Best Naengmyun in Koreatown?

There I said it.

The search is over. 

I think I may have found the best naengmyun in LA.

I'm a self-professed naengmyun freak.  I will travel long distances and pay good money....  Just give me a delicious bowl of naengmyun and I will dance on tables.

Their big signs and pictures of the $9.99 naengmyun & kalbi specials have caught my eye, especially those times I came to shop at Zion Market next door. 

But nope, I never gave them a chance.

Until just recently!

The naengmyun here is fantabulouslyf*ckinpureawesomenessgoingon...
The broth is spot on:  light, flavorful, slightly tangy & sweet..
Noodles are thin, chewy...  just perfect.
And they give you a HUGE bowl. 

To top it off, the LA galbi is also very good. 

It's a little bit on the fatty side, but the flavor is just right. 

I would say it's about 3 strips of meat.  

Nicely grilled. 

This combination is perfect...  All for a bargain basement price of $9.99.. 
Can we all say YAY?

And as an added bonus, I think the kimchi here is near perfection. 

It will appeal to the masses..  They don't include it for the combination but will happily serve it if you ask for it.

The restaurant itself is nice, upscale, and modern.

And they give you about 3 delicious banchans with your  combo.

I am complete now.

Thank you cousin for inviting me to lunch =)

SO HYANG

3435 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA  90010

Semi Mounts 101

I go through semi mounts like I go through cars.  Basically, I've changed mine at least a couple times in the past few years.  Buyers remorse...  new trends...  But thank god my husband doesn't mind (well, I am a gemologist after all!) as long as I keep my center diamond..

So what is a semi mount, you ask??  Well, it's basically a ring set with surrounding diamonds (or some other precious/semi-precious stone), but the center stone is empty...  Almost all jewelry stores carry them and all you have to do is pick a style you love and have your center stone set.. 

My remorse for my existing setting is that my beautiful center stone is a cushion cut, which is basically a rounded corner square cut...  Kinda like a pillow, soft and aesthetically beautiful.  But, it was set in a square semi-mount so it looked like a princess cut (which too are beautiful cuts by the way!).

See what I mean?  Well so my cousin and I decided to change our semi-mount settings.  The trend these days is rose gold which yes, is pinkish in color and and just evokes romanticism...  So, this is the semi-mount that I chose.

It looks blah and so hard to imagine how the finished product will look.  You need to work with a good jeweler who can make sure that your existing stone will fit the setting.  A bad jeweler will make the impossible work temporarilyl, but the problems  will occur later.  i.e., loose diamond, weak prongs..  So please be careful!!

Makes me smile!

My cousin's new rose mounting for her princess cut..  STUNNING!!

Classy..  Romantic.. Absolutely Byu Tee Full!!!

Same diamond, different semi-mount = Two happy ladies...  Now my cushion looks pillowy soft =)  My cousin is just as happy.  We are clicking our heels =))

So here are my tips:

1.  Work with a reputable jeweler

2.  Make sure you check your diamond after the work is done to make sure it's the same diamond and hasn't been chipped in the process..  That's why most diamonds have certificates, people!

3.  Make sure Step you do step 2!!!!

Labor Day BBQ party!

The worst thing to happen at a party is to run out of food...  Especially if it's a party that I am throwing.  (Imagine the horror!)  So we hosted a bbq/pasta party to celebrate the final stretch of what left in Summer 2012 and the exact opposite happened.  I cooked way too much food for a group of 25..  I could have fed 50!  Good news is that almost everyone took home leftovers....

Veggie sticks

Ranch and Korean Chojang

Quinoa Salad

red pepper, arugula, cucumber, avocado, corn, & red onion

Toasted Pinenut Pesto Spaghetti

This is ALWAYS a hit!

Linguine with pancetta, sweet corn, roasted tomatoes, and mushroom

Gorgonzola & marscapone cheese in a white wine reduction

The sweet fruits of summer 2012

You will be missed!!

Also on the menu were salame & cheese platters, fried dumplings, pork fried rice, marinated flank steaks, hot links, italian sausages, and the best grilled chicken ever!!

(made by a friend!)

Good times, good food, good friends, good weather, lots of food and lots of leftovers.

And of course, lots of fine wine and cold beer.

Picture perfecto!