By Jae Jae (novelty macarons), Seongnae

Warning: The following post contains adorable content that may or may not cause you to squeal like a schoolgirl at a Justin Bieber concert.

Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever noticed how sometimes the best looking food actually turns out to be pretty awful tasting? And that principle also works in reverse; sometimes the frumpy looking dishes turn out to be amazing? This rule seems to hold especially true when it comes to desserts.. I can't count the number of times I've oohed and ahhed over something sweet and then bitten into it, only to find it lacklustre and mediocre at best. But what if I told you that now you could have both aesthetic pleasure AND fantastic taste for dessert?

Wait, what..? Have your gorgeous cake and eat it too? No way!

YES WAY!

This little place called By Jae Jae, run by two sisters, does some very attractive desserts -- specifically, macarons. Feast your eyes upon these gorgeous little critters!

Are they not the most adorable macarons you have ever seen?!

Now let me start by saying that I don't actually like macarons (or at least I didn't until today). Previous experience left me scarred and thinking that all macarons were far too sweet, like edible diabetes in circular form. So at the shop today, my original intention was to buy just a couple of macarons at most. But as I stood there, with rows and rows of adorable little faces gazing up at me, I realised I couldn't choose between them and ended up buying one of each flavour. And boy am I glad that I did!

As it turns out, the macarons from By Jae Jae's are nothing like what I've had before. They're not overly sweet at all and the texture is fabulous -- crisp shell on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. And the filling.. Oh man, the filling! It's incredibly flavoursome and delectable.

Cuteness overload!

Black sesame flavour.. look at that beautiful piping!

The macarons come in two sizes: small ones, as pictured above (2,000 won each), and double-sized ones (3,500 won), and they are of course handmade and hand-decorated by the two sisters themselves. The designs and flavours change every week and you can check their website or Instagram account for updates on the current week's releases.

This week they have black sesame, salted caramel, mocha, double blueberry, chocolate banana, Oreo, and cherry rose.. and that's just for the small ones.

Cherry rose, chocolate banana, Oreo flavours

I am so sorry.. but I must eat your face.

Cherry rose. My favourite flavour so far! Amazing rose-flavoured cream 

with a splodge of cherry jam in the centre.. :F

Check out the double macarons!

Pineapple, soybean, lemon orange, strawberry yoghurt,

milk chocolate, passionfruit, double blueberry..
Urgh... I want them ALL.

Small macarons.

The showcase is empty because I bought them all. u__u

More macaron options!
(Excuse the poor photography T__T)

As mentioned before, By Jae Jae is a little place.. and by that, I mean literally little. It's a tiny shop and when you enter, you're greeted by a showcase refrigerator and that's pretty much it. There's no eating area, they don't sell drinks, it's just straight up macaron retailing and you can be in and out of the shop in a jiffy. (Unless you're like me, and it takes you forever to decide on anything.)

As the designs and flavours change each week, it's hard to imagine ever getting tired of these and I think you could easily keep going back for more. They also do custom orders (for example, macarons with people's names on them) which would really make great birthday gifts, or Christmas gifts, or any kind of gifts really.. or not even gifts, just.. something to gobble down at home all by yourself. *cough* .____.;;

If you love macarons and/or cute things, I would say this place is definitely worth checking out! Go there and show them some loooove!



By Jae Jae, Seongnae-dong
Hours: 11am - 9pm, Thurs - Sun (closed Mon - Wed)
Address: 서울시 강동구 성내동 405-45 (405-45 Seongnae-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul)
Website: http://blog.naver.com/wodms172
Instagram: @byjaejae
Directions: From Dunchondong Station (line 5), exit 4, take the second left and cross over to right side of the street. Head straight for four blocks. By Jae Jae will be on your right.

Ddo-ong Cafe (poop cafe), Insadong

Poo. Dung. Faeces. Number two.

No matter how you put it, in the wise words of Taro Gomi, "everyone poops" and there ain't no shame in that. In fact, pooping is a ritual that should be celebrated. (It's far better than being constipated, is it not?) So.. If you're an open-minded cool cat who's down for glorifying poop in its resplendent nature, then Ddo-ong Cafe in Insadong is the perfect place for you.

