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| Stephane Mot Personal Portal |
| Let's not waste time with famous restaurants - guides are full of them - and focus on a few places where food matters. SM |
| Copyright and copy 2003-2006 - Stephane MOT. Contact me : mot.stephane@stephanemot.com |
| How about French food ? I've been looking for new lairs since "Aux Petits Oignons" closed on Boulevard Exelmans and "L'escalier" near Vitrac. |
| Four stars for these tripes, the best in Seoul. Too bad I can't remember the location (Daehangno area). Anyone...? |
| WHO ? WHAT ? WHERE ? Amjadia (Indian in London, ENG) Anamour (Turkish in Boulogne Billancourt, FRA) Ben's Thai (Thai in London, ENG), Borgo San Jacopo (Italian in Florence, ITA), Chungwon Hwaegwan (Korean in Jeongam, ROK), Coriandolo (Italian in Milan, ITA), Creperie Le Derwin (French in Batz sur Mer, FRA), da Tonino (Italian in Naples, ITA), Fleurs de Mai (Cantonese in Paris, FRA), Gaon (Korean Seoul, ROK), Higuma (Japanese in Paris, FRA), Ignnello (Italian in Paris, FRA), Korean Barbecue Dragon (Korean in Paris, FRA), Kim Ahn (Vietnamese in Paris, FRA), L'Escalier (French in Vitrac, FRA) - RIP Le Saint Ex (French in Seoul, ROK) Les Petits Oignons (French in Paris, FRA) - RIP Mabang Ship (Korean in Hannam, ROK), Mirak (Korean in Seoul, ROK), Na Xi Family Cafe (Chinese in Lijiang, CHN), Ojangdong Hamheung Nengmyeon (Korean in Seoul, ROK), Osteria delle Cantene (Italian in San Gimignano, ITA), Parione (Italian in Florence, ITA), Pho Banh Cuon 14 (Pho 14) (Vietnamese in Paris, FRA), Pho Bida Saigon (Vietnamese in Paris, FRA), Sanki (Japanese in Boulogne Billancourt, FRA) Tante Germaine (French in Le Croisic, FRA), Toraji (Korean in Tokyo, JAP), Villa San Michele (Italian in Florence, ITA), Woo-Jeong (Korean in Paris, FRA), Woo-Jeong Nakji (Korean in Seoul, ROK) Woo-Lae-Oak (Korean in Beverly Hills, CA - USA) Yong's Kalbi (Korean in Kamulea, HI) |
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| This site welcomes visitors from all over the World |
| You come from all 6 continents and over 100 countries, and it keeps growing. You come because you're "looking for soul food and a place to eat", but also because you love either France, Korea, the USA or the Rest of the World, because you bumped into one my lousy blogs (in French, in English or on mobility), or because you enjoy photography, good books or soccer... and sometimes simply by chance. Site map : click here. |
| MABANG SHIP Kyeonggi-do - Hannam-shi, Cheonhyundong 428-4 beonji HANNAM, ROK (Gyeonggi-do) Tel : +82.31.791.0011 A place to rest (the last stop for your horses before entering seoul) and feast with traditional and original food. No fusion but for the delicious things melting on your palate. SM2003 |
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| WOO-JEONG NAKJI Seoul Teukbyeolshi Jongno-gu, Seolin-dong 127 SEOUL, ROK Tel : +82.2.720.7991 Their octopuss is so hot it may kill your foes or your microbs, but their potato soup can help you survive another day. SM2003 |
| GAON Seoul Gangnamgu Shinsadong - 631-23 beonji 135-895 SEOUL, ROK Tel : +82.2.3446.8411 To my humble opinion, Korean cuisine should normally overpass Japanese cuisine within 15 to 20 years. They clearly don't play in the same league and the Japanese know it (they adore Korean food). They can fool westerners with their sense of presentation but as soon as the public tastes actual Korean cuisine, the game is over - for good. Unfortunately, up to now no Korean restaurant could really match their cuisine, but for some prestigious places embalmed in the cult of Tradition. |
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| "Gaon Gimchi Clinic" Photo Stephane MOT 2004 At Gaon, the preparation of Gimchi requires surgical precision |
| KOREAN BARBECUE 1 rue du Dragon 75006 PARIS, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.42.22.26.63 Maybe the best beef bulgogi on earth : mouthwatering and meltingly good. The key factors for success : the quality of the meat (from Belgium, a perfect mix of meat and fat) and the way it's been marinated : there's someting about the soy sauce - actually, this is not an actual bulgogi but fusion food : the owner is... Japanese !!! There's a similar marinating technique at Toraji's in Tokyo but with thicker slices of meat. Open sundays and overcrowded most of the time. You want to book that one. SM2003 PS : there are other Korean Barbecue restaurants in Paris, owned by the same family, but that's as close as it gets. |
| MIRAK Seoul Teukbyeol-si, Gangbuk-gu, Suyu 2-dong 273-15 SEOUL, ROK Tel : +82.2.995.2999 You're looking for a Korean feast but you'd like to avoid the royal full course marathon. Here, everything is served at once : about 40 "panchan" will enlight your main course, which could well simply turn out to be a rather surprising oyster rice. Please your eyes and palate for a song. All these small streams make a huge river, so finishing them all could be a genuine mirakle. SM2005 |
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| WOO RAE OK 170 N La Cienega Blvd BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90211 - USA Tel : +1.310.652.4187 One block away from the Meridien, classic Korean food in a decent place makes L.A. bearable (prefer a quiet lunch to a crowded if not snobish dinner). Not cheap but more value for your money than at the Nobu cross the street (even with Matsuhisa himself paying a visit back to our table). SM2003 |
