February 6, 2013

  • C-Clown "Far Away... Young Love" 멀어질까봐 (2012)

    I still love KPOP but have not blogged or posted any lyrics songs in a long time. This one thanks to my buddy TL introduction, I love this song "Far away... young love" 멀어질까봐 especially the acoustic version- is very catchy.

    So it is C-Clown 씨클라운; (stands for Crown Clown) off their Mini CD called "Young Love" that came out in November 2012.

    MV-Usual version

    Lyrics SOURCE credit: Tuneuplyrics

     

    Romaji:

    meoreojilkkabwa naega sirheojilkkabwa malhago sipeonneunde ibi tteoreojijiga anhasseo

    nado moreuge neol bulleo neol bomyeon nae gaseumi tteollyeo cheombuteo ni nunbiche kkeullyeo orae dwaesseo neoreul johahage dwaesseo

    soljikhi niga naegen neomu gwabunhan geo ara neo malgo dareun yeojaneun pillyo eobseo Baby

    jeongmal geu sarami jonni geu namjan neol saranghal jul molla ni yeope geu saramboda naega deo jal eoullil tende

    jeongmal geu sarangi jonni ni nunmul naega daesin dakkajulge ulji malgo naegero But I know

    meoreojilkkabwa naega sirheojilkkabwa malhago sipeonneunde ibi tteoreojijiga anhasseo

    meoreojilkkabwa na geobi nanabwa hoksirado neowa naui saiga jeongmal eosaekhaejyeo meoreojilkkabwa

    Move now sarajyeo bogido neomu himdeuljyo idaero neol bonaendamyeon pyeongsaeng huhoe hagetjyo geu namja nuga bwado neol himdeulge haneun Bad boy naega deo jalhaejulge Baby meoreojyeo gandaneun saenggage meongi deureoga nae mame ajikdo neoui nungae dareun namjaga boine I wanna break down I wanna break down mianhae

    jeongmal geu sarangi jonni neon haengbokhae boijiga anha jamkkanirado niga haengbokhaesseumyeon jokesseo

    jeongmal geu sarami jonni ni nunmul naega daesin dakkajulge ulji malgo naegero But I know

    meoreojilkkabwa naega sirheojilkkabwa malhago sipeonneunde ibi tteoreojijiga anhasseo

    meoreojilkkabwa na geobi nanabwa hoksirado neowa naui saiga jeongmal eosaekhaejyeo meoreojilkkabwa

    I don’t know I I don’t know nado moreugesseo ireon gamjeong I don’t know I I don’t know naega museun jiseul haneun geonji

    naneun neo hana bakke molla jigeum neo animyeon na michilji molla na jeongmal

    oneureun naege malhago sipeo (malhago sipeunde geuge jal andoe) oneureun naege malhago sipeo I want to just say it but I know I can’t do it

    jeongmal dapdaphae niga banghwangdoeneun ge boyeo nan neowa danduri itdaneun sangsange gibun johajyeo sireun nollasseo nae yeopjarien neoga gyeote eobseotdan geol mollasseo (ni yeope maeil itgo sipeunde Everyday ni moksoriga deutgo sipeunde) amudo moreuge dagawaseo naui soneul jabajwo

    meoreojilkkabwa naega sirheojilkkabwa malhago sipeonneunde ibi tteoreojijiga anhasseo

    meoreojilkkabwa na geobi nanabwa hoksirado neowa naui saiga jeongmal eosaekhaejyeo meoreojilkkabwa

    Translation:

    * In case you go far away, in case you might dislike me I wanted to tell you but my lips Would not move

    Without knowing, I call your name When I see you, my heart trembles From the start, I was attracted to your eyes It’s been a while since I started liking you

    Honestly, I know you’re too good for me If it’s not you, I don’t need any other girl, baby

    Do you really like that person? That guy doesn’t know how to love you I would be a better fit than that guy next to you

    Do you really like that love? I’ll wipe away your tears for you Don’t cry and come to me, but I know