The theme of the place is poo and, in true Asian style, it takes excrement and portrays it in the cutest way possible -- using swirly spirals, cartoon faces, and a multitude of toilet-shaped decorations.

A poop pole and a message tree

The wisest words I have ever heard

Paying homage to the humble squat toilet. Hurrah!

Toilet door

Drinks range from 4,800 to 7,000 won and you can request your hot drink to come in a toilet-shaped mug. (If you don't make any requests, it'll simply come out in a regular mug with poop decorations on it.)

Rose latte, 5,500 won, dark chocolate latte, 6,500 won,
and a poop scone, 800 won.

Another view of the poopy goodness.

Can't get over the adorable poop latte art. XD

If you like the toilet mug enough, you can purchase it for 20,000 won, along with other mugs that have various poop decorations printed on them.

I personally loved that my rose latte came with an actual rose in it and a big, white, smiley-faced turd. Talk about amazing (*cough* Instagram-worthy) presentation. Here's a closer shot for good measure:

You can probably tell that my drink was stone cold by the time I drank it because I was too busy being a photo-whore. u__u;; Still, it was pretty good. Combining coffee and roses definitely made for an interesting and unusual flavour.

Cafe counter & interior

I'm a sucker for any place with succulents

All in all, the cafe has a nice atmosphere and is a great place to lounge about with friends. If you're flying solo, it's still a nice, chill place where you can sit down and ponder the deeper questions in life. You know, matters such as who created the spiral shape that's so synonymous across Asia with poop? Is there anyone or anything that has ever dropped a dingleberry in a perfect spiral?

Yeeees. Deep thinking, this stuff is.



Ddo-ong Cafe, Insadong
Hours: 10am - 9pm
Address: 서울시 종로구 관훈동 38 쌈지길건물 4층 (4th floor, Ssamziegil Building, 38 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
Directions: From Anguk Station exit 6, take the first left into Insadong and continue down the street until you see the Ssamziegil complex on the left. Ddo-ong Cafe is on the fourth floor.

Banana Tree (flower pot desserts), Garosugil

Do you ever get uncontrollable urges to guzzle down enormous amounts of sugar? I know I do, and as a girl I like to blame it on PMS. Completely justifiable, right? Excuses or not though, if you've got cravings for sugar that simply must be satiated, then the lovely Banana Tree in Sinsa-dong might just be the place for you.

Banana Tree is famous for several sweet things: cotton candy lattes, flower pot tiramisu, and flower pot bingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert). While I can't speak for the lattes or bingsu as I haven't tried them yet, I can say that the flower pot tiramisu is enough to zap several cavities into your sweet tooth. And, exactly as the name suggests, it comes served in a flower pot complete with dirt, pebbles, and pretty blossoms sprouting out the top. Dessert that looks fabulous AND tastes great? Win-win!

Americano coffee, 4,000 won & "flower paap", 5,800 won

Dirt never tasted so good. :3

So what's the secret to making delicious dirt? Why, ground up chocolate cookie crumbs, of course! Also, depending on which flavour you choose (banana, strawberry, blueberry, or espresso), you can either have the rich flavour of coffee permeating your taste buds, or delicious little chunks of fruit to chew on in the centre.

Deliciously soft, fluffy, and creamy. 

And sweet. Did I mention sweet? XD 

Besides the food, another appealing aspect of the cafe is its layout and decoration. It's quite a small place with only four or five tables, which makes for a very cosy atmosphere.

If you can't get a seat, you can still get the flower pot tiramisu to take away. ^^

The decorations scattered about are quite quirky as well, and a lot of fun to look at.

Price-wise, the menu is a bit expensive, but I think it's understandable considering that the cafe is located in Sinsa-dong. Gotta love those Gangnam prices, eh?

