What makes a bar in Seoul good?

You could have a fantastic cocktail menu but unless it comes complete with a robust food pairing menu – it gets pushed to the bottom of the list. We have seen bars in Seoul boasting with award-winning bartenders and some of the best decors in the city close down quicker then you can finish that gourmet cocktail because, you guessed it… patrons were hungry!

As far as the drinks themselves are concerned, a lot of bartenders in Seoul are experimenting with cocktails made of traditional Korean Liquor and are winning awards because of their creations using this local alcohol. Such as Makgeoli which is a milky rice wine that’s very popular with Korean farmers and Soju, which you might think of as rice vodka. The best bars in Seoul are home to the most innovative bartenders and chefs alike, and if you’re in Seoul, you just have to hit these bars; leaving without doing so will mean that you missed out half of what Seoul has to offer.

Vinga in Apgujeong

“Makgeoli – a milky rice wine that’s very popular with Korean farmers and Soju, which you might think of as rice vodka”

The Vinga, which opened in 2005 is pretty much like a second home to all kinds wine lovers in Seoul. One of the first things that you’ll notice about this bar is the classy and antique atmosphere it has; this kind of an interior automatically makes you feel like you’re someplace grand like an ancient Greek castle perhaps. The bar derives its name ‘vinga’ from two of its roots; French for ‘Vin’, which means wine and Chinese for ‘ga’ which means house. If you’re a wine fan, then this wine house it for you.

Bar da, Hongdae

If you’re looking for a western style bar where you can have a nice smoke with potent drinks, then you’ll find Bar Da hidden somewhere in Hongdae’s alleys, which we think gives it that perfect sense of escape, which is what this bar will provide you.

Vinyl ‘Street bar’, Hongdae

While some of us visit bars just to unwind and have a nice and easy time, some of us want to drink and socialize. If you’re part of the latter than the Vinyl street bar is for you; tasty drink, interesting environment and loads to talk about!

While the regions of the world’s most famous wines, such as Burgundy, are still a bit out of reach for most investors, wealthy Chinese nationals are fast taking hold of established wine farms in South Africa, Australia, and even other regions of France. In 2013, Yangzhou-based Perfect China initiated the country’s investment in the South African wine industry by purchasing the Val de Vie estate in the Western Cape. The estate contains a manor house and a wine cellar on its 25-hectare vineyards. Since then, a deal made in December 2015, which gave majority shares in the expansive Swartland Winery to Chinese tech entrepreneur William Wu, has given analysts the impression that Chinese investors are beginning to make a significant change in the ownership demographics of South African wine territory.

Experts suggest that this trend matches the increasing demand in China for wines from various regions around the world. The wine market in China is expanding rapidly and investors from the country have identified this as an opportunity to contribute to the supply of wine imports in China. Wu, who invested in the Western Cape’s Swartland Winery, reaffirmed this opinion, saying, “In China I have a ready demand for the quality and volume of wine Swartland produces.”

Another area affected by the keen interest of Chinese investors is Australia. In 2014, Credit Suisse predicted that they will spend AUD44bn (USD39bn; £24bn) in Australian real estate over the following seven years. According to the owner of Jurds Real Estate agency in New South Wales, Alan Jurd, the increased demand for wine in China is not the only reason that Chinese nationals are investing staggering amounts in overseas wine industries – wineries are also considered to be trophy purchases by the wealthy Chinese elite. Jurd states, “China-based wine importers are looking for a beautiful and prestigious winery in Australia as a showcase for their business and to impress their Chinese customers”. A notable purchase was that of the Yaldara winery in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, which was purchased for $15.5m by Chinese businessmen and NSW resident Zhitai Wang. Another vineyard in the same region, the 1847 Winery,  is already owned by the two men.

“China-based wine importers are looking for a beautiful and prestigious winery in Australia as a showcase for their business and to impress their Chinese customers”.

