Selected as “Miele One To Watch 2017” in Asia,  TocToc is a Modern French restaurant nestled in the swanky Apgujung. Helmed by chef-owner Kim Dae Chun, it is an ideal place to sample dishes of what we called “living the Korean spirit”. You may find traditional Jangs (Korean sauces), long forgotten ingredients and wild veggies in your pasta, steak or salads.

A 3-course-lunch costs KRW 38,000 (SGD 42++), and it requires some patience (and some luck) to secure a table.

Marinated with Doenjang (Korean soybean paste), the succulent Hanwoo (Korean beef) was a head-turner. The chef uses the very pricy Binchōtan charcoal to grill the top notch, national-pride beef, which in return create a beautiful and even sear, locking the savoury juices and a sexy, woody flavour to the meat.

Black Truffle Pasta with Egg Yolk and Pecorino Cheese, another TocToc’s signature dish. This unassuming looking dish turns out to be a complete indulgence. The egg yolk and cheese added density to the sauce, and the handmade, thick and perfectly al dente noodles are evenly coated with the earthy, pungent scent of black truffle. Each bite was seriously that good – earth shattering and moan worthy, befitting the definition of a culinary orgasm.

You may find this dish on their lunch course selection, a la carte menu and signature dinner course. If you’re an avid truffle fan, spoil your taste buds by topping up a thick layer of fresh French summer truffles on your pasta during summer.

Chef Kim is famed for his conscientiousness in sourcing the seafood for his dishes due to his training background in Japan. We were really lucky to be the first few to try out this fried dory fish which is not on the menu. Using Kadaif noodles coating was a brilliant approach! I could still remember how the crunchy coating and the plump dory gushing into every corner of my mouth, it was a true bliss.

Contact Details:

TocToc 톡톡
3F, Rodeo Bldg. 33, Dosan-daero 51-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울시 강남구 도산대로 51길 33, 3층.
Tel. +82 2 542 3030

Directions:

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I was already a fan when they first started at their humble underground property. I could still remember the warm service from the crew, and how chef Kang Min-gu went extra miles to re-design the menu just to accommodate my shellfish allergy. (Duh! Why it has to be me?)

The meal was incredibly delicious, and I regret only writing about it now. Well, it is better late than never! Mine was a quintessential ensemble of Seoul’s unforgettably beautiful spring. Do note that their menu changes according to season, so you won’t get the exact same dishes when you visit them.

Seasonality. First on the table were three cold dishes: flounder fish, veggie wraps, strawberry puree and chives shot. A little bit of everything from the forest to the sea, I love how all the elements work together, so clean and refreshing it wakes my taste buds for the night.

Some other dishes that came right after the Seasonality. I couldn’t quite remember what were those on the jelly, though. The foie gras with the thin caramelised crust was a true delight.

Wine of the night was a 2011 Louis Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon recommended by the sommelier. It comes in a beautiful burgundy shade with a strong aroma of blackberries, cherries and dried herbs. A full bodied drink with a long finish. I liked it.

Lobster & Foie. A brilliant salad made of lobster and foie gras, root vegetables, spring herbs, truffle and black garlic dressing. At first bite, the pungent note of foie gras and truffle jump out at me, alongside with the taste of fresh lobster. The root vegetables create substance to the dish. The earthy notes from the roots and the refreshingly acidic taste from the garlic dressing encourage the whole dish to harmonise. It is jaw-dropping delicious that I almost teared upon finishing the dish. ↓

Up next were two dishes grouped under Eggplant. The eggplant custard, eggplant caviar, shrimp and vanilla dumpling were soul-warmingly good but the eggplant chip was the game changer. Sliced to paper-thin, the eggplants are coated with batter and deep fried, then topped with salmon roe for that extra juiciness and moist that pops in your mouth. The passion fruit sauce adds a pleasing fruity hints and notes of luscious foie gras sauce packs a lot of punch.

Seaweed was a brilliant interpretation of the usage of different kind of seaweeds in one plate. I was pleasantly surprised that even when flounder was the crab substitute in my plate, the chef managed to infuse sweetness in the maesaengi (seaweed fluvescens) broth. White kimchi, kelp and green laver were the ingredients that did the magic!

