Joo Gained left his native South Korea to undertake classical French coaching at Galvin at Home windows on Park Lane, the place throughout his seven years as head chef, he maintained the restaurant’s Michelin star. A analysis journey to Seoul re-connected him with Korean delicacies and he launched Calong as a pop-up in 2021. Now, the idea has discovered a everlasting residence, bringing a fusion of Korean methods and European elements to Stoke Newington.
Wallpaper* dines at Calong, London
The temper: If Busan made bistros
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Calong)
‘Calong’ is a Korean phrase from Gained’s hometown of Busan, which, he says, ‘means being hip, stylish and dressed as much as showcase.’ Don’t take him an excessive amount of at his phrase, although. The cosy 30-seat eating room, which Gained designed along with his spouse Sujin, seems like a snug bistro-wine bar, with brick partitions and bentwood chairs illuminated by Tala lamps and every day’s menu chalked up on a blackboard. A few tables are at all times stored for walk-ins in case you haven’t booked forward.
The meals: Korean change
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Calong)
Gained’s coaching could also be in effective eating, however his cooking has taken a extra informal flip right here, remaining not like another Korean meals in London. European cooking and elements are given a definite Korean accent within the likes of the signature dish of rice baked in a clay pot with combined mushrooms, with a dollop of brown butter melting within the center and served with soy sauce infused with roasted greens: candy, salty and savoury multi functional mouthful. Pressed brawn with bossam mooli, in the meantime, is the form of wine bar small plate that’s precision-tuned to match the snappy record of all-organic drinks, primarily low-intervention wines, sourced from small producers.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Calong)
Calong is positioned at 35 Stoke Newington Church St, London N16 0NX, United Kingdom; calonglondon.com
Supply: Wallpaper
