I want to say thank you to all our friends support today. I cant wait to have you all in once we open , I am very pleased with the menu outline we are working on. We are in the test kitchen right now and hopefully will be putting in our stove next week.
I just got back from Seoul this week, what an inspiring trip. The Lotte hotel where we did the series of dinners is a stunning hotel definately one of the grandest in Korea.One of the highlights of the trip had to be a trip to a Fugu restaurant-Fukuchan, the restaurant is fifteen seats and is owned by its 33 year old chef Mr Cho, he and his sous chef take on all duties front and back of house. They serve Fugu in all its forms-12 courses the night I was there, the most mind blowing was a cup of hot sake which the chef dropped the toasted pectoral fins of the Fugu and local Korean red Ginseng. The live sea cucumbers were something I had not used in New York before, we made a tempura of them for a salad of local Korean geumgyul (like a kumquat). 
The picture above is of the said Cucumber, this is how it is sold live in sea water at the local supermarket.They are caught off the east coast of Korea in heavily alginated water. Locals preferer sashimi style with salted sesame oil and Korean style miso.Plenty of ideas for the new restaurant!
oh how I love spices……I say this as right now I am shipping quite a bit of them to korea.Thankfully my good friends at www.le-sanctuaire.com have packed them beautifully- sarawak peppercorns? malic acid? eucalyptus leaves?heres one dish- 
can you get fresh artichokes in Korea? aparently not..so sunchoke veloute becomes- smoked onion and hazelnut veloute. I have been invited to cook a series of showcase dinners at the Lotte hotel in Seoul , Korea for two weeks at the end of this month(on the recommendation of Pierre Gagnaire-who is opening a restaurant in the hotel this year)its my first time in korea- its going to be great!
stop reading this and go see it!!!! www.cloverfieldmovie.com
I love the process of getting visas for work and travel abroad,such a fun exercise…..especially when you don’t speak the language,Seoul is quite nice this time of year I hear.I love traveling in Asia, I always find it a great source of inspiration and ideas.
yes, I know another blog…..
my dog Spencer welcomes you!