    * Repeat

    ** In case you go far away, I am scared What if our relationship gets really awkward And we grow far apart?

    Move now, just disappear because it’s too hard to see you If I let you go like this, I’ll regret it forever Anyone can see that guy is a bad boy who will make you struggle I’ll treat you better baby My heart is bruised at the thought of you getting far away But in your eyes, there’s another guy I wanna break down, I wanna break down, I’m sorry

    Do you really like that love? You don’t look happy I want you to be happy even just for a moment

    Do you really like that person? I’ll wipe away your tears for you Don’t cry and come to me, but I know

    * Repeat

    ** Repeat

    I don’t know I I don’t know I don’t know what I’m feeling I don’t know I I don’t know I don’t know what I’m doing

    I only know you alone If it’s not you, I really might go crazy

    Today, I want to tell you (I want to tell you but it’s not easy) Today, I want to tell you I want to just say it but I know I can’t do it

    I’m so frustrated, I can see that you’re lost At the thought of being alone with you I get happy – but actually I was surprised I didn’t know that you weren’t there by my side (I want to be by your side every day Every day, I want to hear your voice) Without anyone knowing, come to me and hold my hand

    * Repeat

    ** Repeat

    Hangul:

    멀어질까봐 내가 싫어질까봐 말하고 싶었는데 입이 떨어지지가 않았어

    나도 모르게 널 불러 널 보면 내 가슴이 떨려 첨부터 니 눈빛에 끌려 오래 됐어 너를 좋아하게 됐어

    솔직히 니가 내겐 너무 과분한 거 알아 너 말고 다른 여자는 필요 없어 Baby

    정말 그 사람이 좋니 그 남잔 널 사랑할 줄 몰라 니 옆에 그 사람보다 내가 더 잘 어울릴 텐데

    정말 그 사랑이 좋니 니 눈물 내가 대신 닦아줄게 울지 말고 내게로 But I know

    멀어질까봐 내가 싫어질까봐 말하고 싶었는데 입이 떨어지지가 않았어

    멀어질까봐 나 겁이 나나봐 혹시라도 너와 나의 사이가 정말 어색해져 멀어질까봐

    Move now 사라져 보기도 너무 힘들죠 이대로 널 보낸다면 평생 후회 하겠죠 그 남자 누가 봐도 널 힘들게 하는 Bad boy 내가 더 잘해줄게 Baby 멀어져 간다는 생각에 멍이 들어가 내 맘에 아직도 너의 눈가에 다른 남자가 보이네 I wanna break down I wanna break down 미안해

    정말 그 사랑이 좋니 넌 행복해 보이지가 않아 잠깐이라도 니가 행복했으면 좋겠어

    정말 그 사람이 좋니 니 눈물 내가 대신 닦아줄게 울지 말고 내게로 But I know

    멀어질까봐 내가 싫어질까봐 말하고 싶었는데 입이 떨어지지가 않았어

    멀어질까봐 나 겁이 나나봐 혹시라도 너와 나의 사이가 정말 어색해져 멀어질까봐

    I don’t know I I don’t know 나도 모르겠어 이런 감정 I don’t know I I don’t know 내가 무슨 짓을 하는 건지

    나는 너 하나 밖에 몰라 지금 너 아니면 나 미칠지 몰라 나 정말

    오늘은 내게 말하고 싶어 (말하고 싶은데 그게 잘 안되) 오늘은 내게 말하고 싶어 I want to just say it but I know I can’t do it

    정말 답답해 니가 방황되는 게 보여 난 너와 단둘이 있다는 상상에 기분 좋아져 실은 놀랐어 내 옆자리엔 너가 곁에 없었단 걸 몰랐어 (니 옆에 매일 있고 싶은데 Everyday 니 목소리가 듣고 싶은데) 아무도 모르게 다가와서 나의 손을 잡아줘

    멀어질까봐 내가 싫어질까봐 말하고 싶었는데 입이 떨어지지가 않았어

    멀어질까봐 나 겁이 나나봐 혹시라도 너와 나의 사이가 정말 어색해져 멀어질까봐

January 17, 2013

  • Hello 2013!

    Wow ! Life has flown by in one year since I last blogged. I used to do this religiously then I stopped. Then I forgot my password. (A big point why I stopped too.) Then pure laziness.