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| A few tables quoted here... |
| 1) Restaurants in Seoul and Korea |
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| Gaon created the very much expected precedent, setting from the start the standards at the highest level. I think Gaon is simply the very best Korean restaurant in the World* because it perfectly honours the great Art Culinaire of Korea. The chef manages to reinvent the classics and masters to the perfection each element (taste, flavor, color, texture, temperature...). And to make it even more sublime, each course is presented in a dish specially designed for it by a great master in ceramics. SM2003 * if you find a better one, please send the address ASAP |
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| 1) A few spots in Korea 2) A few spots in France 3) A few spots in Italia 4) A few spots in the rest of the world |
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| OJANGDONG HAMHEUNG NENGMYEON 90-10 Ojangdong, Chung-gu SEOUL, ROK Tel : +82.2.2267.9500 - 2268.8500 Three restaurants next to each other share the same name : pick the one in the middle. You'll see both limousines and rotten cabs parked in front of this not so glamorous place. One big room, each party wolfing ultraspicy cold noodles - a North Korean sadicist treat served with a delicious beef stew. Strong, cheap... a killer institution. SM2005 |
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| CHUNGWON HWAEGWAN Yeongam-gun, Yeongam-eup, Dongmuli (Yeongam-gun Cheong ap) YEONGAM, ROK (Jeollanam-do) Tel : +82.61.473.6700 - 473.6711 At the feet of beautiful Chirisan and next to the "gun office", try their amazing jjangddungeotang, a soup made with these almost amphibian fish you can see crawling on the seashores. A truly unique and very subtle flavor. SM2005 |
| 2) Restaurants in Paris and France |
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| FLEURS DE MAI 61 avenue de Choisy 75013 PARIS, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.44.24.37.71 Don't miss : mussels with basil, steamed chicken with ginger... the best Cantonese restaurant in Paris. Not the most glamourous, but who gives a clam ? SM2003 |
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| WOO-JUNG 8 boulevard Delessert 75016 PARIS, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.45.20.72.82 The finest Korean restaurant in Paris, even if you may prefer the Korean Barbecue at rue du Dragon for the bulgogi (see below). SM2003. |
| KIM ANH 51 avenue Emile Zola 75015 PARIS, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.45.79.40.96 The best Vietnamese restaurant in Paris : a very refined cuisine, a quiet place and kind people... Need anything else ? If you prefer your Pho in the pitoresque XIIIth district, PHO 14 provides a few seats outside : PHO BANH CUON 14 : 129 avenue de Choisy - 75013 PARIS - Tel 01.45.83.61.15 Yet, the best Pho in town is hiding in the furthest corner of an ugly shopping center (Centre Commercial des Olympiades): PHO BIDA SAIGON - 44 avenue d'Ivry - Tel 01.45.84.04.85 SM2005 |
| HIGUMA 32 bis rue Sainte Anne 75001 PARIS, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.47.03.38.59 Hungry ? There's better than Nissin's Cup noodle : Sainte-Anne's asylum for empty stomachs. Take a sit where you can - if possible in front of the Chinese cooks banging on their massive woks - and order whatever you please. Not the finest Japanese food - and not the healthiest either - but you'll satisfy your wolf self. I must confess a weakness for their fried rice.. SM2003 |
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| CREPERIE LE DERWIN A?llee du Derwin 44740 BATZ SUR MER, FRANCE Tel : +33.2.40.23.90.06 (no reservations) The coast isn't as wild as it used to be and the atmosphere at Derwin reminds me of a Swiss chalet serving hot wine but I don't care. I'm coming for the "moules Derwin" : mussels with cheese, a fusion of seafood and Fondue Savoyarde. Warm, cheesy, sticky, heavy and tasty. Utterly unhealthy but you only live once. For the crepes, sorry but I'm sticking to my early childhood and TANTE GERMAINE : a few kilometers away, in Le Croisic : 31 rue de l'Eglise (02.40.23.23.78). SM2003 |
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| 3) Restaurants in Florence and Italy |
| DA TONINO Via S. Teresa a Chiaia, 47 80121 NAPOLI, ITALY Tel : +39.081.421533 Small tables and low prices but divine food - at the same time very simple and rich in complex flavors. The boss locks the mamma in the kitchen and takes care of you - he may offer you a drink from his - comprehensive - cave (selling wine seems his main game, which explains the rates). Who knows what the menu will be when you pass by ? It's up to the mammissima's maestria. But you don't know mozzarella till you taste her mozzarella alla pizzaela (mamma mia). Don't miss the penne alla genovese either, but order some Napolitan speciality with it so that Tonino doesn't take it as a personal offense. Watch out : the restaurant opens only certain evenings. If you really want to try another Osteria in the same street, go to Castello (# 38) instead of the insipid Osteria dell'Oca (# 11). SM2004 |
