Category Archives: Cheat Day

Schneeballen Sunday

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Under normal circumstances, there’s a certain calm to The Four Hour Body’s regular regimen. It’s best described by someone from the book by calling it ‘The freedom of no choice.’

The real challenge comes in when that no choice isn’t possible with presently available options, or as I’ve come to discover, there is a certain haphazardness with which cheat day rolls around.

Just because you can do a specific thing doesn’t mean you should do a certain thing, or even that you have to do a certain thing.

I’ve been pondering taking a different approach to my cheat days to get them to take a slightly different form.

Not a wholesale change in the what I eat specifically, but the plan of attack.

All of this is just a long winded way to say that with so many options in Korea, sometimes it’s better to keep your options open.

So I didn’t really have a monster day on Sunday, but the halavah I got at the Salaam Bakery in Itaewon was delicious, and the Chinese-American food at Ho Lee Chow in Myeondong was very good (eaten Korean-style by sharing one entree), the Dunkin Donuts NY ‘cronut’ was still a little lacking, the Pizza School beefmeat pizza (yes, a real thing) sufficed in place of the Italian restaurant that we wanted to go to but was closed, and one of the two schneeballen we got last week at Hyundai Dept Store paired excellently with both the Haagen Dazs vanilla and chocolate fondant I got at the gourmet GS25.

Halavah

Halavah

Ho Lee Chow lunch

Ho Lee Chow lunch

Schneeballen w/ Haagen Dazs

Schneeballen w/ Haagen Dazs

Happy Chuseok e’erbody!

Meal Top Patbingsu

Patbingsu and Pocari Sweat

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Having arrived in the RoK in summertime, there were adverts all over the place for patbingsu, which according to Wikipedia is a popular dessert comprised of ice shavings and sweetened azuki beans (known as pat).

In our research (well my research – I’ve had some time on my hands), we discovered that according to CNN, the best patbingsu was at Meal Top in the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong.

Investigation ensued.

Coffee Patbingsu @ Meal Top

Coffee Patbingsu @ Meal Top

And compared to the one at another place, it was delicious.

Patbingsu @ Meal Top - DONE!

Patbingsu @ Meal Top – DONE!

We had a terrific rest of the day including this Pocari Sweat moment:

Pocari Sweat

Pocari Sweat

We did catch up with Pat & Nicole for a shmy around Dapsimni, finding a very cool hanbok and some bbq.

But the highlight of the day was not my milkshake at Butterfingers, but it had to be Jenn’s excitement at finding Rooney’s new outfit on the streets of Gangnam:

Rooney new Paul Frank outfit.

Rooney new Paul Frank outfit.

And then it was time to head back.

Catchin' the bus, headin' home.

Catchin’ the bus, headin’ home.

I may have an exciting announcement about my work situation shortly.

 

 

Ice, ice, baby

The Cheat Day that almost wasn’t

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As you know, Sundays are important to me.

Not just because it’s Cheat Day, but back in Cayman it used to be Brunch With Friends Day.  (Which is why it was my Cheat Day vs Saturdays like most other people on the Four Hour Body protocol — they call it Faturday.)

Brunch With Friends Day is not to be confused with Words With Friends, although for some there is a competitive angle (I’m looking at you, Elle).

I’ve tried to do a similar thing here in Korea but it’s been slow getting off the ground.  Not because of anything specific, but seven years of brunching the way we did in Cayman is a tough habit to break.  Jenn & I have a list of the places that we want to check out that allegedly do a brunch we can be fond of and we’ve made some progress.  Butterfinger Pancakes is running slightly hotter than Suji’s at this point.

This past Sunday we were invited over to a neighbor’s place for a in-house potluck brunch.  Jenn had made an egg casserole, and the hostess was making French Toast.  Just as more people were arriving, I felt a slight itch in my right eye, and excused myself to grab something from our apartment.  When I walked in, I went to the sink, washed my hands and then rinsed out my eye.  Or at least I thought I did.

Check out what happened next.  Note the time stamps…

Crazy, right?

At first I thought I had an allergic reaction to something in the neighbor’s apartment, and I took two antihistamines to stop the swelling and then three ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation.

And then I did what any other grown up does in this situation: I called my mommy.

We spoke for a little while, during which time I put an ice pack on my face and waited.

Ice, ice, baby

Ice, ice, baby

As I inspected the eye again, I noticed a little white particle in there and with the way it was reacting I thought that maybe, just maybe, something else had happened instead of an allergic reaction.

I went to the sink, turned the hose upside down and rinsed what I thought could have been soap out of my eyeball.

The swelling started to go down and after a little while resting, I ventured out for some Visine.  Of course they don’t have Visine in Korea but they did have this:

Korean Visine

Korean Visine

And after squeezing five or six drops into the eyeball, it looked like this:

2013-09-01-12.35.29

2013-09-01-12.35.29

Crisis averted.