    Life got in the way etc etc.

    But I am not sure I can blog as much as before, but I do know that looking back at my ramblings and what not, I kind of liked I had this though.

    Things done in 2012:

    1)Continued to write (not this blog though)

    2)Started tutoring English (paid) to Taiwanese family (I still am pinching myself)

    3)17 day trip to South Korea (Yes I got to use my  paltry Korean-at least I was understood!)

    4)Started instagram at friend's insistence

    5)Holidays road tripped to the SOUTH with a treasured big sis /mentor figure (it was hairy at times but awesome)

    6)Kick a BIG kick in the butt by my life coach

    7) Got a nutritionist Erin -yes the Green Smoothie tastes like a liquid form of salad (but that is ok)

    8)Bro came back from stints in Asia and Iraq to Pacific Northwest and came home

    9)Yeah got to see not 1 but 3 Korean Concerts---IU in Seoul (her first one ever as a solo artist) then in NJ -2NE1 and Big Bang

    10)Treasured dongseng Dayoung who is returning to Korea 1/29 so sad

    11)Grateful for friends and family

    12)Organized desk at work and files (after sleeping over and getting 3.5 hours of sleep)

    13) Consulting a client on things (it is awesome)

    14) Strengthened belief in god not religion but god

    15)Expressing more gratitude and being more attuned (again life coaching by big sis MT)

    Of course it was one year there is more but will write more later. Wow feels weird and great at the same time!

November 17, 2011

  • Sprained Ankle

    우경 sprained her ankle yesterday by falling down. So we ended up not meeting up at MFA. But she kept walking around on it when she should not. It was swollen by the time I saw it. My mom told me if it is a sprain (no broken bones) then this can be done to reduce swelling and bruising. Take a little bit of alcohol (drinking) and mix in some sugar. Mix it to dissolve and then have someone else (not yourself) rub it in "hard" for a few minutes. I did it for three minutes. But I tried to ice it up beforehand. (It still hurt alot!)

    Well over night, the swelling was greatly reduced and only see light pink (no bruising colors of yellow, purple, red). It is a trick I learned from my mom. I had personally sprained my ankles many times growing up. The times my mom did not rub it with the Chinese medicine (though the alcohol sugar solution does the trick too), I suffered longer with swelling and bruising.

  • Catching up with a pal

    영복아! 고마워! Always good to catch up with pals! Almost one year ago I met one of my pals through a language partner's bday (one and only Beantown bday bash). He was the lil bro of his best friend! We became friends and I was his only language partner.

    Thanks to technology,  he won't SKYPE but he will do Kakaotalk/ FB Chat because he won't have to speak English. A sophomore, he wants to come back to Boston for JR at BU. (He misses us here in Beantown.) Like all other friends from abroad, they have a tough time and miss their own food, friends and family. So I try to help planning activities or meeting up with them. But in the end when they get back home, they always say they miss Beantown. (I like to think the people too!)

    I cannot wait to try his mom's new Japanese/KR fusion place or check out the sandwich place in Gangnam too. He said he knows alot of good places to eat he wants to tell me or introduce me to when I am in South Korea. I cannot wait! (I won't have enough time which makes me sad!)

    It was good to catch up as he NEVER emails. But he is studying and got good results from his recent midterms last month, so I am happy.

    Take care my friend!

November 4, 2011

  • Sampan-Nov 4,2011-FLOUR BAKERY & CAFE

    A Food Aficionado: Make Life Sweeter… Eat Dessert First!

    by Anna Ing SAMPAN NOV 4, 2011

    Locals in the know have heard of restaurateur, cook book author, pastry chef and owner of Flour Bakery and Café’s Joanne Chang, who has supplied Beantown’s sweet tooth for over a decade with her decadent yet wonderful food and baked goods.

    A Harvard graduate with a double major in Applied Math and Economics, she diligently worked as a consultant in a large international management firm for two years While there, she soon realized that her passion was in baking and not in consulting. Leaving her stable job, she decided to work towards her dream of opening her own bakery.

    To Bostonian’s luck and fortune, Joanne worked and learned the trade from the ground up; first as an apprentice starting out as a bar food cook and then rising through the ranks and learning pastry and dessert making in both Boston and New York. All the while acquiring valuable industry experience.

