By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Being one of the most popular horror characters of all time, vampires are not only known by their sharp fangs and pale complexions, but also their fear of garlic. But it's one of the most-loved ingredients to Korean and Italian cuisine.
Mad for Garlic is a ``wine and garlic bistro'' with an Italian twist. The fancy restaurant offers more than 40 Italian dishes that are well incorporated with garlic. It also offers more than a hundred varieties of wine to choose from.
There's a total of eight outlets in Seoul, Mokdong's being the latest.
When you enter the Mokdong branch, decorated with garlic bulbs, or course, it seems like you just walked into an underground wine cellar, or even that of a vampire. The lights are dimly lit with a dark yet cozy atmosphere and the music varies from gentle jazz to classic.
The restaurant lavishes a display of wine bottles and garlic, which are decorated across the ceiling and walls.
We ordered some of the restaurant's favorites, the Sauteed Fresh Mussel (14,800 won), the Crab and Lobster Pasta (15,800 won) and Cacciatore steak (28,800 won).
The mussel dish was generous. Instead of those little mussels that just give you a short preview of the seafood, this dish was full of taste and shells. The dish was enough to experience the chewy and delicate texture of the mussels with the spicy tomato sauce sauteed with onions and, of course, garlic.
The pasta was delicious and the spaghetti noodles were soft and chewy, while the crab and lobster flesh were tender and rich in aroma. The garlic creme sauce had a hint of garlic and was enough to compliment the overall texture of the pasta. The amount was not overwhelming and would be perfect for a side dish to a steak or a pizza.
The Cacciatore is a dish of steak with herbs, mushrooms and onions, sprinkled with balsamic dressing. Due to the dressing and onions, the sauce did seem to be sweeter than expected, but it still went well with the soft steak. According to the waiters, this particular dish is popular with women, with its sweet sauce and fresh herbs. Men, on the other hand, prefer the Garlic Steak (29,800 won), which is basically rib eye with cooked garlic generously decorated around the edges. The staff said that the Garlic Steak was a bit stronger in taste and also aroma, so those who seek to delve into the real world of garlic should choose this delicacy.
Another favorite among fans is the Gorgonzola Pizza (15,600 won). The pizza has a strong aroma, too strong for some, but comes with a small side dish of sweet honey. It may be an adventure for beginners, but ardent fans say that there is not anything quite like it.
Although most of the recipes are not that strong in garlic, it may be a good idea to check your breath after the meal. For those who are worried, the restaurant offers mint mouthwash in the restrooms that will give you a quick rinse from the garlicky scent.
The restaurants are open 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The Mokdong location is near Omokgyo Station on Subway Line 5, exit 2. Walk straight and turn right until you see the Lotte Building. Mad for Garlic is one story below Lotte Shopping.
For more information, visit www.madforgarlic.com (in English, Japanese and Chinese) or call 2061-1191