T.G.I.P.! Thank God It's Patpingsu!

No, it's not 'Thank God, it's Pri-day'! (Although it's Friday today!).

It's....'Thank God it's patpingsu!

The summer is in full swing in Korea, and everyone melting in this heat just wanted something cold to cool things down.

I discovered Dongbinggo's famous patpingsu last summer. And this year, I rediscovered it again! Luckily, Ichon-dong is just a bus ride or in today's case, just a short drive away! My good friend Seung-ho, who happened to be in the neighborhood, was kind enough to drive me to Ichon-dong during a noon-time break and let me enjoy a bowl of Dongbinggo's patpingsu!

(They gave us 2 spoons, but I only needed one. 

It's all mine!)

(A couple of tteok squares, nut powder and a mound of red bean paste sitting on top of snowy, milky, crushed ice)

During weekend, I heard the lines are long outside this shop. People from the neighborhood, and many a lot more from outside the Yongsan District drive over to Ichon-dong to taste Dongbinggo's famous patpingsu. A few times, I noticed a few foreigners (and one even today!) getting a table and ordering from the variety of patpingsu menu.

Me? As long as it's sweetened red bean with milky ice shavings on a bowl, I'm a happy, thankful human being.

         (Yes, it's all for me! When it comes to my desserts, 
                              I'm selfish! Ha-ha-ha!)

Thankful for this patpingsu, and happy to enjoy it!  So, are you also getting your bowl of icy patpingsu today? And do you actually think of sharing it? Ha-ha-ha!

Here's my last year's blog on Dongbinggo for directions and more...icy pictures!

              (They use 100% locally grown adzuki beans.)

I Know Where To Get My Patbingsu Fix! Do You?

I used to think Paris Croissant in Hannam-dong served the best patbingsu. Last summer, I dropped by this cafe and enjoyed a huge bowl full of ice shavings, sweetened tteok and sweet red beans. But when I went up there on the second floor one Saturday afternoon to order one, I was disappointed. The image of the patbingsu sitting on my table was so different from the giant patbingsu photograph on their wall. The photograph was flowing with red beans. Mine was, well, I had to search into the ice shavings for the red beans. I complained and decided I won't return to Paris Croissant again for a patbingsu.

Luckily, there's another cafe that serves a better version of patbingsu in the neighborhood, Coffine Gurunaru! Their patbingsu is much more interesting: a scoop of sweetened red beans, two slices of sweet green melon, slices of sweet tteok, chips of almond and a flavored powder, all on a bowl of milky ice shavings. Although it's pricey, it's worth crossing to the other side of Hannam-dong! And they have strong wi-fi and seats with a view!

Actually, this summer delight in Korea can be quite heavy; a meal unto itself. That's why some people share it. But for me, if it's yummy, I'd rather have it for myself. Ha-ha-ha!