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| OSTERIA DELLE CATENE Via Mainardi, 18 SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY Tel : +39.0577.941966. Not very exciting from the outside but what's on your plate deserves all your attention. Far from a bore (but closer to wild boars), you can enjoy tasty traditional if not medieval Tuscan food with a bottle of white Vernaccia. SM2005 |
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| PARIONE Via del Parione, 74/76r 50123 FIRENZE, ITALY Tel : +39.055.214.005 For the best food in town, you may have to go out of town (Villa San Michele* definitely towers above the competition), but if you want to feast in a friendly spot, Parione provides a mouth watering menu. SM2005 * VILLA SAN MICHELE - Via Doccia 4, Tel 055-567.8200 |
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| BORGO SAN JACOPO Borgo San Jacopo 62r 50125 FIRENZE, ITALY Tel : +39.055.281.661 Thank the Ferragamo famiglia for enlightening the city with delightful spots. You can zap their Savoy in favor of their so cosy Gallery Hotel Art or a breathtaking view from one ot their Lungarno Suites. Borgo San Jacopo enjoy a great location and an interesting decoration but depending on the season (on/off) the food can be either sublime or just above average. SM2005 |
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| CORIANDOLO Via dell'Orso 1 20121 MILANO, ITALY Tel : +39.02.869.32.73 Let's be frank : Milano wasn't a major culinar peak for me. Coriandolo is fine but wouldn't deserve a detour. SM2005 |
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| 4) Restaurants from the Rest of The World |
| BEN'S THAI 93 Warrington Crescent LONDON W9 1EH, UK Tel : +44.20.7266.3134 There are by far better thai food restaurants in London, but the atmosphere gives it a unique twist. Mix with the locals downstairs. Some may not be aware the empire collapsed a few decades ago. SM2003 |
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| YONG'S KALBI 65-1158 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea Center, Waimea, HI KAMUELA, HI 96743 - USA Tel : +1.808.885.8440 In the mist of the old volcano, in a nondescript shopping arcade, a simple Korean restaurant with simple but good food. For your best doenjjang jjigae and grilled chicken in Big Island (Hawaii). SM2004 |
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| NA XI FAMILY CAFE N°70 JiShai Lana, XiYi Street 674100 LIJIANG, LIJIANG COUNTY, YUNNAN, CHINE Tel : +86.0888.512.1548 So many great meals in the beautiful region of Yunnan... how many of these small places will survive the tourist rush ? I thus picked up this one, firmly hooked to the center of LiJiang's oldtown - I hope it won't turn into a McDo. Its very fine and cute and the dishes are hot (a luxury in a region without heating systems, where your soups turn cold in winter before they reach your table). I had a terriffic shabeu-shabeu in Kunming, but could just steal a phone number (0871-519.8246) and a ZIP code (53-0067). Elsewhere, while walking, I visited a splendid mansion converted into a big restaurant. Too bad, that was after lunch. I'm keeping the number (3644555 - 3644689) for the next occasion... SM2004 |
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| Vietnamese Restaurant |
| Japanese Restaurant |
| Stars & stripes |
| French Restaurant |
| Italian Restaurant |
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| ANAMOUR 99 avenue Edouard Vaillant 92100 BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.46.20.50.06 Turkish restaurant with a fine and affordable mixed grill - provided the main chef is there and the food kept cool during summer - for the delicious marinated chicken. SM2005 |
| Turkish Restaurant |
| IGNNELLO 17 boulevard Exelmans 75016 PARIS, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.46.47.80.08 That ugly block under the Garigliano bridge could turn into an interesting spot for food lovers (and for not always interesting people from neighboring medialand - TF1, France Televisions...). Where an insanely lousy French restaurant stood, Ignnello proposes one of the finest Italian cuisine this side of the Seine. Tasty and perfectly served for a reasonable price. SM2006 |
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| SANKI 38 avenue Edouard Vaillant 92100 BOULOGNE BILLANCOURT, FRANCE Tel : +33.1.46.08.38.38 You want to book that one if you intend to come for dinner. If you don't mind the smoke and sake from Japanese office clerks and execs, you can enjoy good sushi and sashimi along with actual cuisine (boiled or grilled fish, sunomono - vinegar and miso - tuna and veggies...). Better and deeper than your usual joint and you don't even have to dress up. SM2006 |
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| AMJADIA 15 Picton Place LONDON W1U 1BW - UNITED KINGDOM Tel : +44.20.7935.0885 There again, neither the best nor the finest Indian restaurant in town, but a simple and good place just a few yards from Selfridges. SM2006 |
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| Homesick ? Dash to Korea's only authentic French bistrot, Le Saint-Ex (just a few yards behind Hamilton hotel in Itaewon). Yongsan-gu, Itaewon-dong, 119-28, Seoul, ROK. Tel +82.2.795.2465. |