English menu also available in-store ^^

If you're a cheapo like me, coming here every single day probably wouldn't be feasible, but I definitely wouldn't mind visiting from time to time on account of its gorgeous desserts and lovely atmosphere. :D



Banana Tree, Garosugil
Hours: 11am - 8:30pm, Mon - Fri; 11am - 2pm, Sat; closed on Sunday
Address: 서울시 강남구 신사동 526 (526 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)
Directions: From Sinsa Station exit 8, make a U-turn and take the first right, or come out exit 7 and take the first left. Follow this road for about 5 minutes and it will eventually curve towards the right. Keep following the curve and look out for Banana Tree on your right.

*Note: Banana Tree also has other branches in Itaewon and near Konkuk University.

Ori Pekoe, Hongdae

On a rainy day when the skies are dark and gloomy, there's nothing quite as comforting as curling up with a nice hot drink and a good read. I was really feeling that a few days ago while trekking through Hongdae in the rain, so I decided to stop off at a lovely little cafe called Ori Pekoe.

Ori Pekoe, a pun on the tea industry's "orange pekoe" with the word "ori" (meaning "duck" in Korean), specialises in tea and is fittingly decorated with duck paraphernalia everywhere. It's located in the back streets near the university and has actually been around for quite some time. In fact I can still remember it from when I used to live in Hongdae (well over 4 years ago) but even though I'd walked past it several times, I'd never actually gone inside before. Given how quickly things close down and new things pop up in Seoul though, I'd say this place must be doing something right in order to have lasted this long.

Outdoor terrace for warmer (and non-rainy) weather

Upon stepping inside, I was reminded exactly why I had never visited the place... It's kinda pricey. It was pricey back then and it's still pricey now, especially by Gangbuk standards. Drinks range from 5,000 to 7,000 won (most being 6,500) and if you're a cheapo like me, that might be enough to send you running for the nearest exit. But if you're looking for somewhere to treat yourself, or if you're rich and not at all fazed by a drink costing the same price as an entire meal, then this place definitely makes a great spot for a nice cuppa and some relaxation time.

Since I was there to splurge, I figured what the hell, and ordered one of the most expensive drinks I could find on the menu -- a "tea-ccino", which was basically milk tea with foam on top, cappuccino style. Much to my delight, the drink came out with an adorable duck drawn on the foam and served in a 'My Neighbour Totoro' cup, atop a matching saucer.

Mint chocolate tea-ccino, 7,000 won

As a huge Studio Ghibli fan, the gorgeous crockery won massive brownie points in my mind. You can't go wrong with Totoro on a rainy day! And aside from the lovely cups, there were also a million and one cute objects strewn around the room, with no shortage of ducks in every shape, size, and form.

So much cuteness everywhere!

 

Another nifty thing I really liked (keeping in mind my odd fetish for inspecting people's bathrooms, hah) was the toilet being hidden away at the back of the cafe. To access it, simply roll back the bookshelf and voila! A passageway leading to the bathroom (which also happened to be well-decorated and laden with plenty of adorable figurines and knicknacks).

Being the ultimate cheapo, I probably wouldn't visit this place on a regular basis, but it's definitely a gorgeous place to spend time in, what with its comforting, homely atmosphere, friendly staff, and plenty of lovely decorations to admire. Perhaps I'll visit again... after payday. XD

Ori Pekoe, Hongdae
Hours: 1pm - 11pm, closed on Mondays
Address: 서울시 마포구 서교동 358-103 (358-103, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul)
Directions: From Hongdae Station exit 9, take the second left. You'll want to cross over to the right side with Taco Bell and Forever 21. Follow the road up like you're heading to the university and after passing the third right, look out for a set of stairs between two buildings that lead to the back streets. Take the stairs up and Ori Pekoe will be in front of you to the right.

Caffe Moon (calligraphy latte art), Edae

Hear ye, hear ye! Uncle Yenny has finally installed Instagram on her phone! I know, I know. I'm only about five years late jumping on this bandwagon but it was something I kept on resisting for the longest time because I have the mental capacity of 90-year old when it comes to tech-related stuff. Call me ridiculous, but I was pretty sure that my granny-like brain would implode while trying to make sense of all that hashtag and @ sign wizardry. I'm so glad I finally took the plunge though, because Instagram has been life-changing. No longer do I lie awake at night, staring blankly at the ceiling while suffering from insomnia. Instead, I allow myself to be aroused by various forms of food pornography before eventually drifting off into a satisfied slumber. It is magical.

