Travel | Seoul 28 Oct - 2 Nov 2014 | Day 1 Arrival

Went on a trip to Seoul last month, and would like to share excerpts from the experience. Was rather impromptu as the arrangements were made just a month prior to the trip. The conversation with my friend went like this:

Friend: Have you been to Seoul yet?
Me: Haven't.
Friend: Want to join me for a trip in October?
Me: Ok!

Both of us wanted direct flights, so we got ourselves Asiana tickets. Departing from SG at 11pm, and arrived at Seoul the next morning, 635am.

Onboard Asiana to Seoul, passengers had an option to choose western or Korean meal. Korean meal meant I got a beef bibimbap. The minced beef is actually served separated in a tiny round container inside the bigger one. So if you don't take beef, just don't mix it in.

Between western and Korean option, I'd say choose the latter. It was the better choice. Unless you're adverse to vegetable, kimchi and gochujang.

beef bibimbap

bibimbap after mixing

Having that much rice around midnight, was a first for me after so many years. The gochujang in the toothpaste-like tube, was actually quite spicy so you might not want to squeeze too much of it...

During the flight, most of Asiana stewardess speaks very little English. Before the plane lands, one gets the opportunity to donate loose change (or any amount) via UNICEF-Asiana "Change for Good" initiative, with Lee Byung-Hyun as one of the spokesperson.

From Incheon Airport, we purchased the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) train tickets to Seoul. It takes only 43 minutes from Incheon Airport to Seoul. Tickets are priced at 6900₩ (~SGD9) per adult for single trip. After payment, one gets 2 things. A paper receipt and the ticket which looks like an ezlink-kind of card. The time of departure, train compartment number and seat number are printed on the paper receipt. Tickets may be checked inside the train, so keep it close.

At Seoul Station, we got ourselves a T-Money card. However, I think the ahjumma at the convenience store gave us a very touristy one which cost 500₩ more. There are coupons inside which one could use, but looking back at it, I forgot to use it for N Seoul Tower. There goes the 10% discount. Am not a good consumer.

Topped up the card with 10,000₩ as we need it to take the subway to Dongdaemun History and Cultural Park stop. Too early to check-in to the hotel, but we could leave our bags at the hotel luggage storage first.

T-Money Citypass @ 3000₩

outside of Seoul Station @8:32am

If we had known better, I'd suggest to take a cab from Seoul Station to wherever your hotel is. In Seoul, the static/slow path on the escalator is the left-side, while the right-side is where office workers will rush up and down. There were many stairs to tackle as well. Not only one had to heave the luggages when going down the steps, it also involved some going up. I think my right arm might have been pulled an inch longer on the first morning in Seoul...

Wowed by the variety of cafes around Seoul Station, however we resisted temptations as there was an agenda for breakfast. First mission, was to find Tosokchon (토속촌) for samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup).

After hotel stop-over, we  went back to the subway and took the train to Gyeongbokgung Station. As Tosokchon doesn't open till 10am and since it was still early, we wanted to explore the Gyeongbokgung Palace first. Alas, Gyeongbokgung Palace is actually closed on every Tuesdays. No prize for guessing which day we arrived.

near Gyeongbokgung Palace, empty as it was closed

probably at the wrong side of the Palace

Next, we spent quite a bit of time to locate Tosokchon, and had to ask for directions every now and then.

nice scenary while searching for the restaurant

Related links: Tosokchon

Shi Li Fang Hotpot - Revisited @ Orchard Central

Made reservations for early dinner on a Sunday evening. By 8pm, the place was rather packed.

Not sure why we were recommended the big pot when there's just two of us. Made more economical sense to get individual pots.

3-Soup Pot (三格大锅) @$11.80++

Chose the mushroom, chicken tonic and fish soup. Surprisingly, the chicken and fish soup was rather bland that night while mushroom was more flavourful.

