A Very Merry Unbirthday to Me! - La Pâtisserie des Rêves - Paris, France

It's been about a week since I have arrived in Paris, and today c'est mon anniversaire! I really don't want to have another birthday yet, so let's just pretend it's an ordinary day thats special? For once I feel no need for all the bells and whistles, I want to do something simple, beautiful and perfect. After much thought, I head to my  chosen patisserie for this un special day, grab a few treats fit for a queen and head to Jardin du Luxembourg.

Strawberry tart - €39

This is the quintessential modern day patisserie, it's like someting out of the Jetsons. I love it! and it's so hygenic.. yes I am a germaphobe :/

So many choices, so little stomach space. Today is un special so I will choose something just for that.

Orange cake - €3.10

Raspberry and matcha tea cake - €3.10

Saint-Honore - €39

Paris brest - €37

Viennoiseries - Brioche!

Apple turnovers and Kouign Amann

Paris brest - €5.90 and Saint-Honore - €6.90

My first (let's not say it) in Paris, I decided to go with the french classics. I'll start with the paris brest, my first bite was like a praline punch to the face but a light and airy one, every mouthful was a flavour explosion. 

Moving onto the Saint-Honore, layers of puff pastry, light choux pastry, caramel and cream. What a delight, such a beautiful dessert, this is my new favourite thing to eat.. like seriously. 

Jardin du Luxembourg

Today has been absolute bliss and I couldn't be happier, things seem to be going in the right direction for a change. I asked for great weather, a beautiful location, a handsome date, delectable pastries and you know what? I got it all. 

I look forward to a new chapter in my life. I only wish I had a full sized kitchen to turn out some recipes. Until then I can only share purchased items going into my belly.

Have a very merry unbirthday wherever you are!

Check them out [here] or [MAP]

Betty Jane x

The Dogs - Edinburgh, Scotland

In Edinburgh. Eat at The Dogs. Mission complete.

Theres nothing I love more than exceptional food at affordable prices. The food at the dogs boasts british and scottish cuisine that will blow you away. 

I was pretty indecisive when it came to ordering, everything on the menu sounded absolutely divine. Fortunately the lovely staff gave me some suggestions. Pheew! 

Rabbit ragu with barley risotto - £4.75

I'm not usually one to eat game meat but I love barley and I'm in Scotland. This rabbit ragu had so much depth in flavour, the risotto was thick, oozy and left me wanting more. Can't wait for the next dish!

Haggis with neeps, tatties and whisky sauce - £5.95

First time eating haggis and I am so lucky to have had such a delightful experience with it. Nice and crisp on the outside, loving the potato chunks and the creamy whisky sauce. I think I'm addicted.

Skirlie and bacon stuffed pork belly with barley, vegetable broth and pork sauce - £11.95

I know I ordered this because I love pork everything! Pork belly especially, my favourite cut of meat. A beautifully glazed, melt in your mouth piece of pork. What more could I ask for? the dishes have all been rich, hearty and unlike anything I've ever eaten. Comfort food at its best.

Lemon posset with oat and ginger biscuit - £3.65

The perfect way to finish off my meal, a light citrusy dessert to cleanse my palette. 

Overlangshaw farmhouse ice cream -£3.80

Ok I got ice cream too, for no other reason than I'm greedy! Ice cream is my kryptonite. 

My favourite place in all of Scotland, can't wait to go back.

Check them out [here] or [MAP]

Betty Jane x

Cone Life! - Gelato & Ice cream - Sangsu, Seoul, South Korea

Gelati Gelati - Sangsu-dong

Tiramisu and salted caramel chocolate (double scoop) - 4,000 won

There is no better way to end my trip to Seoul than with cones of sweet sweet goodness. Gelati Gelati is your typical italian gelateria, with the simplest flavours on offer hidden under silver lids (which I do not like! I eat with my eyes first) the gelato here definitely satisfied my tastebuds on this hot summers day. 

My tiramisu was on point here, probably the best tiramisu gelato I have had and it went so well with the salted caramel chocolate. A match made in heaven. 

Check them out [MAP]

Fell + Cole - Sangsu-dong

Super cute blue box tucked away in the streets of Sangsu-dong. This ice creamery reminded me of an ice box, maybe that was the look they were going for. Gastronomic ice cream made with all natural ingredients in small batches, they also have vegan options too.

With flavours like pineapple cayenne and perilla leaves my mind didn't know what to choose, what ended up on my cone was carrot cake. A flavour I have yet to try in ice cream form but a flavour that is always warming to my tummy.

Boy was I glad I chose this flavour! It actually tasted like I was eating carrot cake, tiny gratings of carrot and pecans. I couldn't get enough, I tried to savour the moment for once and make my ice cream last as long as possible. This is the ultimate ice cream spot for me, I haven't had a flavour this good since.. I really can't remember. Cudos to Fell + Cole!

