The Second Best in Seoul (서울서 둘째로 잘하는집)

With a flu threatening to happen. 

And a drizzle that just started,

we finally found Beans Bin in Samcheongdong.

But that could wait.

Because just across the street you'd find a humble eatery with a not-so-humble namesake.

Loosely translated,

they've called themselves the second best in Seoul.

十全大补汤

I am assuming that this means you'd find a mix of ten ingredients in this bowl of herbal remedy.

We spotted pine nuts, walnuts, red date and tasted a hint of tangerine peel.

And it is served with candied ginger peel because it could be too bitter tasting for some.

Daddy gulped most of it down but he was not a happy camper. :(

And this,

was why we decided to head on in.

Patjuk 팥죽

Pat- Red beans

Juk- Porridge

Traditionally eaten by Koreans on Winter Solstice,

which was the day with the longest hours of darkness.

It was believed to be a day where the yin is stronger than the yang which made it the best time for evil spirits to roam the human world.

Patjuk albeit a simple bowl of red beans is a symbol of the sun, fire, blood, strength and life- the very much needed yang in order to attain equilibrium.

Health wise, 

this is a bowl of nutritional yum.

Red beans stimulate the internal organs and helps in the cleansing of toxins.

And this stall serves it with a massive saealshim 새알심

a glutinous rice ball that was delightfully soft and sticky.

They only serve the unseasoned version so in case you're unprepared for this dessert, 

you have been told here to expect it to be savoury instead of sweet!

This bowl of velvety red bean dessert costs 6000 won and comes topped with cinnamon powder, chestnuts and gingko nut.

Without a comparison of what ranks first in the league of patjuks,

this was a pretty decent traditional dessert break in the boho art enclave of the Samcheongdong district.

:)

Catch the local bus service number 11 from Gyeongbokgung Station for just three stops (if my memory serves me well) and you'll find yourself conveniently alighting a few steps away from this shop.

The Second Best in Seoul (Seoureseo Duljjaero Jalhaneunjip 서울서 둘째로 잘하는집)
Address: South Korea Seoul Jongno-gu Samcheong-dong 28-21 서울시 종로구 삼청동 28-21