As with first visit, crispy fish skin is the must-order. Place it inside the soup and wait till it softens. Order this item with tofu/vege for just $3.50++.

fish skin (炸鱼皮), napa cabbage (大白菜) @$3.50 (for 2 items)

Have tried squirrel fish before but guessed this was my first, in trying squirrel fish head. A tad too skinny though. Mostly bones.

squirrel fish head (松鱼头) @$5.60++

How can one not have meat? Ordered the rib-eye to try. The sliced meat was leaner than depicted in its menu.

rib-eye (牛眼肉) @$13.20++

If you ask me, the vote still goes to fresh superior beef. Look at those fats! However, portion seemed slightly lesser and the price has been revised upward of $2++.

fresh superior beef (雪花肥牛) @$18.80++

Also ordered some seafood this time round. Recommended is the fresh prawns and scallops. Prawns half-serving is 3 pieces, while scallops one serving is also 3 pieces. Recommendation for 2 pax is to order full serving of prawns and 2 servings of scallops.

fresh firm prawns (1/2 serving) @$4.70++

scallops (2 servings) @$10.60++

If one orders just one type of premiumly priced meats, the expected spend per pax is about $30 to $35 per pax.

Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 @ Suntec Convention Centre

The Ultimate Hawker Fest 2014 was held on 22 November 2014 at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Halls 401-402. UHF2014 is in support of over 32,000 beneficiaries of Touch Community Services.

let's begin

Armed with stack of coupons, went around looking at the Ultimate Original Recipe, Ultimate Pursuit of Happiness and Ultimate Ingredients.

queue for chicken rice

Let's start with a plate of chicken rice, made with Anxin chicken supplied by Toh Thye San farm.

100 Days Anxin Chicken Rice by Tian Tian Chicken Rice - Ultimate Ingredients

Tender chicken flesh with a certain spring in its meat. Its been ages since I had Tian Tian. Satiated for breakfast.

Next up, King's Roast which saw long queues formed, perpetually.

Chef Kingsley, with the premium sio bak

The roast pork had good crackling that remained crispy. Two hours later, it was sold out. Wow.

Visited Lek Lim to get some kuehs. Good choice, as a rare type of kueh made its appearance for UHF2014.

kuehs

assorted kueh platter - kueh lapis, kueh salat, ang ku kueh, soon kueh and kueh gambir

Kueh gambir contained minced chicken meat but its taste is slightly sweetish and similar to ang ku kueh. The soon kueh contained a surprise, where dried shrimps were replaced with fresh shrimp instead. Yummy!

last bit

desserts

Was rather thirsty after the chicken rice, so got the Durian Mango Ice from Jin Jin. Happiness indeed.

Durian Mango (Gangster) Ice by Jin Jin Dessert - Ultimate Pursuit of Happiness

Good job to all the participating hawkers and restauranteurs. Kudos too to Maureen, Derrick and Ian.


See you at next year's Ultimate Hawker Fest!

The Clifford Pier @ Fullerton Bay Hotel

Located at Fullerton Bay Hotel (the main building). Enter through the doors and walk straight. Dinner service doesn't start till 630pm, hence you won't be seated till then.

hotel lobby

The Clifford Pier

It's a cosy place on a wet evening.

hello world

feels like high tea

There was this bowl of crackers on the table, so we started munching on those while perusing the menu.

munchies

For starters, we chose one that had everything and replaced the kong bak bao with popiah.

kueh pie tee, popiah and satay

Liked the beef satay best. What can I say? I'mma meatarian!

skinny satay

For mains, one could do local or fusion, or western. The online menu is slightly different from the printed ones, so am not sure what's the exact name for this noodle dish that my colleague chose but I'll call it 'kong bak' pasta.

kong bak pasta

flowy egg

Had only tried lobster roll once, so decided to try the version here.

salad, lobster roll, truffle fries

close up of half a lobster

It was pretty tasty. Liked the small chunks that aint too tiny. Well dressed salad, and crispy truffle fries. Likeable.

