I should have known. With the influx of tourists and savvy locals, Bangkok has no lack of ("outstanding") cafes vying for customers' attention and dollars. As a girl, I always had a fascination with pink, well, until I had my first taste of pink fever syrup at the age of 7, which left me with a "bad" association. I digress. But well things have changed and now anything to do with pink triggered my fancy especially when it comes to food and interior spaces.

The Pink Planter x Bonca collaboration may have since been over but the cafe has a new series lined up currently if you head on to their official Instagram account. Regardless, the pinkish tones of the cafe remain much of a highlight for girls ( and guys) and I will strongly recommend you to head over when you are in Bankok the next time around.

I ordered the macaron sandwich ice cream for 125baht which was around 5Sgd with the Elmo face and Hokkaido Milk ice cream when I was there last August. If you are particular about taste this is definitely not one of them. The combination was overly sweet and fairly of the ice cream norm, but adorable for sure. For the gram and experience, it is definitely worthy to pay this pinkish cafe a visit!

So cute. Easy location too. 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/pinkplanter.cafe/

Location: 3F, matchbox pinkplanter siam square soi 7

Nearest BST: Siam

Alter alighting, cut through Siam Square One

I rekindled my love for Busan when I brought my parents to Korea this time around. Too much K-drama I presume has made everyone romanticize about this country. And so I "warned" my parents about the realities of Korea. More about that in a later post.

Now, I present you 5 must-visit places when travelling with families/parents if you have at least 2 to 3 days which will be more than suffice. I have covered all there is to see in Busan and will not be returning again.

Here's our itinerary for Busan which may also suit you if you are intending to bring your older folks on a free-and-easy trip:

Japan Gourmet Hall Sora

Hey foodies! If you have not already heard, Changi Airport Terminal 2's brand new Japanese Gourmet food hall, Sora, opened its doors on 14 November, capturing every Japanese foodies' heart. The spacious food hall sits about 300 diners and is the largest restaurant across the four terminals in Changi Airport. 

I did hesitate over Taejongdae, wondering if it was worth the trip and effort to head there, especially with my parents in hand. Turned out to be a wonderful treat of the coastal line in Busan. The view was splendid and I recommend you to head out there if you have the time.

As Autumn looms in Korea, the temperature in Seoul turned significantly much colder than its cousins in the south. So it came as no surprise that the autumn foliage started from the north before gradually progressing to the south to regions like Busan and Jeju.

Taste Tapas in Zaragoza! 

If you want to have a true taste of the city's gastronomy flavors, then step right in. The locals have a true passion for tapas, which has evolved in recent decades. There are spots everywhere in the city, offering tapas. The El Tubo district in the old quarter is one of the main areas where people gather for tapas. We went on a tapas gastronomy tour with our tapas card in hand! The locals love their food and international cuisines just as much. Each neighborhood has its own tapas areas and as such, tapas joints are often grouped together as locals love to go around tapas-hopping rather than just having tapas at one establishment.

Tapeo

Tapeo is the local colloquial equivalent to bar-hopping for tapas. This is the time when people gather for a quick bite and drink, usually in groups and while standing. Although things have changed and there are now tapas menus or medium plates to share while seated, locals are still inclined to having their tapas eaten at a bar, which is less formal and of course, cheaper. 

1. El Ángel Del Pincho

Address: Jordán De Urries, 5 TEL: 976 39 30 49 

Other than just vegetables coated in batter and deep-fried, what was special was the use of  Zaragoza's local produce - Borraja.  It was definitely very intriguing to spot this big leafy vegetable which was almost as long as our face. Plus point, it tasted really yummy! 

Address: Calle Estébanes, 9, 50003 Zaragoza, Spain

The most traditional dish in Aragon

Here we had our taste of the "Ternasco de Aragon" lamb. You can't miss this when in Zaragoza, Aragon, awarded as the best meats you can enjoy. The quality of the sheep breeds, the excellent weather conditions for which the sheep are reared, the research and development that goes into the rearing procedures, all made up for a typical Aragonese lamb experience. You don't have to travel far because Zaragoza is where you can have them.
Simply grilled and lightly flavored with sea salt. This is the Aragon Lamb at its best. 

