Kimchi Jjigae

Seoul, January 2011 in Vienna, Austria

Imaging a cold winter night, it’s windy and raining outside or snowing or sometimes both. You went into this very crowded small restaurant, and as soon as you opened the door, the warm steamy air along with the smell of mouth-watering food came into your face. The hot Kinchi Jjigae (Korean stew-like hot pot) was still boiling when served. The tofu and the thinly-sliced pork belly meat soaked up the rich flavor of the kimchi soup….

This is why I always go back to this small place again and again, when the service is even not very friendly!

Tonkatsu – Japanese Pork Cutlet

Katsukura, September 2010 in Kyoto, Japan

Tonkatsu is breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet and a popular dish in Japan, often served with shredded cabbage. Katsukura on Kyoto’s busiest shopping district Kawaramachi (河原町) is the most famous restaurant for Tonkatsu in Kyoto. Each customer gets a mortar and pestle to grind fresh sesame and mix it into the special sauce for the pork.

Here in the picture is a tonkatsu menu with seasonal yuba (Tofu skin) rolls.

Poêlée de cochon de lait mariné d’épices à tandoori

LEDOYEN, January 2010 in Paris, France

Pan-fried milk pork marinated in Tandoori spices.

Wine suggested by the head sommelier: Clos Marie Cuvée Simon 1999 in Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup.

*Michelin Guide 

Filet of Pork with Artichoke and Chervil Purée

Aubergine wien, March 2009 in Vienna, Austria

Listed in magazine’s “Geheimtipp” (insiders’ tip in German), Aubergine is a small restaurant where one passes by thinking it’s a wine bar. They have some good choices of wine, the cuisine is of a certain quality, but this pork filet is quite pricy considering its small size (real size approximately equals to the photo).