Foodie Day in Suwon / Cake and History

 

YouTube video

A slice of cake with a slice of history

What was meant to only be one cup of coffee turned into a foodie exploration of Suwon, South Korea. Coffee and sumptuous cake with the most AMAZING views ever of the Hwaseong Fortress (Unesco World Heritage Sight), followed by deliciously cheesy pizza and a beer.

First stop in Suwon, Cafe One More… I found this cafe on Mango plate. (see the link below) The creamy vanilla and grapefruit cake was light and fluffy. The banana & chocolate cake I enjoyed combined decadent rich chocolate and banana, all washed down with a lovely latte of course.

 

The decor is peacefully minimalist, but accents of marble, bronze cutlery and quirky art sketches are scattered throughout, providing the atmosphere with character. The cafe is elevated so the view of the fortress from the windows is amazing. In the warmer months, they open up the roof top terrace. I am so going back in summer (if not sooner) to sit on the rooftop and enjoy a slice of toast with smashed avocado.

“Hwaseong Fortress was constructed under the guidance of Yu Hyeong-Won (1622-1673) and Jeong Yak-Yong (1762-1836), and is believed to have been constructed very scientifically. The fortress wall was built using Seokjae and Jeondol (bricks) and the holes between the bricks are just big enough to fire guns, arrows, or long spears through in case of an attack.

“The … Fortress went through many turbulent times and damage, and in the battle of June 25th, many of the facilities became so damaged that they were deemed irreparable. Even though the fortress restoration initiative (1975-1979) restored many of the sites to their former glory, Paldalmun to Dongnamgakru (an area 491 meters in length) has still not been renovated. ” (Visitkorea.co.kr)

The views of the fortress alone are worth making a trip to Suwon, and I highly recommend enjoying a slice of cake with your slice of history.

We walked around town and stopped to browse some stores, and one selling stunning handmade leather bags, caught my eye. My sister could so have added to her already extensive bag collection here. After more walking and exploring, we had the hungries, and opted to have lunch at John and Jeans Pizza bar, a New York inspired Pizza bar with bright colours and delicious pizzas on offer. I am a serious cheese fan, so I always hope for a chef with a heavy cheese hand. Thankfully, the chef at John & Jeans must have read my mind.

I hope the vlog from my day (above) will inspire you to get your history on, (and enjoy all of the associated benefits). If it’s a summer day, we may bump into each other. Be sure to say Hi.

Be sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and to this blog here to stay updated with my explorations.

Hwaseong Fortress: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264204

Cafe One More: https://www.mangoplate.com/en/restaurants/COsLbZPKRQEd

John and Jean Pizza:
https://www.mangoplate.com/en/restaurants/mnXpJw3oz2ce