Yolk and Whites – Baekhyeon/Pangyo

I’m not sure why I would be surprised to find a decent Spanish restaurant here – I’ve come to realize you can find a good (if sometimes slightly Korean-style) version of most cuisines in Seoul and its suburbs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yolk and Whites is yet another good offering in the neighborhood of Baekhyeon, the pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that still offers quite the set of decorations if you find yourself missing the holiday season already – or if you have an affinity for selfies and/or unicorns.

Our first bite of the night was a simple tapenade served with an unsweet cranberry bread. I love olives, so this was an easy win for me.

Yolk and White has a white and red sangria, both of which are served with a large cinnamon stick and citrus garnish. The wine is good quality and not overpowered by too much sweet flavor – the taste mirrors the minimalist fruit presentation. I prefer the white sangria to the red, but both would be mellow pairings for almost any choice on the menu.

For our next course we ordered a jamon charcuterie plate, which came sprinkled with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Together with the garlic and green onion tossed tomatoes and crostini, it was a salty and delicious appetizer. I would have liked to try the Iberico, but at 45,000 Won, the price was a bit prohibitive.

The paella had a wonderful seafood infused taste without any fishiness, the rice was perfectly cooked and soaked up all the other flavors, and the mussels and clams were very good. Unfortunately, I think having all the seafood in the pot the entire time it was cooking produced shrimp and squid that were overcooked.

The shrimp and squid fared slightly better in the creamy seafood pasta – both were more tender. The sauce was an excellent consistency, prepared with a healthy heaping of garlic and topped with fresh parmesan. Both our choices for main dishes had a generous serving of seafood, and I particularly enjoyed the shellfish in this sauce.

Yolk and Whites produces well-presented dishes in a comfortable atmosphere. The main courses are built to share, so make sure to bring friends so you can sample a few.

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Williamsburger – Baekhyeon/Pangyo

Baekhyeon is a really pleasant place to walk around. During summer weekends, there are hand-made craft vendors set up along the fountains that flow all the way down the main cafe street, and throughout all the seasons, the pedestrian-friendly area has countless events and festivals. It’s also a neighborhood with a wide spectrum of restaurants of many themes, and a few standouts like Williamsburger.

Williamsburger keeps it simple and tasty – a handmade patty seasoned and topped with hot sauce, bleu cheese dressing and a fried onion ring on a soft sesame seed bun. They have a variety of toppings, but one thing all the burgers have in common is a simple flavor profile. They don’t rely on gimmicks to sell their fare – the meat is good enough to stand on its own.

One dish I hadn’t yet tried was the “Hole French Toast”. The toast is soft on the inside, crispy on the edges. The hole in the center is filled with a perfectly cooked over-easy egg and covered with mild cheese. I found the combination a bit strange when I ordered, but once I tasted it with maple syrup, it made perfect sense. The dish also came with a salad, small biscuit with fruit chutney and a couple of slices of bacon that were thick and delicious – the house-cured breakfast meat may have been my favorite part. You wouldn’t expect to find great brunch food at a burger place, but this was quite good.

The Oreo flavor of the milkshake was a good break from the traditional vanilla/ strawberry/ chocolate you usually find. The creamy cookie concoction was well blended without being too thin and one was big enough for two people to share.

The wings were very well cooked, but fair warning – the sauce has a heavy Tabasco content. The meat was still moist, and the skin was a bit crispy on the edges.

If you’re craving some grilled meat, Williamsburger will suit your needs nicely. The food is fast, delicious and a good price. The neighborhood is also a great place to window shop or grab dessert after you chow down.

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Craftworks brunch – Baekhyeon/Pangyo

Every Sunday from 12-3pm, Craftworks in Pangyo has an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. Many may be familiar with the Itaewon location, but I’ve always preferred the one in Pangyo. It’s a much more comfortable atmosphere and feels more like a bistro. It’s completely normal to have a chat with the bartender or cooks, no one wears a uniform, and the food is undeniably delicious. In short, it’s a terrific place to stuff yourself full of breakfast food and acceptable-because-it’s brunch adult drinks.

The mainstays are the same every week – breakfast burrito, BLT sandwich, peanut butter muffins, egg scramble, home fries, fresh fruit, unlimited coffee, etc. – but the specials are where this place really shines. This week saw the introduction of cinnamon rolls, which were frankly to die for. The weekend after American Thanksgiving, they served up some leftover inspired hash and chimichangas. Another week saw them serving bacon pancakes with Bailey’s whipped cream.

We also discovered this week that they recently began to serve milkshakes. We tried the Bananas Foster rum variety. It was an excellent addition to the menu – the balance of ingredients needs a little tweaking, but the flavor was great. I look forward to trying the coffee Kahlua version next time.

Craftworks brunch is a gem. There’s always something new to try, and they take reservations right on their Facebook page. Brunch is 15,000 Won per adult, 5,000 per child.

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