    Photo by Anna Ing

    After her stint at the famous Payard Bakery in Manhattan, she then returned to Boston and opened her first Flour Bakery and Café just over 11 years ago in the then up-and-coming edge of the South End, close to Mass Avenue. Since then, Flour has blossomed with two more locations opening up in Fort Point Channel and in Central Square.

    Flour Bakery and Café is most famous for their delectable Sticky Buns ($2.95 each) which were showcased on the Food Network’s famed-celebrity-chef Bobby Flay’s show, “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”. Of course, she won! Plus these delicious treats sell out quickly! (Here’s a helpful tip: customers can call to reserve some to pick up later.) Each Sticky Bun has a generous amount of toasted pecans and “goo” aka the sticky sweet caramel sauce which tastes wonderful over the soft, not overly flaky or buttery brioche bread. Washing down all this sticky, sweet goodness with milk is mandatory for me! More recently I discovered Sticky Buns Bread Pudding (not always available) which are also amazing! This combination of eggs and Sticky Buns is a great treat that has a sweet caramel sauce mellowed with a tasty and more custard like edge. Great stuff!

    All of Flour’s mouth-watering baked goods are worth every bite! Favorites such as their Carrot Cake made with raisins, walnuts and spices are wonderful but the best part is the sweet cream cheese frosting. Or check out their yummy Banana Bread ($2.25 each slice) which is packed full of the sweetness from ripe bananas and crunch from the walnut bits. Also available are croissants, tarts, cakes, cookies, muffins and other baked goodies, too.

    Each location also offers refreshments: a wide variety teas, coffees, milk and juices. All of their sandwiches, soups and salads are made fresh and taste delicious plus the menu has everything well labeled as vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian friendly. Each of the three locations is set in a bright and cozy setting with a black board that has a quote of the day as well as the weather forecast written down. Their talented staff (some of whom are talented bakers too) are friendly and knowledgeable. Flour Bakery and Café is a Boston favorite and a must for me to bring out of town friends to for a little taste of sweetness while exploring Boston! Joanne’s favorite motto is very appropriate,” Make life sweeter…eat dessert first!”

October 31, 2011

  • Active Weekend

    Friends joke I keep an active weekend. I guess I do?

    Last Friday I went to GOV'T Center to see the London production 360 of "Peter Pan" and I must say my fave character was Tinkerbell! (She rocked and changed my perception of her compared the sanitized Disney version.)

    Saturday-Checked out on the slushy and cold weather in NYC (I had wet feet the whole day, glad I did not get hypothermia!) Gugganheim, Neue Galerie (Anniversary of the highlights of the collection) and Frick (Special Picasso exhibit and forgot how lovely this place is) and wanted to go to the Whitney but did not have accurate info on its location. Then saw Hugh Jackman in his One Man Show. He rocks and love his enthusiasm, talent, manners and he is just awesome. Along with moi, I was surrounded by many men who were dragged by their wives, girlfriends and relatives. The ride back to Boston was hairy as I was heading back during the height of the snowstorm (20 + north of here) and only 1 inch in Boston area. We had lost our electricity. Thank goodness we had a crankable lantern/radio combo. We could not cook but at least we had our hot water.

    Sunday-Woke up and finally got electricity back on at 9:30am. Caught the Harvard Square Chocolate tour with my pal, which we thought started at 10am but was 11am. (Website and the BUYWITHME coupon were not matching). At least got to try the delish LA Burdick macaroons -their seasonal pumpkin and cinnamon were delicious. We did the 2.5 tour despite it was cold. Then later hit dimsum with friends and then went to Spooky World at Fenway. The highlight was being to be on the playing field. (It was a surreal experience!) That night hung out with my friend, recorded a few things so he could listen to (ESL learner).

    No wonder I thought I got the chills and almost the FLU on  Monday!

