Brunch at MANNA

한국어로 쓴 블로그도 있어요: blog.daum.net/southofseoul

This weekend was an anniversary in our house so we made time to go to MANNA the Kitchen for brunch. It's our first time for brunch there since the owners moved the menu from The Stoop to MANNA's sweet new digs. I was excited about eating brunch in front of the lovely new kitchen but not expecting anything new flavor wise. I figured we would show up and it would be more of the same (in a good way) in a new, fancier place.

Well, of course I was wrong and of course they wouldn't just stick with the same-old-same-old. That's just not who these chef's are. Not that brunch is totally different now, it's just better. With the larger kitchen came more space and the chance to use more modern cooking techniques that make their standard recipes even better.

One of they coolest new techniques they do is slow poach their eggs IN their shells. This results in every egg being perfectly, evenly cooked every time. They are also using the classic English muffin which didn't used to be available in Korea, but has now arrived and it makes a good benny even better. It's so simply and elegant, I recommend starting with the classic benny just to enjoy how perfectly it's done. These aren't the only changes, but I won't bore you with the tedious details. I'm just going to tell you they are good things.

In addition to the perfect eggs, we also ordered the brioche french toast. Generally I don't like to order things like waffles, pancakes and/or french toast because I can't handle all the sugar and hate the way I feel after I'm finished. However, my partner loves all things sugar so this is what I ordered for him. As it turned out, I think I ate more of it than he did because it WASN'T sickly sweet.  The thick cut brioche was perfectly matched with lightly candied walnuts and tasty bananas instead of loads of heavy syrup. The result was a "sweet" brunch dish that didn't weigh me down.

In my opinion, MANNA easily grabs the crown of  "best fancy brunch in town". Nothing really compares. I'm not saying I don't LOVE to eat breakfast at the other restaurants because I absolutely do. However, it's like comparing apples and oranges.  Plus, many of the other location only serve brunch items on the weekends. At MANNA brunch is available Monday - Saturday, making it easier to have brunch when you want it.

La Marmite French Bistro

There are a few things that get me to Seoul: going away parties, friends, and the chance to celebrate human rights.  On Saturday two of those reasons presented themselves so I grabbed my handbag and headed in for some adventure.

The first stop of the day was supposed to be Fat Cat Neighborhood Bistro so I could finally say hello to an online friend, however, we arrived a bit earlier than planned and had an hour to kill.  Never wanting to waste a minute, I drug my companion up a side street "just to see what is there" and two or three shops down I saw a simple cafe front that said, "La Marmite". For whatever reason, it just seemed like a place I needed to be despite my previous plans for breakfast.  When the owner offered me a menu through the open doors I couldn't resist. The first thing I saw was the Goat Cheese Sandwich. At that point any plans for resistance failed me. There is no way I can turn down goat cheese.

Since we were there early on a Saturday, and the place has only been open three weeks, it was pretty quiet. The way I love my restaurants. We sat and chatted with the owner for a while about where they source ingredients and every answer was spot on, for example, they get their cheese from Waeg Farm (the best place for homemade goat cheese in the country).

When the meal arrived it was lovely. Presentation wasn't overly fancy or pretentious, just solid and straightforward. The meal itself was clean, cheesy perfection. They even provide a small pitcher of tomato dipping soup (that's also good on the potatoes) in order to give that extra zing to a refined sandwich. My teenage dining companion immediately gave it 5 stars and I wasn't going to argue. I mean, the salad as made with arugula which I obsess over as much as goat cheese.

To clarify, this restaurant is French for real but also unique. It's not French techniques with no French flavor. It's more like provincial cuisine with an international flair. The chef or owner or whoever I was talking too (I never clarify these things because I am the worst) is from France but has lived in other places as well. He wants the food to taste distinctly French, while also bringing in new elements that he has fallen in love with outside his home country. So go and be prepared to taste a life story, one that is based in France but then expanded to include the rest of the world.

For me, this is the first Seoul restaurant in years that is so good I will come to Seoul in the future simple to eat here. It's open for dinners Monday - Friday and open for brunch and dinner on the weekends. I'm going back for brunch because I need to try his Scottish Eggs. Yes, he knows these aren't French but neither is brunch so he reserves it as his time to explore and play.

If you are looking for the perfect place for a date, go here. Just be SURE to make a reservation. The place is small and it's amazing so it's going to start booking up and being too busy soon. Plan ahead if you are coming from outside the city and make sure you don't miss out on one of the best places to eat in Seoul.

Phone: 010-4061-5571

Address: 서울특별시 용산구 용산동2가 5-767

Click here for MollaKorea Listing & Map.

2 Best Eggs Benedicts (I mean brunches)

Thank you Kamila for the photo.  She said Louis' benny was, "Frickin' delicous"

Brunch has started to become quite vogue in Korea, however, many of the "brunch" options are rather strange.  And by strange and I mean Eggs Benedict is not on the menu.  I can forgive calling it brunch and not have Mimosas (ok not really), but no Egg Benny?

Thankfully, in Anjeong-ri, they are swimming in Hollandaise sauce. On Saturday (late morning, don't expect anything before 10am) you can stuff your beautiful face until you feel fat, content, and indulged - like any good brunch should make you feel. The only thing missing are the Mimosas, but I've said that so I should let it go (except I hear my heart crying inside so it's hard).

The Stoop - Anjeong-ri

Brunch Monday - Saturdays from 11:30

A fast favorite. The Stoop has now become everyone's addiction.  Not only do they crank out killer New York style Italian food, but they also make TWO kinds of Eggs Benedict your mother warned you about.  If the restaurant was your date, I'd say marry them now. Plus, Mimosas are on the menu. These are the things that brunch dreams are made of.

Louis' Bar & Grill - Anjeong-ri

Brunch Saturday & Sunday from 10am - 2pm

The new kid in town came out swinging last weekend with a brunch menu to make you weep.  The Eggs Benedict even has an awesome twist using homemade chorizo and fresh biscuits (thanks to Kamila for the picture above). It's sassy and classically fresh. They also serve Bloody Marys which are an excellent substitute for a Mimosa during the winter (but come summer, that's a different story). *edit* rumor has it they have Mimosas on request.

See you all at brunch. 

(As always, if you have a great place to recommend.  Please leave a comment so we can check it out.)

In Memoriam: Alice's Brunch Cafe - Songtan has closed for business. This was one of the only places for brunch for years. It will be missed.