I had the Lamb as my main. I had never ordered a lamb at any restaurant because I simply hate the gamy smell. The waiter was confident and I thought I could give them a try – and it turned out to be one of the best choices of the night.

The perfectly charred lamb was marinated in doen-jang (bean paste), one of the cooking essentials in a Korean’s kitchen. The bean paste and the celery root were just nice to quell any gamy flavour. The tender meat goes well with the creamy cauliflower mash, makes it the best lamb I’ve ever had.

Korean Beef. Tenderloin beef charred to the slight crisp on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth-inside-state. The truffle sauce adds lusciousness to the meat, make it one of the most popular dish here at Mingles.

My pick for dessert was the Jang Trio – Strange as it may sound, 3 types of the most important condiments in Korean culinary are used in the dessert. Doen-jang (soy bean paste) cream brûlée, topped with vanilla ice-cream, then sprinkled with some Gan-jang (soy sauce) pecan and Gochujang (chilli pepper) grains, and finish off with whisky foam.

I have never imagined these salty condiments would make such good desserts. Chef Kang had extracted the sweetness from each of these sauces and they compliment each other so well. An impressive creation the restaurant should keep on their menu!

K prefers the Coco Winter – a dessert intricately plated with coconut tapioca, passion fruit sorbet, buckwheat cake and caramelised popcorn. I always love tapioca pudding and coconut, they’re like chicken to beer, so perfectly together. Creamy, refreshing with a fruity twist, this is a dish any coconut lover would fall in love the first bite.

Writer’s note: An impressive dinner in Seoul, a place I look forward to my next visit. If you want to splurge on one place during your trip, this is it. Everything was done right you won’t regret a single penny here. However, the reservation was a hindrance, though. I had to book 2 months in advance to secure a dinner on my desired date back then. Now that it is listed as the world’s 50 best restaurants and a Michelin Star restaurant, I expect the waiting list to be longer.

Contact Details:

밍글스 Mingles
Gangnam-gu, Nonhyun-dong 94-9, 1st floor, Seoul, South Korea
서울특별시 강남구 논현동 94-9 더 채플 웨딩홀 1층 레스토랑 밍글스
Tel. 02-515-7306
Reservation: info@restaurant-mingles.com
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat| Lunch 12pm-3pm | Dinner 6pm – 1030pm, Last order 830pm.
*Sat & public holiday dinner 6pm-10pm.

Directions:

Recently, I got a chance to visit their flagship store at Chungdam-dong personally and I thought of sharing this Korean designer bag that I adore with you guys!  (Update as of Oct 2019: Biker Starlet has shifted their flagship store to Seongsu-Dong, address updated as below)

So this brand has come into vogue, particularly these recent two years in South Korea. For those who are pretty updated on what’s happening in the Seoul fashion industry, you may have already noticed quite a number of socialites, fashion bloggers or models endorsed in this particular brand when they attended Seoul Fashion Week 2015 S/S.

Not only the K-pop idols are loving it, your favourite K-drama stars are appearing in different dramas with these bags. The visibility of these beauties has also increased in various variety shows. To name a few, KBS drama “Blue Bird” 파랑새 의 집, Blood 블러드, My Heart Shines 내마음반짝반짝, Birth of a Beauty 미녀의 탄생, Tasty Road, We Got Married’s Kim Soo Eun & Song Jaerim couple … you name it.

Their signature bag, the Anne City is one of their best sellers so far. I like the slightly thicker gold chain, which makes the bag a bold statement piece. Just wear something simple and let the bag shine! Easy wardrobe solutions!

Next, I am going to introduce several classic designs by the brand, which are my favourite. I am planning to get another Biker Starlet soon but, frankly speaking, I can’t really decide which one to get yet. I mean, look at their design, they are so versatile, the colours are all very basic which make them so easy to work with your daily outfit ensemble.