And since it was Cheat Day, I rewarded myself thusly:

Baskin Robbins Quarterback Crunch

Baskin Robbins Quarterback Crunch

After another hour or so of R&R, Jenn and I decided to make the most out of the rest of the day.

I started with some of this:

Finally got to enjoy these Pain au Levain lovely cookies, Madelines, and cupcakes.

Finally got to enjoy these Pain au Levain lovely cookies, Madelines, and cupcakes.

We then joined up with that neighbor for a trip out to find the I Love Cookie (foreign food mart) closer to us in Suji-gu (which was closed) and something called CostCo Seconds, which is a storefront that sells returned merch from the wholesaler.  After parting ways at the Lotte Department Store in Suji-gu, Jenn & I walked to Jukjeon to the Shinsegae Department Store for some food.

And of course after scarfing our spicy veggies, noodles, and chicken, we perused the grocery store and food court area.

We cabbed home and called it a night…

This weekend is still up in the air but Friday is looking like an Itaewon kinda day/eve.

G-Style

Suji’s, Gangnam, & Random Weirdness

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Today was a great day.

Despite a couple of early hiccups (including one on the Cheat Day maintenance front), Jenn & I had a lovely day exploring and eating thru Itaewon and Gangnam. Okay, I did most of the eating, but we had a lovely time.

We kicked it off on the 5500 as usual and checked another ‘brunch’ place off our list in Suji’s Restaurant & Bar in Itaewon.

Jenn had the highly recommended Jack & Jill and I had the Lumberjack (food porn here).  The atmosphere was cozy and we had lovely seats at the facing-out bar overlooking the intersection below.  As we got sorted out to leave, the canned dining soundtrack (which included Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra) played our wedding song by Etta James.  Yeah, it’s a cliche but bugger off; it was a not-so-subtle reminder and a good omen for the day to come.

We walked down the street when Jenn noticed that there was a humane society type yard sale happening on the opposite side of the street.  She’s got this sense about those kind of things.

Jenn spies a yard sale to benefit a humane society

Jenn spies a yard sale to benefit a humane society

A quick stop at the previously mentioned High Street Market for a couple of items and about 10 minutes after that yielded the photos presented below.  Make of it what you wish.

After a subway ride to Gangnam, going through the crowd at the underground shopping mall (mobbed, btw), exiting at Gate (Station exit) 11, and on our way to an ‘art installation’ which I’ll get to in a moment, we had the second of two very strange animal encounters in three days.

Flashback to Friday night.

We’re walking from Paragon Apartments in Jeongja to a bar with a bunch of teachers from the school when I spy a fluffy white dog being walked by two guys down the street ahead of me.  I increase my pace and stop and say, “Excuse me… Samoyed?” And they reply, “Yes.”

Angel, our Samoyed.

Angel, our Samoyed.

Jenn and I had a Samoyed named Angel for about 14 years.  We got her when she was a puppy and we took her to Cayman where she eventually passed away.  We missed her terribly and finally had the courage to get another dog three years ago.  Jenn sees me and the male Sammy (named Beckham) and runs over to say hi.  When I say that looking into this animals eyes was like looking into the past I realize that it sounds weird, but I swear it was true.

Back to today.

On our way to pay homage to Psy, I see another Samoyed.  This one is female and is being walked by a Korean woman.  I am floored.  I ask her, “Samoyed?”  he English isn’t as good and we don’t have as long an interaction, but she says, “Yes.”  I bend down and the dog looks at me with those deep, dark eyes and that Sammy smile and I’m in shock.  Jenn walks up and I start to show the girl the picture of Angel and just then the dog jumps up on her hind legs onto Jenn just like Angel used to.

It’s gotta mean something, right? Crazy that I didn’t even think to snap photos in either situation.

We finally got the photo Jenn was hankering for…

Photo oppum in Psy's dong.

Photo oppum in Psy’s dong.

Right after that, as we were perusing where to go next, a Korean guy with perfect English asks if we’re lost and are looking for something specific.  We reply not really, we were just looking to get a feel for the neighborhood (aka ‘dong’), but thanks so much.  Twenty minutes later, we’re talking about synchronicity to Nick in an Angel-In-Us Coffee shop off the main drag in Gangnam.  Nick’s an American-Korean (born in America, of Korean heritage), schooled in Vancouver, and on a sabbatical.  A chance encounter halfway around the world that makes you believe in fate and the fact that everyone is more alike than different.  Nick’s a good kid.  I think before he heads back to the west coast of North America, we’ll be seeing him again.  I’ll be taking some of his suggestions on where to go and what to do, but Jenn will probably skip the one about eating live octopus.

