Seoul Searching | Hyundai City Outlets.

We visited Hyundai City Outlets last winter upon the recommendation of my Korean friend, Bong Sun unni, who owns the Filipino store in our neighborhood. Knowing my penchant for sneakers, she told me to drop by 'this new mall in Dongdaemun' where there's a crazy sale on shoes. And so off to Dongdaemun we did, with hopes of finding a pair of Jordan 11 Space Jam in my size.

Hyundai City Outlets.

Huge Christmas tree near the entrance.

Huge tops that kids can sit on and play with. 

More of Hyundai City Outlets after the jump!

Foodie Goodie | Binggrae Ice Cream.

From yesterday's 26 degrees Celsius, the temperature dropped to 24 degrees today making the cold winds even colder than the usual. But the chilly weather does not and will not stop me from enjoying my favorite ice cream. In fact, I did the grocery today and bought a few packs of my beloved Binggrae. Good thing they're in stock at the Puregold branch nearby! :)

Korea's #1 ice cream brand, Binggrae is currently being sold in various countries around the world, including the Philippines. There are several ice cream products under the Binggrae brand, which includes the ever-popular 'Melona' ice pops. Launched in 1992, these melon-flavored popsicles have the bragging rights as the best-selling popsicles in South Korea with more than 280 million bars sold since its debut.

Melona!

Aside from ice pops, Binggrae also has ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches in their product line. Personally, I prefer the ice cream sandwiches over the bars and pops and these ones are my (our) favorites.

Samanco and Melona Ice Waffle.

Samanco Ice Cream Sandwich is a fish-shaped, waffle sandwich. Inside the fish is a creamy combination of vanilla ice cream and red bean paste. This ice cream is actually based off a popular street food called bungeobbang, which is actually Korea's version of Japan's taiyaki.

Here fishy fishy!

If the red bean thing isn't to your liking, you may opt for the chocolate or strawberry-flavored ones under the Melona brand. They sell for the same price as the Samanco one - Php 47 a pop.

Pangtoa, on the other hand, is ice cream sandwiched in soft chiffon cake. They sell for Php 55 each and comes in three different flavors, two of which I have tried. I like how these ice cream sandwiches have just the right sweetness - not too light, not cloying either. Personally, I prefer the Cookies and Cream variant over the Choco Chiffon, though my son thinks otherwise.

Pangtoa Cookies 'N Cream.

Soft and moist chiffon cake + cookies and cream.

Pangtoa Choco Chiffon.

Chocolate in chocolate.

Well, there goes my diet! Haha!
Have you tried these ice cream brands before? What's your favorite ice cream?