One night, while doing my usual 2am trawling for food porn, I chanced upon a very aesthetically titillating group of pictures under the hashtag 'latteart'. One that particularly stood out, though, was this stunning piece with Chinese characters drawn onto the foam; the work of a calligraphy artist who runs his own cafe in Edae. I knew I simply I had to get myself there to see it in person, so off I set the very next day to find this place called "Caffe Moon".

Located on a back street close to the university, Caffe Moon turned out to be nothing short of delightful. Don't be fooled by the grey, somewhat bland exterior and ambiguous description on the sign. The words 'roastery', 'culture', and 'handicraft' don't really do much to convey the exact level of awesomeness that is awaiting you on the inside.

Push open the sturdy door, step through the entrance, and you'll find that the place is filled with all kinds of wonderful. From the sprawling mural across the wall...

to the pretty succulents on the porch...

to the gorgeous trinkets and fragrant soy candles that line the shelves (and also happen to be for sale!)...

right down to the smell of coffee beans that are roasted in house...

This is exactly the kind of cafe that I would love to call my own some day: a personalised place that is artistic, cosy, and has a homely, welcoming atmosphere.

The cafe owner, a very lovely man who also speaks English well, took my order for a "calligraphy latte" and asked if I had any requests. This came as a surprise because I'd assumed he would just write something generic or whatever random words he was feeling at the time, and off the top of my head I couldn't really think of anything. After watching me stutter and glob like a goldfish, trying to come up with something appropriate, he finally suggested doing my name in Chinese and had me write the characters down on a notepad. Now it was my turn to feel sorry for him, as my Chinese name is somewhat complex and even I still struggle with it. Hah!

Cafe owner concentrating hard on my latte.. XD

Several minutes later, he approached my table with a sheepish smile. "Sorry. Your name is difficult," he said, and then proceeded to place on the table only  the most beautiful latte I have ever laid eyes upon.

Calligraphy latte, 5,000 won

How's that for pleasurable viewing?? It felt like a crime to be slurping down the drink and ruining his beautiful afterwork, but by strategically sipping from various points around the rim of the cup, I made it to the end without destroying it... Kind of.

Satisfaction in a cup.

Apart from coffee, you can also satiate your sweet tooth with servings of cake, gourmet chocolates, and gorgeous little mini-macarons handmade by the cafe owner himself.

Tiramisu, strawberry tart, earl grey mousse

Chocolates for yoooou, chocolates for meeee

Happy face mini-macarons, 1000 won each

Drinks range from 3,600 won to 6,800 won, with some interesting specialties such as the "macaron caffe latte" and "yuja cacao" (yuja being a type of citrus fruit):

At the risk of sounding like a gushing fangirl, there's one more thing I simply have to mention. Along with the amazing coffee, charming atmosphere, and lovely decorations, I think I also fell in love with the bathroom. As the kind of person who likes to inspect people's fridges and bathroom cabinets (don't invite me over to your house unless you're prepared to have your place raided), one pastime I quite enjoy is looking at bathrooms in different restaurants and cafes. (Is that weird? Meh. I am weird!) This one was beautifully decorated with a cream-coloured theme and I absolutely loved that the owner had thoughtfully provided hand sanitiser and hand lotion (which smelled divine!) in such a pretty setting. Little touches make a big impact!

With all the wonderful things going on in such a small, cosy space, Caffe Moon is fast nearing the top of my list of favourite places. I most definitely will be back the next time I'm in Edae!



Caffe Moon, Edae
Hours: 8am - 9pm
Address: 서울시 서대문구 대현동 53-29
Directions: From Edae Station exit 3, take the first right, then the first left. Continue down this street for a few metres and look out for Caffe Moon on your right.