Interestingly, Chinese investors have not only stuck with purchasing wineries in successful but lesser-known wine regions in South Africa and Australia. France, historically the most  lauded country for producing wine, is also an area that has been given a lot of attention by Chinese investors. Over one hundred Bordeaux châteaux (wineries) in France are now owned by Chinese nationals or Chinese business entities. While investment in this legendary wine-making region marks a step towards Chinese immersion in global winemaking, Chinese investors have generally not been overconfident, and have shown an interest in mid-range châteaux. These buyers invest on average 10 million Euros in acquiring estates in the Bordeaux region, and then export more than 80 percent of their wine back to China, where they can sell it at around 10 times the price of a bottle in France, owing to China’s heavy demand for foreign wines.

Austrade, an investment company, has suggested that another reason for the sharp increase of winery sales to Chinese investors can be accounted for by reasoning that owning foreign wineries allows Chinese businessmen to react quickly to any changes in consumer demand in China. Whatever the case, it seems that the growing wine culture in China is starting to shape the investment decisions of the Asian giant’s wealthy businessmen. All over the world beautiful and successful wineries are being bought up by Chinese investors, and it’s a trend that does not seem to be ending in the near future.

Think about the world’s best beef noodle soup to tantalize your taste buds now you should be warned to take a look at your wallet foremost. As the beef noodle soup also known as comfort food is worth a whopping 325

Welcome to Duck De Chine

One of the main reasons people travel to different countries of the world is to try their cuisines; every place has its signature dishes, and this is a big part of what defines a location. For people out there who are looking to

When you hear about the latest new hot-shot smartphone, it’s almost always associated with a big name brand like Apple, LG and Samsung. That said, a relatively unknown smartphone brand (not for long) has taken the internet by storm by announcing the launch of the world’s first foldable smartphone.

California-based Royole completely blew the roof off a conference in Beijing to reveal the FlexPai.

Measuring in with a display screen of 7.8-inches when opened in full – the device when folded, the display segments into three parts: the front, rear, and spine of the device.

Tech enthusiasts around the world are going nuts about FlexPei and consumers in China will get their chance to purchase one this week during a flash sale. The prices start at approx.. US $1,295 to three flash sales on Thursday, November 1, with prices starting at 8,999 yuan to 12,999 yuan (US$1,295 to US$1,871). Those lucky enough to get their hands on a device will get them delivered in December 2018.

FlexPai’s Innovative CEO Bill Liu had this to say: “The Royole FlexPai foldable smartphone provides mobile phone users with a revolutionary experience compared to traditional phones,”

We had heard the likes of Samsung and Huawei leak whispers about similar products, but the trophy for first in market sits with the clever folks ate Royole.

Bravo!

In July this year, my family and I were invited to experience the awe-inspiring and ultimate VIP Thai villa experience in the friendly island of Koh Samui. Located close to the mainland town of Surat Thani, Samui (as it’s referred to by locals) is Thailand’s third largest island and attracts more than 1.5 million tourists per year. Known for it’s white sandy beaches, coral reefs, scrumptious cuisine and of course world class villas, the island is a favorite with holiday makers around the world.

So as you can imagine, we were more than excited when the opportunity came about to review the gorgeous Baan Mika villa. Located a short 10 minutes drive from the airport, Baan Mika is nicely tucked away in the tranquil Plai Laem area – which is also a short drive from Bhoput’s famous Big Buddha and the sleepy Fisherman’s Village.

When visiting Koh Samui, selecting a location on the island to best suit what you want to achieve from your holiday is very important. For the party-goers and younger set who want to take advantage of the island thumping nightlife, the Chaweng and Lamai areas are the best option. For those looking for a little more sophistication and a more luxurious encounter, then staying in a villa like Baan Mika in this part of the island is a very clever choice.

The journey starts when the friendly staff make contact before you even leave your home to find out about dietary preferences and any other special requests. “We understand you will be travelling with a young child madam, is there anything she doesn’t like to eat or allergic to?” asked the considerate Baan Mika staff while we were still in Singapore.  From that moment on I knew that this was going to be a very special journey. That said, our requirements was pretty straight forward – we wanted to unwind, eat the freshest local produce and take in a slice of this gorgeous island – all from the compounds of our own private sanctuary with zero interference from the outside world. Simple.