One cannot shy away from desserts when one is with a group of ladies.

bourbon profitteroles

key lime pie

pulut hitam

The pulut hitam was tasted first, and it was lacking in the sweets department. Bourbon profitteroles was refreshing as it has ice-cream sandwiched within and choco sauce poured all over. Yum.

Glad that we ordered the key lime pie. As with any merringue, it was really sweet. The lime part of it was tangy sharp and the combination of those was good.

Expect to spend about $60 per pax without drinks.

Morganfield's @ Suntec City

Located at Level 1 of Suntec City, Tower 4. Nearest MRT is Promenade.

If one is walking from City Hall MRT and landed in the vastness called Suntec (and at its current configuration), just head towards the Giant Hypermart which is at basement level. Near Giant Hypermart, go back up to Level 1 and go out of the glass door and you'll see the restaurant.

home of sticky bones

Was invited to try its Christmas Feast Platter in this latest outlet at Suntec City. Here is the write-up on the experience a year ago at its Star Vista branch.

nice lights

here for this mammoth platter

ready to start

For starters, we sampled two items; Beer Candied Bacon and Basketful of Pork.

Beer Candied Bacon @$8.90++

Basketful of Pork @$15.90++

The candied bacon was pretty interesting. Chewy, sweet and salty but required a bit of jaw work. The younger folks liked it alot but personally preferred the basketful of pork. It had popcorn pork, pork sausage and candied bacon. Popcorn pork goes really well with White Christmas Sangria.

White Christmas Sangria (white wine, peach puree, diced green apples and oranges) @$16.90++

White wine mixed with fruits? Yup that's my kind of drink.

Now, let's get down to business. Morgan's Christmas Feast that's meant for 4-5 pax. If it's for all female, then 6 pax can share the platter as well.

Morgan's Christmas Feast @$149.90++

This huge platter consists of 4 grilled sausages, half slab each of cranberry and hazelnut sticky bones, 2 smoked turkey legs, bourbon marmalade glazed ham slices, sides of potatoes, glazed carrots, caramelized onions, green beans and 2 corn bread.

The turkey legs were nicely done here. Carve or slice the meat sideways to avoid the hard bits and you'll be rewarded with moist, tender slices of meat. Liked the long beans to balance out the otherwise, meaty meal. Can imagine the guys chugging down beer while tearing through all the meats!

As usual, Morganfield's corn bread is not to be missed.

moist, sweet tasty corn bread

Or, if you prefers something else for desserts, you can opt to top up $9.90++ for every purchase of Christmas Feast platter to get a Cranberry 'n' Peach Crumble.

Cranberry 'n' Peach Crumble (UP $13.90++)

Good news is that Morgan's Christmas Feast platter is also available for take-away and delivery. On top of that, and not valid for dine-in, would be the Bourbon Marmalade Glazed Leg of Ham (@$168.90+) and Christmas Hazelnut Roast Chicken (@$28.90+).

Bourbon Marmalade Glazed Leg of Ham (~4 to 5kg) @$168.90+ for delivery/takeaway only

Christmas Hazelnut Roast Chicken (~800 to 900g) @$28.90+ for delivery/takeaway only

side by side comparison of size

The behemoth leg of ham, was seriously good. Tender, tasty fats especially the charred bits and goes well with wine, beer or any alcohol for that matter. It was so good.

bourbon marmalade glazed leg of ham (thick slices)

There is an early bird discount of 10% for confirmed orders by 30 Nov 2014. Hence, do call the respective outlets to enquire. Orders must be made 5 days in advance and there is a delivery charge of $25 per location.

Thank you Morganfield's for the invite, Joey and Mr J. Gopiraj for hosting us. Merry Christmas in advance!

Morganfield's

Address: Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Tower 4, #01-645, S 038983 (Next to Promenade MRT)
Tel: 67361136
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 11am - 11pm, Fr-Sat-PH-eve 11am - Midnight
Website: www.morganfields.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MorganfieldsSingapore
Corkage fee: $25 per bottle