these treats wrap it kindly~

photo taken by VeganBeats

Christmas is LESS THAN a week AWAY!!!

Make sure to get some DELICIOUS vegan treats from aliensbakeshop.com If you get some now, you may have time to order another batch of noms (because you may just eat it all prior to gift wrapping!!