At Baan Mika, that’s a given.

From the personal greeting & pick-up at the airport to the warm welcome upon arrival at our private paradise, the staff treated us like old friends catching up after a long time. It’s very clear why Koh Samui is also known as ‘The land of thousand smiles’..

Baan Mika has been described as ‘Paradise comes neatly packaged’ and it really is not difficult to see why the minute you step foot into the compound. The compound is cleverly designed around a stunning rectangular swimming pool that runs the entire length of the property. This ‘jewel in the crown’ is clearly the star of the show and is surround by six ultra luxurious rooms, all custom-built and self-contained. The entire complex comfortably sleeps twelve adults.

Overlooking the gorgeous private beach are two salas, which are basically an alfresco style dining and ‘chill out’ area which comes fully kitted out with a BBQ and wet bar and Bose surround sound speakers. We decided to have all of our meals here with nothing but the warm ocean breeze to keep us company.

The view into the ocean is expansive and uninterrupted – littered with local fishermen trying to bring in the catch of the day. When the tide is low, the local children are seen collecting Huay (small shells) which are later cooked into local dishes. The living areas come complete with the latest audio-visual setup and wifi covers the entire compound (yes, even on the private beach).

The way of life in Thailand begins thousands of years ago as the people called themselves “water lords” and today the people still rely on the waterways – as this is the true heart of Thai culture. Although the people living on this land have changed over time, the way of life has been slowly transferred from people to people, with the current Thai people truly turning this past way of life into their modern-day culture. This is most visible from Baan Mika’s private beach as every low tide brings out local fishermen and their families as they collect cockles (a type of shell fish) to either sell at the night markets or to use in their  evening meal. I was told by Ae, the villa’s lovely manager that this was a daily ritual by the locals in the area and for many a means to sustain their livelihood.

Along with foreign foods and spices, Buddhism arrived from settlers in the west. Buddhism quickly became the prominent religion and even today much of Thailand’s legal system and ideologies are rooted in Buddhism. Koh Samui is famous for the Big Buddha Temple. Known locally as Wat Phra Yai, its golden, 12-metre seated Buddha statue was built in 1972 and remains one of the island’s most popular attractions.

The Big Buddha can be seen at a distance of several kilometers and is often the first landmark people see when arriving to Samui by air. The best part is, the temple is under a 3 minute drive from Baan Mika and is clearly visible from the private salas on the beach.

OK now to move on to the serious stuff… FOOD!

Foodies (like us) all over the world have a fascination with Thai cuisine and have fallen in love with the medley of spices that come together for one hell of a performance. So we were over the moon when the executive chef of Baan Mika offered to give us a private cooking lesson. Her composed and tranquil nature made it such a breeze to learn how to cook two of Thailand’s favorite dishes.

Say hello to Chef Saipin, Baan Mika’s executive in-house chef who is always smiling and at your disposal for not only private cooking lessons, but she will also prepare a list of local and international dishes to suite your taste.

Chef Saipin sends her staff to the local markets daily to source the freshest of local ingredients. She will never comprimise on freshness and quality as this is the foundation of her cooking discipline.

Chef Saipin’s philosophy on Thai cooking is very simple, “Find the freshest ingredients you can find (that day) and learn about how to marry the spices together. The process is simple, you just need to add some love” – easier said than done? Not at all, I must admit that my fiancé loved the finished product and it really wasn’t too difficult.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

Thai Prawn Curry & Wok Tossed, Seasonal Veggies

Thanks Chef Saipin, really wish you would have came home with us

(Note:  Look out for the video we shot of this lesson coming up soon! You will all be able to learn what Chef Saipin taught us in a step-by-step video).

No visit to Thailand would be complete without indulging in an incredible Thai style massage or nuat thai. My body was a little tired after making the journey from Singapore and seeing that I was in Rome, ahem I mean Thailand, I figure I would ask our villa manager Ae to organize a traditional Thai massage. In typical Baan Mika style, our masseuses came fully equipped and were friendly and very informative on the practice they were about to perform.