Carrot cake ice cream (single scoop) - 5,200 won

Raspberry champagne sorbet (single scoop) - 5,200 won 

Ice cream sandwiches

Their cute 60's inspired mod interior.

Check them out [here] or [MAP]

Betty Jane x

Daily Caffeine Fix - Hapjeong / Sinsa-dong, Seoul, South Korea

There are an abundance of cafes in Seoul with only a handful that satisfy my tastebuds with a nice atmosphere. I have narrowed it down to four of my favourite cafes out of the ones I have tried.

Arco Coffee Roasters - Sinsa-Dong

Cafe latte - 5,500 won

Double espresso - 4,500 won

Hands down the best coffee I have had in Seoul, these guys take their coffee seriously. Now go get one!

Check them out [here] or [MAP]

Deniro Coffee Roasters - Hapjeong

A sweet place to have your daily coffee tucked away from the noisy streets of Hapjeong is Deniro coffee roasters. 

Cafe latte - 5,500 won

Double espresso - 5,000 won

Deniro roast their beans onsite for espressos and lattes only. No wonder it tastes so good. 

Fresh brownies made inhouse.

Great coffee accompanied by a pleasant atmosphere. The owner was so lovely he even gave us a free packet of oreos. Love this place!

Check them out [MAP]

Humming Bella Coffee & Bakery -  Hapjeong

A large cafe with two floors of seating and also an outdoor courtyard which is lovely.

Some of the goodies on offer.

Crunky Valhrona - 6,000 won

Such a light and airy chocolate cake witch chunks of crunky chocolate throughout. This cake had so much potential, the flavours were nice but the cake was a little on the dry side which ruined it for me.

Cafe latte - 5,000 won

Double espresso - 4,500 won

Check them out [MAP]

Anthracite Coffee Roasters - Hapjeong

Cafe latte - 6,000 won

Double espresso - 4,000 won

Check put my previous blog post on them [here]

I hope you get your caffeine fix in Seoul.

Betty Jane x

Eight Flavours of Pork Belly - Palsaek Samgyeopsal - Sinchon, Seoul,South Korea

The one restaurant I have been waiting to try during my trip to Seoul, so my expectations are going to be high. The thing is I come across reviews for Palsaek Samgyeopsal all the time and its always amped up, of course I am going to expect fireworks.

The entrance is adorned with photographs of people who have eaten here, all korean celebrities of course. First impression.. tacky! But ready to eat!

We sit down and have a look at the menu, though the food is already being served to our table. As we try to find out why we are being served when we have not even ordered yet, the waitress gushes and tells us "its just the set". 

Anyway it looks like they are only serving this "set" so the same for everybody..yay! Not impressed, terrible service.

The eight flavours of juicy marinated pork belly, boy am I excited!

The marinade verdict in order - 

Ginseng, great flavour to start off with. I don't eat ginseng anything back home, so I was curious to see how this one tasted and it was delicious.

Wine, probably not the most exiting marinade but it changed my mind once I ate it, yum! So far so good six more to go.

Pine leaf, ok for me it pretty much went downhill from here. I didn't mind the pine leaf marinade, yes it was very piney and its not a marinade I have had before but there just wasn't any wow factor in this one.

Herb, probably the most un-exciting marinade ever. This tasted so stock standard like it was marinated with italian herbs. Yawn.

Garlic, I don't know why this is even one of the marinades. Couldn't they have come up with a better marinade than garlic? It just tastes just as its named. 

Curry, at this point I've lost all hope and am pretty dissappointed. I am eating pork marinated in curry powder and nothing else, like.. from a packet.

Miso, finally.. One on the board I am looking forward to try after having four unimpressive flavours. I'm not sure if I like it, I know its marinated in miso but maybe a little too much, it just tastes very fermented beany for me.

Spicy, for sure this one will be good right? You can't go wrong with spicy, ok maybe you can if there was no spice! I was expecting a flame thrower in my mouth. 

What a fail, sheer disappointment on my experice here. The service was a joke, the ambience of the restaurant was like eating in a cafeteria and the marinade flavours were unimpressive. I think the only thing that saved this place was that you get to eat a load of juicy tender pork belly!

Grilled kimchi, a mix of mushrooms and garlic. Feel free to grab some more if you run out, its self serve.

Mixed green leaves to wrap your pork in, I prefer to eat mine on rice.

Haemul Jjigae (seafood stew)

It turned out cheaper than I thought it would be, total cost was 30,000 won for the set which feeds two people (add rice for an extra 1,000 won per bowl).

I honestly think you can find a much better barbeque joint than Palsaek Samgyeopsal, I know its sounds exciting to try eight different flavours of pork but trust me getting two good flavours out of eight isn't a win.

But if you still want to check them out [MAP]

Betty Jane x