The first one is Manuella, very cute robot (?) face suitable for both formal and casual look. I really like the two gold studs, also the buckle of the bag which comes in muted gold colour and a square shape. It just look like the mouth of a robot. What a cutie!

Next design that I have been pondering to get is Misty in Grey colour. I really love this particular design as it is a very classic and stylish bag to carry to work! I especially love the “grey” tone of the bag, which, unfortunately, doesn’t really show up nicely in my picture. If you go to their site and search up “Misty” you’ll be able to see how pretty the colour is. It is not exactly in grey, but a lighter shade of grey, with probably muted indie pink ground. A very sophisticated (and special) colour to begin with for your first Biker Starlet bag I would say.

Introducing Libby in Black, a Daebak [means awesome in Korean] design from the brand. (Every Korean girls of my age love this!)  This particular shoulder bag has what it takes to be a popular item at the shopfloor. The rectangular body gives off the retro and classic look to the overall design. The bike logo, which was very different from the rest of the Biker Starlet bags, is probably the reason why this bag is a keeper for an avid Bikerstarlet collector. It is their only bag with this particular logo!  What is more, the bag is sturdy and could actually fit in more that you could imagine!

Next, Mia in green from their mini bags series. I am never a fan of mini bags, perhaps because I am quite a practical person when it comes to bags. But this one was exceptional. Look how it completes my look! If you are looking for a mini bag with a sense of detail in design, do head over to their official site and take a look at their mini bag range.

On the racks are the new 2015 S/S designs! We see some slight changes in the new 2015 S/S design: In conjunction with the breezy spring, a series of pastel colours we added to the collection, something we have never seen in Biker Starlet, a refreshing change! The signature metallic “eyes” aka two buttons on the bag is retained on most of their new designs, which is a plus in my book. I am totally in love with their new Taylor and Sadie bag, especially the small Taylor in off-white, and Sadie in Black, or Burgundy.

I tried on Taylor Small Red on my visit that day. The small size looks really cute but if you are looking for the functionality of the bag, I would suggest you to go for the normal size tailor, which look just nice for work and play! Oh well, but I do agree small shoulder bags do have their charm!

My Review on Biker Starlet Rider Bag:

I got my Rider bag some 2 years ago, probably the original version. Completed with a unique design and a huge body, it is a very practical bag, for both school and work. It is a very easy piece to work with — I wear it almost every season. It was also featured on Who Are You? The 2013 TV series starring Soh Yi Hyun.

The Rider bag is such a convenient daily bag in my wardrobe!  It  fits my Macbook air, water bottle, makeup pouch, and sometimes I even managed to stuff a scarf in! It is certainly a very sturdy bag made of heavy duty leather. After 2 years of wear and tear, it still looks quite perfect. It is also one of my go-to bags when I travel, particularly due to its size and the two very useful pockets outside. One downside: the bag is quite heavy I must say.

Tips To Get It Cheaper:

A Biker Starlet bag will cost about USD 300-500 or more, depending on the size and design. If you are residing in South Korea, you may want to sign up their membership. The company holds private sales every summer and winter, sometimes they offer up to 80% discount deals during the private sales.

If you are residing out of Korea, it is also advisable for you to sign up as a member on their English site to accumulate points and enjoy membership discount.

Contact Details:

Biker Starlet 바이커스탈렛 *Click* 

2019 New Store: 13 Sangwon-gil, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel: 02-518-1446

Myeong Dong Lotte Department Store
2F Between, 1, Sogong-dong, Junggu, Seoul
Tel: 02-772-3386

Jamsil Lotte Department Store 
2F between, 40-1, Jamsil 3-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Tel: 01-2143-7221

Please check their websites for other stores.

Directions:

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Update 2020:

Tutto Bene is permanently closed. Chef Lee Jaehun has started a new restaurant 있을 재 (在) at Sinsa-dong. The new restaurant continues to inject the Korean element into western-style creative cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant is very quaint but slightly cramped  cosy I would say. The vintage interior helps in transiting the atmosphere into a romantic one, suitable for an evening date. The long, narrow corridor. the lace door panels, the antique bookshelf, the ivory canvas lampshade, Indochine armchairs, everything look straight out of a foreign land, emitting a mysterious yet romantic charm.