We decided to lay out by the pool just before sunset overlooking the private beach where the waves were breaking less then 10 meters from our massage beds. The gentle breeze and sounds of birds chirping high above our heads made for the perfect environment for what was the best traditional Thai massage I’ve ever had. After 90 minutes of pure bliss, the masseuse pulled out what is known as a Thai herbal compress – a therapy which is designed to relieve pain and inflammation.

A selection of therapeutic herbs, including prai, ginger, turmeric and lemongrass, are wrapped in a muslin compress, steamed and then applied to the body in gentle pressing, circular and rolling movements.

Talk about a happy ending!

The worst thing about our Baan Mika experience was saying goodbye. We had gotten very close with Ae and her fantastic team who treated us like family throughout our entire stay. If you are looking for a truly relaxing and ultra luxurious Thai getaway then please consider Baan Mika. She will warm your heart and leave you with a lasting smile as she has done with dozens before you.

As somebody once eloquently whispered:

“Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before new can meet again and meeting again, after moments or a lifetime, is certain for those who are friends”

Kap Kun Ka

Amanda xo

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It seems that as wine culture in China continues to grow, so does the preference for Australian wines. Market trends indicate that Australian wines are only growing in popularity in China, especially as wine starts replacing other alcoholic beverages, such as Henessey XO, which has historically been the drink of choice at business meetings. In fact, the value of Australian wine exports have reached their highest levels in nearly ten years – and this is largely as a result of China’s penchant for Aussie wines. In 2015 alone, the value of exports rose by 14% from $2.1 billion. Even though the USA is still Australia’s largest market, China was up by 66%, producing $370m in export revenue.

From the numbers, it is evident that Australian wines are very popular amongst Chinese consumers, but this should come as no surprise:

Free trade agreement
Assistant Agricultural Minister, Anne Ruston predicted that there would be a growth in sales to the Chinese market as a result of a China-Australia free trade agreement. However, sales were already rising before the free trade agreement was implemented.

“The fact that Australia’s strongest export growth was recorded in to China, and the new ChAFTA effects are not yet reflective in Wine Australia’s figures really does indicate that we are in the midst of yet another boost in market optimism,” Ruston said. Tariffs on bulk wine have gone down by a significant 8% and on bottled wine by just over 6%. The free trade agreement will contribute to an already increasing demand for Australian wines in China.

Excellent quality
As number four in the world for wine exporters, it goes without saying that Australian wines are top notch. Famous for their fresh, fruity red and white table wines, the quality is consistently excellent. Due to arable lands and a warm climate, Australia produces a unique type of wine that is palatable to the occasional wine drinker and the experienced sommelier. And, as China has a wide mix of wine drinkers, Australian wines suit them all.

Great value
Most Australian wines in export markets are inexpensive varietal wines that sell for $10 a bottle or less. Compared to the more expensive European vintages, Australian wines offer great value for superb quality and this is very appealing to Chinese consumers. Many of these varietal wines are captivatingly bottled and labelled and appeal to broad range of palates.

An acquired taste
While it may seem stereotypical to claim that an entire country has the same taste, when it comes to wine, it appears that the Chinese favour a certain style. Mitchell Taylor, of Taylor’s Estate, claims that the Chinese like a soft, silky wine, and that is exactly what Australia offers. Their love for Australian wine also seems to stem from emotional bond, too. The Chinese appreciate the high quality of Australian dairy products and vitamins and they now identify Australia as pure, safe and healthy country. Mitchell claims that the Chinese like family brands, consistency and a trusted reputation. In addition, because Australia already conducts a fair amount of trade with China, a trusting relationship has formed.

Food and wine pairing
As we all know the art of pairing wine with food is a skilled and important one. However, the Chinese seem to have got it made when they started importing wines from Australia and discovered that the flavour profile of Australian wines perfectly complements Cantonese food. For example, the Clare Valley Reislings, with their lovely lime citrus flavours add a magical compliment to the spice of Cantonese dishes.