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Showing posts from July 5, 2020

start of the ferry ride when my wife snapped this on her cellphone

With a 4th day on Jeju-do — it’s a Korea Slow Trip after all! — we visited picturesque  Udo  for a theraputic afternoon of unwinding on its pristine beaches and zooming around in an electric three wheeler. If this picture of seagulls in the ocean breeze evokes your image of an island paradise, that’s just the start of the ferry ride when my wife snapped this on her cellphone. It was that relaxing. If Jeju is Korea’s default honeymoon destination, Udo would be the newlyweds’ default romantic hideout with its translucent turquoise waters, sleepy villages and an abundance of lonely lighthouses for that perfect couple’s selfie. This is one place in Jeju where foreigners won’t outnumber the Koreans — it’s where the Jeju natives themselves hang out on weekends. A gorgeous ferry ride with the UNESCO World Heritage landmark of Seongsan Ilchulbong in full view; a curvy coastal loop perfect for a slow cruise in a two-seat scooter; perhaps a steaming bowl of  haemul ramyeo...

Suzuki GSX-R 1100 by Bright Logic

Foto: H eritage & Legends DIPOSKAN

Jinmi Sikdang is an informal eatery at the foot

Meal for Two Persons Hwangdom 1 kg (Dinner Set for Two) 100000 Won TOTAL 100000 Won (CAD$115) As far as I know this is the first ever English-language review of  Yongchul Hoetjib , hopefully bringing more attention to this undiscovered gem. Earlier that day we visited another relatively unknown seafood eatery, also with no other review in English at the time of writing. Restaurant Review: SEONGSAN JINMI SIKDANG (성산진미식당) (Jeju)  ( see map ) Not to be confused with a Michelin-featured crab restaurant of the same name in Seoul, this unheralded  Jinmi Sikdang  is an informal eatery at the foot of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Seongsan Ilchulbong, specializing in the Jeju peasant favorite of  haemul-ttukbaegi , or seafood-in-earthen-pot. There was no English menu of course, which was good news considering that we’re within walking distance from a major tourist draw. Things got even better when the house selection of  banchan  featured two of my favorite...

Restaurant Review: YONGCHUL HOETJIB (용출횟집) (Jeju) (see map)

Live sea bream served raw as  hoe . Abalones served raw, stewed or atop a  dolsot  rice seasoned with abalone liver pâté. Beltfish at peak winter season served in an addictively spicy stew. We had a lot of seafood dishes over 16 days in Korea, but my personal favorite was right here on Jeju Island. All this wouldn’t be possible without help from local foodies and their Korean language blogs. Don’t expect English menus at the eateries reviewed below; expect the most authentic regional cuisine instead. Restaurant Review: YONGCHUL HOETJIB (용출횟집) (Jeju)  ( see map ) This was my favorite meal of our 16-day journey: seafood so fresh they were still moving; motherly service from the gracious  ajumma ; traditional Jeju specialties with impossibly generous portions. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Evidently most popular among an entire row of  hoetjib  — Korean for raw fish houses — on the shoreline west of Jeju City, Yongchul is one of those highly specialized...

Kawasaki GPZ 900 R #1 by Spec Hiroshima

Foto: H eritage & Legends