The chef, Lee Jae Hoon received his training and accumulated experiences in Piedmont and Tuscany before coming back to South Korea. Tutto Bene has another name in traditional characters — “萬事快調” , that means “Everything is fine” – blending unique house music, vintage wine and good fusion Italian cuisine together, I don’t think anything can seriously go wrong here.

We settled down with Black Pork Tagliatelle and Cream Mushroom Risotto with Beef, and it was time to select the wine for the night. They have quite a comprehensive collection of wine, from old to the new world. The cute sommelier suggested Tridente Tempranillo of 2010, a Spanish wine from Bodegas Triton Winery.

Tridente Tempranillo of 2010. The wine comes in a darker shade. As expected,  it was brimming with sweet scents of black berries and dark chocolate (two of my favourite combination when it comes to red wine), with some tinkling spice detected at the back. Thick and dense in texture, this rich drink would make a wonderful pair with red meat. I am not an expert in wine appreciation, but this particular one just captured everything I like for my wine so… a thumbs up!

First dish of the night: Black Pork Tagliatelle. The pasta was cooked to the perfect al dente while the pork was in right tenderness. Tomato was the ingredient that gave that refreshing kick. Topping the tomato-pork gravy was a generous amount of cheese flakes, showered so beautifully on top of the dish, elevate it into a bold dish. A nice start, Delizioso!

Cream Mushroom Risotto with Beef Tenderloin. Cream and mushroom are always the perfect flavour combo. I love how thoroughly the risotto rice are infused in the woodsy mushroom flavour. Tenderloin on top was seared to the perfect crisp, light and juicy. Attention was paid to detail for preparing the dish!

The second bottle for the night was a 2003 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain. The Basic note was my favourite combi again: a heavy black-fruity base with a light touch of mocha. I don’t know if it was only me or did anyone else detected a slight lavender note lingering at the background? Anyway, it was soooooo good that I wanted to store a few bottles home.

Since there were plenty of wine remained, we decided to order another dish to compliment the beautiful wine. And so the third dish was stir fried flat tripes, or some might call it “mountain chain”, basically refers to the rumen (a part of cow’s stomach) which is soft in texture. I forgot to take a picture of the dish so I got the picture above from a Tistory blogger who ordered the same dish. It tasted like a Beef Kway Teow Noodle from zhichar store, I mean, real good zhichar store. Perhaps it was the nice, smokey flavour of wok-hei (breath of the wok that usually make the dish good) that made the dish taste similar to our local dish. I totally did not expect that but well, I liked it.

Last but not least, dessert for the night: the Tutto Bene Tiramisu. Let me give you some background about their Tiramisu here.  It was rated as top five Tiramisu in South Korea on Poing app (a popular South Korean food & lifestyle smartphone application) and scored 4 out of 5 points, the highest among all 5 other Tiramisussss. The serving is generous. I think it is a good portion shared by two. Using mascarpone cheese in their tiramisu, the texture was sensually tantalizing, with the taste of cocoa, coffee and the intoxicating flavour of brandy. Their tiramisu was the best I ever had in Korea thus far, not only noteworthy, but impressive. I am very sorry, but I simply couldn’t find suitable adjectives to tell you how it taste. Maybe you should go down and give it a try and come out an adjective of your own ;p

Writer’s Note: Mains are great, but certain dishes are towards mediocre. Tiramisu was absolutely delectable. The atmosphere was romantic and the service was attentive. Professional sommelier available to help with selecting your kind of wine, which was great. One side note is that I find wine price in Korea quite ridiculous, but that wasn’t the problem with the restaurant anyway. It is a wise location for important date night, or even girls’ night out.