We said goodbye to Nick, and as Jenn shopped in a nearby Body Shop, I made a quick stop in a Butterfinger Pancakes (which happened to be around the corner) for a second Butterfinger Blast in as many weeks. (#DuhWinning!)

For the record, this guy is right: These are the best milkshakes I’ve ever had, and baby, I’ve had a few.

Finally, after a stop for a NY Chocolate Cheesecake and a double chocolate somethingorother (along with an original for later for Jenn) in a Krispy Kreme, it was time to head back home.

But not before one more treat for the road…

Seriously, New York Fries? This mozzarella/gravy concoction should be called "Faux-tine"

Seriously, New York Fries? This mozzarella/gravy concoction should be called “Faux-tine”

And that’s it.  Lovely Sunday.  So long Cheat Day and thanks for all the indigestion!

Psying in the Gangnam subway station...

Psying in the Gangnam subway station…

 

 

 

On the bus to Jeongja this happened. I introduced this Korean Komedianne to the term "photobomb."

On the road again

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It’s slowly coming together.

The challenges of moving halfway around the world with so many differences make it tough to adjust to the whole thing all at once.  So when you’re not paralyzed by the sheer volume of things to take in, you try and mete out solutions.  Or should I say SEOULutions?

Aside from a small speedbump on Saturday night, this weekend should be considered a positive step.  We’re still here.  And I think it’s getting better.  No big f-ups on public transit, we’re mostly on time for things.  And we’re planning ahead as best we can.

Friday night was a school social of sorts at “Fridge Bar,” which, of course, is not the name of the bar. We took the bus to the general area and as we walked out into the humid Korean air, I asked Jenn, “So how the heck are we going to find these people.”  And then I saw the lot of them congregating not more than 30 yards in front of us.  I waved and said, “That. Was. Hilarious.”

So we made our way to Beer Call.  Lovely place for all you fans of fermented grains.

Saturday was a walk and explore the grocery stores day.  Jenn & I love checking out the local supermarkets… We enjoy discovering the odd foreign foods stocked amongst whatever country’s versions of standard goods.  Not that all of these were taken on 17 August 2013, but here’s what I’m talking about:

After getting a nap, we headed out to grab a bite to eat in Hongdae and then on to Party (the actual title of a gathering… just “Party,” thanks Nicole).  Unfortunately the Mexican place we wanted to go to had been replaced with this:

Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.

Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.

So it was off to noodle&donburri.

Jennifer enjoying her udon & fritters

Jennifer enjoying her udon & fritters

We had to cut our time short at Party, due to public transit schedules but did get to see the guy below try to get dragged out of a subway car by a fellow passenger, finally getting ejected by a conductor (almost landing right onto Jennifer) only to make his way back into the subway car as the doors closed, then finally exit the car once the doors opened again.  Apparently they take cars out of service toward the end of the night.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

I’m not as think as you drunk I am.

Which brings us to today.

Cheat Day.

On the docket was Butterfingers Pancakes in Jeongja & shmying around looking for other spots to put on the list… Imma gonna just put some of the pics up… Mkay?

</CheatDay>

<Digestion>

Next week: more fun and another trip to CostCo!

Ben eats a cronut

Korea Cheat Day Number One

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Thought I’d get around to this now that I’ve got some time on my hands.

As you may know by reading this, one of the biggest challenges for me in Korea is reconciling all the delicious looking pastries with staying on the Four Hour Body/Slow Carb Diet.  Luckily I’ve found a few sources to keep me on track, so when this past Sunday rolled around and I could let loose without fear, I took advantage of it.

Here are the highlights in order, food wise.  In my haste to in inhale as much crap as possible some pictures were not taken…

1. Conch shell pie from Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette conch shell pie

Paris Baguette conch shell pie

2. Chicken kebab from Instanbul Kebab in Hongdae.

3. Double chocolate cookie from Ben’s Cookie’s in Hongdae.

Ben's Cookies in Hongdae, Korean girls not included.

Ben’s Cookies in Hongdae, Korean girls not included.

4.  Cronut from Dunkin Donuts in Myeondong

5. Hot dog wrapped in potato chips in Myeondong.

Hot dog with potato on a stick

Hot dog with potato on a stick

6. Big slice of chocolate crunch cake from Starbucks in Myeondong.

7. Crunky! from one of the many subway stops to get back home

Crunky!

Crunky!

8. Steak pizza from Pizza School in Migeum.

9. These

Korean cheat day snacks

Korean cheat day snacks

10. Baskin-Robbins Quarterback crunch ice cream in a cone

I should also mention the Starbucks chocolate covered espresso beans I gobbled at random times during the day.

Starbucks dark chocolate covered espresso beans

Starbucks dark chocolate covered espresso beans

All-in-all, a good Korea Cheat Day Number One!  Can’t wait for next week.  Thinking Itaewon.  Maybe Sujis.