October 25, 2011

  • Soup for weak kidneys

    For weak kidneys from here:

    http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060811222948AAadDB5

     

    <<<<<< Spare rib or Pork Soup >>>>>>>

    30g Eucommia ulmoies (杜仲) (you may get it in Chinese herbs shop / medicines shop in China town)
    1 lb of Spare ribs or Pork
    2 slice of fresh ginger
    5 dried red dates
    2 tablespoon of dried longun (龍眼肉)
    10 dried lotus seeds

    1)  Heat some water in a pot, put the spare ribs / pork into the boiling water to boil for 1 to 2 minutes, drain and put the meat under running tap water for a few minutes to wash away the blood and fat

    2)  Boil a big pot of water, put all the ingredients into the boiling water, cover the pot and boil with high heat for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to simmer the soup for 2.5 hours.

    3) Serve with rice or just drink the soup. 

    (you can also fix this soup with skinless Chicken instead of pork)

October 21, 2011

  • Pho So Number 1

    A Food Aficionado – Pho So Number 1

    Remember in grade school, when your teacher told you that quality was more important than quantity? Well, when it comes to finding a good restaurant, that concept is wrong. The more diners at a restaurant, the better the food – obviously – and hands down, some of the Boston area’s most delicious Vietnamese food can be found in Dorchester. To be more specific the “Fields Corner” Red Line train stop has a cluster of Vietnamese Businesses. Just a block away from the “T” stop, is where you can find Pho So 1 Restaurant (223 Adams Street-Near Dorchester Avenue,Dorchester, MA Phone: (617) 474-1999 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (617) 474-1999     end_of_the_skype_highlighting). The decor is simple, colorful with a television broadcasting Vietnamese shows while there are some mirrors. The waitstaff were all very helpful, friendly and greeted you with a smile.

    Photo by Anna Ing

    Their Goi Cuon(fresh springs rolls) have grilled pork and shrimp with generous amounts of vermicelli and lettuce with a slightly thin hoisin-peanut dipping sauce ($3.73 for 2 cut in half). Another appetizer is the cha gio (fried spring rolls) or rather two slender rolls of veggie filled spring rolls $2.95 that tasted great being wrapped with a lettuce leaf and then dipped into the not overly sweet plum sauce added a nice crunch. Both were a nice contrast to each other in both flavor and taste.

    The best item on the menu in the Boston area for this dish is #57 or Com Suon, Bi, Cha-Com 4 Mau (Grilled Vietnamese Pork Chop rice plate)$8.25. At other places you may or may not get a fried egg, but here you get two fried eggs! This fabulous dish has shredded slivers of pork skin, vermicelli egg encrusted steamed pork patty, with the piece de resistance-a delectable grilled cut up pork chop with its bone served over white rice and came with some cucumber slices, carrots, daikon and lettuce. Remember to use the sweet fish dipping sauce over this dish which just enhances the taste especially in the grilled pork chop. It came with a small bowl of clear fragrant soup which was topped with chopped cilantro and scallions pieces.

    One of the most famous exports of Vietnamese food is Pho aka Beef broth noodle soup. Winter is coming, one of the highlights is to get a steaming bowl of Pho which takes hours to make the delicious beef broth with beef bones, various spices, veggies to create a great Pho. If you are a little adventurous check out #26 Pho Dac Biet (Tai Nam Gau Gan Sach)(beef broth noodle soup) $7.95 for an X-Large size satisfies with tendon, rare eye round steak, brisket, flank, and tripe in a slightly sweeter beef broth than usual. The long flat noodles had the right amount of chewiness which enhanced the eating experience. Veggies are given separately to add to your hearts content-basil, lime segments, and bean sprouts. At the table, patrons can add to their Pho- hoisin sauce(Chinese dipping sauce) and sriracha sauce (Thai chili sauce from Si Racha originally used for seafood dishes but the US version differs from the original Thai version)which is a kitchen staple in many Asian households. Personally, being able to taste the purity of the beef broth is the key to appreciating the loving care and time used to make it.

    After stuffing our bellies with this healthy, delicious meal, we were satisfied. Plus our wallets did not suffer too much either which is always a plus. So go check out Pho So 1 which is open everyday from 8am til 10pm.