Contact Details:

Tutto Bene 뚜또베네 (Closed Permanently)
118-9, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
서울시 강남구 청담동 118-9

Lunch Hours: 12pm-3pm
Dinner Hours: 6pm-11pm (Dinner only on Monday)
Tel. 02-546-1489

Directions:

Although the nearest subway station is Apgujung Rodeo Station (압구정로데오역),  the restaurant is still quite a distance from the station. I suggest you to take a taxi down to the restaurant. But if you insist on walking from the nearest station, please exit from Exit No.2, walk all the way down where you’ll pass by Galleria Department Store, SM entertainment, Ferragamo. Before you finally reach Michael Kors, turn into the side lane beside Michael Kors, and you’ll reach Tutto Bene in no time.

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Update 2020:

This blog is created in the year 2014. As L’atelier Monique’s official site is no longer available as of the year 2020, please note that the store information provided here may not reflect the actual operating hours and information regarding the bakery.

Just a 4 to 5 minutes stroll up the street from Apgujung-rodeo station, this quaint and cosy bakery offers freshly grind and brewed coffee, alongside with a huge collection of freshly baked pastries and bread every morning. Their famous star item — “Fruits Haricot Rouge” bread, is very much enjoyed by actor Bae Yong Joon, and Lee Seung Gi. Actress Jeon Jihyun (Gianna Jun), Suzy from Miss A and also Minho from SHINee were seen purchasing bread from this particular bakery as well.

We went to the bakery on a late Sunday afternoon. Stepping into L’ atelier Monique, the sweet and intense aroma of baking bread and pastries immediately took over. In front of the counter are fresh loaves of bread, lined up beautifully on the tray, beckoning you forward.

Founder Mr Lee Won Young worked and trained under the Japanese Master baker Hiroharu Sugiyama in Japan. Gathering 5 years of know-how in the industry, Mr. Lee started the Boulangerie at Cheongdam area and has received so much love in the country, especially in this glitz and glamorous neighbourhood, where all the big shots in the Korean entertainment industry reside.

It was one quiet, hot and sleepy Sunday afternoon at the Boulangerie. I was promptly awakened by the smell of fresh bread that greeted my nose when I walked into the place. Gorgeous afternoon sunlight shines through the huge window allowing us to make ourself home at this cosy little corner of the Boulangerie, which is decorated in a fun and innocent, childlike atmosphere.

As the baker is trained in Japan, and also largely by the fact that the actor Bae Yong Joon frequented this place, the Boulangerie naturally became one of the top bakeries among the Japanese community in Korea. They even have a Japanese menu for their foreign customers from Japan.

In front of each bread baskets are these cute, chubby little nametag-stand made of bread dough. Mr Lee was saying that these dough balls are all baked hard so they won’t turn mouldy. It is such a great idea for a nametag-stand, isn’t it?  ^^

Spoilt by choices on the racks, we simply didn’t know which bread to choose from. Hence, we left it to Mr Lee to decide for us. The bread we had that day are all selected by the chef, some are based on the popularity, and some are from his recommendation.

Fruits Haricots Rouges (후류이 아리꼬르쥬)

The star item of the Boulangerie — Fruits Haricots Rouges (후류이 아리꼬르쥬) [read: Who-ru-i Arico-reu-tsu]. The “후류이” (Who-ru-i) is a kind of bread that contains assorted nuts and cranberries, which give off a “fruity” taste. That is how the name “Fruits” or the Japlish name “후류이” (Who-ru-i) came from.

What is so special about this “Fruits”/  “후류이” (Who-ru-i) is that the bread is made of real old, matured dough that has been fermenting for 72 hours. The old dough that was left overnight for 3 days contains lively yeast. Given real enough time for the flavour of wheat from the flour to develop, these lovely breads made of old dough has a full-flavoured palate and a lighter, open-textured crumb if compared to a straight yeast dough. Plus point is an extended shelf life!

Taking advantage of the full flavours of the wheat and the fruity note from the cranberries and nuts, Mr Lee added his secret recipe — red bean paste into the loaf. The mild sweetness of the red bean paste neutralised the strength of the citrusy taste of cranberry, giving off a softer and balanced taste. It is actor Bae Yong Joon’s personal favourite bread from the Boulangerie.

The red bean paste filling is certainly one of the best I have tried thus far in South Korea. Prepared daily to ensure freshness, their red bean paste is a refreshing competitor compared to those plain and overly sweetened red bean paste from the cans. It is moist and sticky, solid yet smooth, perfect already on its own!

