Dae Jang Geum- the Real Thing

Many foodies in Dhaka may be getting confused about two restaurants on the same street with apparently the same name, but this is me clarifying. The real Dae Jang Geum is the one next to Gulshan Club and is the same franchise as the one in Bashundhara City. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE, had one of the best meals ever.

Thanks to my blog advert and common friends I got a special tasting menu with my family last month.

DAE JANG GEUM's SPECIAL SUSHI: This isn't on the menu and is a chef's special: a mixture of California roll topped with raw Fish. Upon speaking to the staff, I got to know their fish is imported from the same place as the Westin and having had it i vouch it is super fresh!

photo by Buno

Next we were served this beautiful platter with assorted vegetables, egg, meat and pancakes. The system was to roll various ingredients and dip into the special sauce served.

And then followed the Korean Pancakes and Spicy Crab. Having a Korean roommate, I love this dish, but the spicy crab was a first for me, super spicy with the Korean chili paste we Bangalis love so much.

And then came this very interesting dish of cucumber with Beef and veggies in it. Super yum and healthy!

And then came the delight of the night. Yes it came in the form of the Chicken Salad covered in honey mustard sauce. was a superb salad, but the delight I'm talking about is the home made honey mustard sauce. Soon we were dipping everything into it!

And I'm ending this post with their famous dish: the Duck Salad. Also garnished with the amazing honey mustard sauce on one side with roast duck on the other, I know why this dish is so popular, definitely the best duck in Dhaka hands down.

My crazy family and I just went nuts on these items, and ended up adding more (seafood bulgogi, Galbi and noodles ) till we burst and eventually left them super late packed with doggie bags. Just as I am writing this I am so hungry and have called them to order take away, so expect some more pictures soon as I intend to visit this place a few more times before I leave Dhaka!

Pricewise it fairs standard to a good Korean restaurant, most of the imported items are between TK 1000 onwards (Duck Salad 1500) and those with local ingredients are lower (Chicken Salad TK 650), they also have a Bento Box (TK 1200) which I intend to review tonight.


Special thanks to Nileema and Soorim who gave my taste buds a real treat, I will be back <3 p="">

Uni Sashimi Bar

It's been a while since I posted. Ever since the Savar tragedy (building collapse in Bangladesh killing and injuring thousands) I had been incapable of enjoying anything let alone dining out.

As tragic as the events have been, I found the beautiful generous energy of so many around me and unknown who have contributed and united to help the helpless. 2013 has really been an eye opening year for me, the Savaar incidents have made me realise how lucky I am to even have a hobby like food photography, and how important it is to share my good fortune. 

I pledged to save my dining out budget for the last month and have been donating here: Please spare anything you can, it will go a long way.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/survivors-of-the-savar-garments-tragedy?c=pledges

As life will have it, time has passed and my sense of guilt has subsided, I hope it has instilled some sense in me and others to not be so careless about the low income members of our society.

Coming to a happy note, in February I finally got to finally eat at Uni Sashimi Bar. I live a block away from this extremely high end Sashimi Bar, and have walked passed it twice everyday with the hope that I get to eat there someday. Thanks to restaurant week I finally did!

With two of my closest friends we made way to have a 3 course meal of $38!!

Started off with some complimentary edamame

Zak and Katie had the tuna starter:

 







Mine was another kind of sashimi (but i forgot the name :() But I know it was from Hawaii!

 






Zak ordered some Uni on the side, I tried it, it's kind of caviar'ish but not to my taste so much.

All 3 of us had the Chirashi for main:

Zak and Katie chose the chocolate desert option, I had a bite it was delightful!!

But my desert option I warily took because I'm not a chocolate person (mango rice pudding with ice cream) was OUT OF THIS WORLD! So much so that I have removed my ban on rice pudding!

Oh bow, making this post is making me crave so much!!

ShaatRong, Bengali Ala Carte to the Finest at Srimongol

YAY We reached 60,000 hits today! Just when I'm about to post one my favourite meals of 2012.

Shaatrong is this amazing little restaurant in Srimongol which mainly features the 7 layer tea on the outside but is the BEST homemade'ish food, and one of the best places to eat in Srimongol. It was at this meal me and huckleberry friend were commenting on how we tend to search the whole world for food that tastes like our home.

And it did! Those of you who have seen my Mum's cooking can tell from the pictures.

The food was made a'la carte so we had to wait a bit of time. In the meantime we sat outside and enjoyed the 8 degrees weather and a cup of tea

                                                                                                                                                           













And THEN came the food, Fresh from the stove (the only way it should be) and all at once!

Bless Bangladeshi restaurants for Always serving salad, although it did not prevent me from gaining 2 kgs on this trip, STILL it's always fresh, nicely placed and FREE. (Learn something 12 dollar salad servers)

Niramish , what a fresh beauty !!
it was perfect and not overcooked at all, with the light spices.

                                                                                Daal Bhorta

                                                                                                                                                                   Tomato Bhorta!! Oh this was perfection, with the sweet tomatos, the hint of coriander and onions making the great combination.

Alu Bhorta

The light Jhol Murgi was perfect!

And the most beautiful thing of all time: Gorom Gorom Shada Bhaat

Steaming Gorom Bhaat

I love my bhaat shots hehe





We ended up ordering there again (when I fell a bit sick) but it wasnt the same. This must be had in the cool sunshine winter's day, fresh from the kitchen

Stonefish Cafe- Koh Samui's Best

The Fisherman's Market or Seafood Market really is the place to eat in Koh Samui. Its all local and fresh food for half the price of Chawaeng beachside BBQs and BETTER. We tried the famous one for lunch on day 1 called MItra Samui, which other food bloggers had raved about. But it was okay, I actually hadnt really felt the heartwarming feel I do when I eat food made passionately (I honestly do!) 

But STONEFISH was it. Best Meal of the Thailand trip, it was just the perfect weather, freshest food and the chefs (husband and wife to whom I met later and hugged) were brilliant!

 Here is my step by step to eating your best meal in Samui.

First look at the weird display of fish outside the restaurant:

then sit down with a cool drink as you go through the 20 page menu and figure out what you want to eat with the seafood: 

Then call your sister in London and tell her what she is missing.

Look at the poor wallet thats going to take a hit cos you ordered enough for a small army.

And start with the Masuman Curry:

The salmon Steak. OH YUM..

The yellow curry in coconut boat:

Kailan and Mushrooms in garlic and oyster sauce.

Some garlicy vegetable (I didnt order or eat much off)

                                         and the topper: The Freshest Snapper you've ever eaten in your life simply grilled served with garlic sauce. Oh brother, i could eat that by myself I swear.

Thank you to this MARVELOUS JOINT. everyone going to Koh Samui I INSIST on this one.