October 17, 2011

  • Parcel 24 announcement

    Governor, mayor announce funding for Chinatown housing
    development

     Posted by Jeremy C. Fox  October 17, 2011 12:27 PM

     

    Gov Patrick in Chinatown.jpg

    (Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com)

     

    Governor Deval Patrick spoke at a ceremony announcing city,
    state, and federal support for a 345-unit mixed-income housing development to be
    constructed in Chinatown.

     

     

     

    By Jeremy C. Fox, Town Correspondent

     

    An empty lot on the edge of Chinatown, once a vibrant section of brick
    rowhouses and small businesses, will soon be reborn as a mixed-income
    development the governor says will double the number of affordable housing units
    in the neighborhood.

     

    Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino led a ceremony Monday morning
    to herald the development and announce $10 million in city and state funds and
    an additional $3 million in state and federal tax credits for the project. The
    state and federal support is part of a package of $64.5 million for this and 24
    other projects across Massachusetts.

     

    “With a variety of city, state, and federal supports alongside private
    financing, this project will provide a new space for residents of Chinatown to
    live, work, and play, doubling the number of affordable housing units in
    Chinatown and creating some 700 construction jobs while we’re at it,” Patrick
    said.

     

    Patrick said cooperation was the key to making the new development a reality.

     

    “We are working together, here in this commonwealth, across government lines,
    between the government and the private sector, with neighborhood groups and
    others, to invest in education, in innovation, and in infrastructure projects
    just like this because we believe we have to be about shaping our future,” he
    said. “Not just waiting for better times, but building them right now.”

     

    The empty lot, which sits east of Hudson Street below Kneeland, was
    designated by the state as Parcel 24 during the Big Dig. The land had previously
    contained blocks of housing occupied by a diverse community of Chinese, Syrian,
    and Lebanese immigrants, 300 of whom were displaced when the state took the land
    in 1962 for construction of a ramp connecting to the Central Artery.

     

    City Councilor Bill Linehan, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, and State
    Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz also attended the ceremony, standing alongside Richard
    A. Davey, Massachusetts secretary of transportation, and Nancy Brennan,
    executive director of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, which
    manages the parks constructed across most of the other land when where the
    Central Artery once stood. More than 100 Chinatown residents and others also
    attended.

     

    The Parcel 24 development is a joint venture between the
    Asian Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit serving the local
    Asian-American community, and New Boston Fund Inc., a real estate investment
    company.

     

    Michael Tow, president of the board of the community development corporation,
    recalled hearing as a young boy at his grandmother’s knee of the family’s life
    at 72 Hudson St. before their home and others were demolished. She told stories
    of a close-knit community where her sons happily played games like kick-the-can
    and where she could stand at her window to watch them walk to school each
    morning.

     

    “However, more often than not, these stories would end with some reference to
    that terrible day when the families of the even-numbered side of the street got
    that notice posted on their doors,” Tow said. “The injustices that occurred, the
    gross mispricing of value to homeowners, the unimaginable short time frame to
    relocate, the taking advantage of a lack of representation and community voice,
    and the steamrolling of due process.”

     

    Tow recalled visiting the neighborhood in his childhood, when his great-uncle
    and great-aunt still lived across the street at 79 Hudson St.

     

    “What was once a thriving and lively community [was replaced with] beer cans
    and trash and abandoned furniture, and all kinds of waste and debris in front of
    a huge, graffitied, dirty, crumbling concrete wall that stood as high as the
    homes all across the street, that imprisoned the community and our street,” he
    said. “Now I’m not an expert on feng shui, but having a nasty concrete wall in
    front of your house can’t be good chi.”

     

    Tow said that he was proud to be part of the community development
    corporation and the effort to return the east side of Hudson Street to the
    community, calling it a “truly transformative project.”

     

    The development will contain 200 market-rate apartments, 50 affordable
    condominiums, and 95 affordable apartments, 10 of which will be set aside for
    families transitioning out of homelessness. It will also include 5,500 square
    feet of ground-floor retail, 6,000 square feet of community space, and a
    courtyard of about 13,600 square feet.

     

    Menino said the project was the result of the city, state, and private
    developers coming together toward a common goal and that “today we have a
    project that we can all be proud of.”