More sightings around the Tapas neighbourhood.

Our 3rd Stop brought us to a unique tapas bar with a vintage touch.

Tapas Culture

Tapas are appetizers or snacks and a prominent presence in Spanish cuisine culture, especially so in Zaragoza. They can be hot and cold; cooked in different methods; filled with different ingredients. Tapas play the important role as a complement to wines or beer. Basically, if lunch is a quick affair for anyone, it will be to hear to a bar or tapas joint, order some tapas with a beer and back to work.
It is important to understand Spanians have their dinner mostly from 9pm onwards and thus in between off-work time to dinner time, bar-hopping for tapas has become a common affair.

Small tapas usually cost around 2€ per piece.

 Each Zaragoza Tapas Card purchased includes 4 four tapas ( 1 at each establishment) and a glass of beer, wine or water at any of the nine tapas places. Now the hardest part will be to choose which four to go to? Hmm. The Zaragoza Tapas Card is valid for 72 hours and costs 13€.

Here's what we had at La Republicana.

4. Las Palomas Buffet & Tapas

The sweetest way to discover Zaragoza is to purchase the Chocopass at the Zaragoza Tourism Offices. Each voucher entitles you to enjoy five specialties from a choice of establishments. A true chocolate experience! 9Euros each.

It was great fun snapping at the chocolates! Drool as you scroll below. 

If you are planning to head to Piedra Monastery in Nuevalos, 100km from Zaragoza, you should definitely get this pass, as it includes a special tasting in this monastery, crowned as the first place in Europe where chocolate was consumed.

C/ Don Jaime I, 21 - Zaragoza  

Fantoba is a historical old shop specialising in chocolates, sweets, candies and has been around since the 19th century. The decoration of the shop's intricate interior has remained and passed done from the main designer Ricardo Magalena. Today, constant R&D ensures that the products stay relevant and innovative while retaining the traditional artisan recipes. 

It may be a small little shop but it has all the quaint, vintage elements that will bound to delight the inner-child in you.

Guess who I spotted? A kitty with no mouth.

Next Stop: 

C/ Torrenueva, 29   Zaragoza.

Another shop with strong historical background since 1919. Montal has prided itself for the good quality and excellent standard as a gourmet specialist and is one of the gastronomic references in Aragon. This family business is now in its 4th generation.

On first look, this shop looks like a typical gourmet shop selling cheese, meat cuts, sausages. Probe in further and you will discover a cellar stashing an extensive range of wine and has one of the largest wineries in Europe. 

Located at the front of the store, this is where customers can come in to select whatever gourmet produce they want and experience the all-attentive services by the staff. 

The Cellar

Not only can you purchase wines you can requesting for tastings, organizing dinners in the restaurant on the 2nd level. It's akin to being in a library of, not books, but wine. 

EXCLUSIVE! A Mini Museum

The opportunity came for us when we entered into this mini private museum showcasing the splendor collection of Torre Nueva — the famous Mudéjar leaning tower in Zaragoza. The collection was amassed over generations and decades within the family. History: The leaning tower was located in the current Plaza de San Felipe before its demolishing in 1892. 

Why the interest in assembling a huge collection of the leaning tower by the founders? That's because Montal is located right in front of where this leaning tower used to be; bearing a great significance for the family.

We met the current 4th generation owner, Nacho Montal, who showed and guided us on this amazing tour inside Montal.

There are many photographs, drawings, paintings of the leaning tower,  It was pure amazing as I soaked in the fascinating private collection.
 If you love history, this is it. 

 

The Restaurant 

Situated at the 2nd level, the dine-in concept was added in only in the last 30 years and offers customers exclusive, fine-dining experience for special events with their in-house chefs. This part of the building was, in fact, part of a Reinassance Aragonese palace and was restored by the Montals. 

Pick up a loving chocolate of the Torre Nueva on your way out.

I hope you have enjoyed this article to give you some insights of where you can try out some Aragonese Tapas, wines and chocolates, specialties of Zaragoza, when in the city.

Leave me a comment! How do you like Tapas?


*We were guests of Zaragoza Tourism but opinions are my own.

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