Pumpkin Baguette 단호박 바게트

This is another bake on the rack that receives constant attention and love in the Boulangerie. A combination of the quintessential Parisian loaf, sweet pumpkin, cheese and sprinkled with parsley. Rustic and simple ingredients, yet the outcome looks so inviting and delicious.

This loaf is topped with a crisp and chewy crust. I like the cracker-like exterior and the “yeasty”, moist crumb, filled up with big and small air holes. Look at the beautiful sight of the air holes, adorned with cheese and pumpkin!

Sea salt Caramel Scone & Cream Cheese Tart

Bound to impress, this dessert tart featured velvety cream cheese with a generous layer of raspberry puree. The combination makes the light brown colour crust exceptionally rich and tender. A perfect dessert to go with after a good meal.

The sea salt caramel scone on the left-hand side was however slightly dry in texture. I thought scones are usually drier and denser, but their scone did not impress me. It was alright, but not memorable. Perhaps it was the sequence I had my bread that destroyed my taste buds before I can appreciate the mellow flavour of the scone. Or perhaps a little bit of butter would have been a great palate cleanser or I should have taken this semi-sweet treat before all the heavier flavour goodies on the palate!!!

Roasted Grain Cream Bread. 미숫가루 크림빵

미숫가루 [read: mi-sut garu] is some kind of mixed powder of various grain-beans, brown rice, barley etc. in Korea. For most Korean, it is a typical “Korean-Korean” type of flavour, that perhaps only Korean can appreciate it better. Most Korean mix it with milk and honey, chilled in the fridge and serve it as a summer delicacy. Sometimes it is also used as a substitution of a meal.

The appearance of this bread, especially its crust reminded me of the traditional red-bean or coconut filling bread we can get at those traditional neighbourhood bakeries. Very old-school, vintage outlook with the humble, inexpensive, everyday ingredient as fillings– the Korean mixed grain powder whipped to creamy texture. It gives off a nutty and creamy taste, with a texture slightly similar to custard. A very simple bread, easily top of Korean ajumma/ nanny’s choice. If you have the taste buds of an old   refined soul, you will probably like it.

Girly Sentiment – 소녀감성

What a beautiful name for a bread like this! In a dreamy, beautiful shade of pale pink colour, the bread is made into the shape of a flower. So soft and squishy, like golden nuggets candy — in cotton candy colour. Generous amount of dried nuts and raspberries were added to the bread, leaving it an interesting texture to nibble on.

Too girly and superficial? Don’t judge a bread by its appearance. The fillings are nonetheless a huge scoring factor. The pale pink cream cheese fillings is light and smooth, with a touch of the refreshing scent of sun-ripened, fresh raspberry. Raspberry mellows the grease from the cream cheese, leaving a sophisticated taste on the tastebuds. My personal favourite next to the famous Bae Yong Joon bread (Fruits Haricots Rouges)!

Verdict: Impressive bread with a touch of Japanese flavour. Good variety. Quiet and friendly environment suitable for intimate gatherings with your girlfriends. Foreigner visitors come here to enjoy bits and pieces of their idol’s way of life, while locals visit the place because of their excellence in baking. Come to think of it, the bread here can be an ideal gift for a casual visit to a friend’s house

Contact Details: 
L’ Atelier Monique Boulangerie 라틀리에 모니크 (click name to link to their site)
80-21, 1st level, Gangnam Gu, Chungdam Dong. Seoul.
서울시 강남구 청담동 80-21 주경빌딩 1층
Tel: 02-549-9210
Operating Hours: 10am to 7pm.

How to get to L’ Atelier Monique Boulangerie: (click on pic to enlarge) 

1. Coming out from Apgujung Rodeo Station exit No. 3, walk straight down 3 blocks where you’ll see ESCADA on your right-hand side.
2. Turn into the alley right beside ESCADA, and turn left at the end of the street. L’ Atelier Monique will appear on your left-hand side as you walk down the street.

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