     

    “Right here today, we’re going to create 95 affordable units, create
    construction jobs,” Menino said. “That’s what we’re all about: creating more
    jobs in our community, creating more affordable units also.”

     

    The $130 million Chinatown development will receive $6.5 million in state
    funds, $2 million in federal low-income-housing tax credits, $1 million in state
    tax credits, and $3.5 million in city funds. Construction on the first phase of
    the two-building development is scheduled to begin next spring and expected to
    be complete by 2014.

     

    Email Jeremy C. Fox at
    jeremycfox@gmail.com.
    .

     

    Menino in Chintatown.jpg

    (Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com)

     

    Mayor Thomas M. Menino spoke as Janelle Chan, executive
    director of the Asian Community Development Corporation; Governor Deval Patrick;
    Kirk Sykes, president of the Urban Strategy America Fund; Michael Tow, president
    of ACDC’s board; and community members looked on.

October 7, 2011

  • Bon Chon offers a Korean Twist on Fried Chicken!

    A Food Aficionado – Bon Chon offers a Korean Twist on Fried Chicken!

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    There has been a big void for Bon Chon lovers since the Allston lounge, Privus, closed its doors over a year ago. However, thanks to some former Privus employees Bon Chon is back and it has moved a block away into the former Toki Shabu Shabu space [123 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134(617) 254-8888 www.bonchon.com]. Since earlier this year, the new and improved Bon Chon has been flourishing (their menu selection surpasses its New York City sibling, with even more selections slated to come!)

    Their extensive menu offers a variety of Japanese and Korean favorites as well as a selection of Asian inspired cocktails, beers, and wines. The place is always hopping and the atmosphere hasn’t changed much from its predecessor – maintaining the dark and white modern, upscale décor. Also, there is a bar area by the entrance and televisions are everywhere with pulsating music coming out of speakers, so the noise level can be a little loud.

    Photo by Anna Ing

    Bon Chon hails from Busan, South Korea and was started in 2002. In 2007, the first stateside location opened up in New Jersey and within three years, another 18 locations have sprouted up with one in Boston.

    What is Bon Chon you ask? Well, to fans (like myself) it is skinless chicken (strips/wings/drumsticks) ($9.95 up to $33.95) breaded and twice fried to crispy perfection – glazed with either a spicy or soy garlic sauce. Beware though: the spicy style packs a subtle kick that can be overwhelming for some after a wing or two! Think of Bon Chon as similar to the American-staple Buffalo wings, but with a distinctive crispy coating (spicy style) and boy is Korea’s answer to the all-American favorite fried chicken delicious and addictive! Bon Chon drumsticks tend to be bigger and a little on the dry-side compared to the juicer wings and even though it is twice fried, there is not a trace of the expected greasiness.  Another pleasant surprise is that the chicken holds its crispiness for a long time! Hours or even three days later when reheated, the crunch is retained! Amazing! Four sizes are available with the option for combo (both flavors) with the exception of small. On a hot summer day, a plate of Bon Chon and a cold beer go well together! Two sides – a lovely slaw superior to its counterpart coleslaw as well as pickled daikon (white radish) cubes are served to soothe diners’ tongues from the spiciness. For convenience, a pail is given to collect the chicken bones.

    For starters, we got the Seafood Scallion Pancake ($12.95), a lovely pancake studded with scallions, shrimp and squid served with an accompanying soy dipping sauce-delicious! Nice and crispy on the outside, but the food had the right amount of chewiness. Next came our maki rolls-Spider Maki (Soft shell crab) $8.95, Caterpillar Maki (Unagi and avocado) $7.95 and regular Tekka Maki (Tuna). The rolls hit the spot while they were quickly devoured and enjoyed by our group. The ingredients were fresh and the rice did not easily fall apart.

    Photo by Anna Ing

    Bon chon is slowly gaining a cult following! Ever since my first bite of Bon Chon in Annandale a few years ago, Bon Chon has become a fave of mine!  The chicken and food comes out pretty quickly. The service here can be a bit slow because it is busy.  Our server was pleasant, but she did forget our drink order. Next time you want fried chicken, go check out what all the fuss is about, but be forewarned of the busy lines at night!