Oh, this year’s Korean Food Festival was a disappointment! Not only was it drizzling when I arrived at around noon but there were only three stands.
Three?! What a let down after the two previous years! Could this be the effect of the credit crunch or as Jonny suggested here, a result of the dismal weather forecast? Oh well, my brother and I made the most of it and had some spicy fried chicken (quite good) and beef kalbi (mediocre) with rice.
If you did make the journey out for the festival, I hope you did use the opportunity to explore the Korean restaurants and shops in the area. I found some lovely takeaway food for dinner that night: some little pajeon (Korean pancakes) and kimbap.
Luckily, one big thing made the trip worthwhile for me – I finally made it to Hyun’s Bakery while it was open! Whenever I’d visited New Malden in the past, I’d always try to visit and find it shut. Finally, the door was open!
As I’m a sucker for savoury Asian-style pastries, I had to have this fried sausage doughnut on a stick. This was similar to the hot dog bun you usually find but involved a proper pork sausage and a dusting of panko crumbs, all deep fried. Oh, and it was on a stick – a winner right there! (Notice that I forgot to take a photo until after I’d attacked it.)
My other selections were (clockwise from the top right) a fried vegetable doughnut, a mochi doughnut filled with red bean paste and a Castella cake.
The vegetable doughnut was alright, with a filling reminiscent of a vegetable korokke. The mochi doughnut was delicious and chewy and was generously filled with a chunky, and I suspect homemade, red bean paste. I loved the Castella cake – soft and plain sponge cake but still very moreish.
And all four items only came to £3.10! (There’s a little Japanese shop near me that stocks some buns from Hyun’s but they charge twice as much as the original bakery!)
Hyun’s Bakery
94 Burlington Road
New Malden KT3 4NT
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 02:19
At least it wasn’t a TOTAL failure
Yay for the bakery score!!
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 03:38
I kinda love the photo of the fried sausage donut BECAUSE of the bite!
Sorry about the festival, what a bummer!
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 07:30
I am a fan of Hyun’s Bakery too, although it always seems to be open when I pass! That sausage on a stick looks enormous! I am hoping that the Korean festival in Kingston takes place again this year (it was cancelled last year) as in the past they have had quite a few food stalls plus interesting cultural activities/entertainment.
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 08:36
That’s such a shame. I can’t think it would be the weather; you’d have to spend a couple of days prepping the food, so you would at least brave it rather than waste it, no? At least you got your bakery delights!
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 10:06
I am so sad Hyun’s Bakery doesn’t have a stall at Mitsukoshi anymore when they have their special days. Maybe I should try to make it to New Malden…
Next time you are there, try the milk bread!
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 13:44
I’m sorry to hear about the festival. But your review about hyuns sounds so good! Sausage donut sounds delice!
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 15:27
3 stands?! Oh no!! Well, console yourself with the fact you didn’t go to toast (please tell me you didn’t) – lots of stands there, unfortunately, they were all rubbish.
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 18:08
Sorry to hear that the event was less stellar than expected – I know what its like to get your hopes up and only to have them dashed. Sounds like you were able to salvage some of it though
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 18:33
I have to say once more, I’m so glad I didn’t make the epic journey only to be confronted by three stalls! At least you got goodies from Hyun’s. I hope the festival improves next year!
Tue, 14 Jul, 2009 at 19:23
Well, at least I was able to learn from you there is other Korean food besides kimshi!
I was similarly disappointed with our French market just before Christmas, but at least I managed to buy some French cheese.
Thu, 16 Jul, 2009 at 17:14
I have to admit to being rather shocked by only 3 stalls. Still we managed to try most of what was on offer
Thu, 16 Jul, 2009 at 17:35
Gastronomer: No, not a total failure – but still a disappointment!
Marie:
My greed has no shame. A contact on Twitter commented on the SIZE of the bite!
Jonny: I’ve not been to the other Korean festival but it sounds like I should definitely check it out!
Lizzie: Then the credit crunch is hitting hard!
notesbynaive: OK – milk bread! They’re other large sweet breads also looked really good! I had no idea that Mitsukoshi even had special days!
Robert: They’re really friendly in there too – a nice bakery!
Helen: No, I didn’t go to Toast but only because it didn’t sound all that interesting…
oysterculture: The company was good so it was a good day overall – I don’t see my brother all that often!
Helen YLP: New Malden is such a fun place though that it might just be worth the trip one day for you!
travelrat: Ah, these ethnic events are letting us down this year! And I think you’ll like Korean food, especially the bbq – everyone likes Korean bbq!
Melanie: Ooh, I hope you liked the food then! Did you get a chance to explore the rest of New Malden? The food festival always seems to coincide with their community day of sorts!
Fri, 17 Jul, 2009 at 00:32
too bad there were so few booths, but it does look like you got some good eats! I would have loved the spicy fried chicken for sure…
Fri, 17 Jul, 2009 at 11:12
3? That’s a shame. well, at least you got some goodies from Hyun’s.
Fri, 17 Jul, 2009 at 23:34
Oh yum. This looks fabulous and not too complicated. Love it. This is a perfect summer meal!
Sun, 13 Sep, 2009 at 16:17
OMG i am going to do a demo on stage this year ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Tue, 6 Oct, 2009 at 13:09
I was out of the country for this year’s Korean Food Festival – three stalls is pretty abysmal! There used to be loads. Perhaps the non-Korean residents of New Malden have lost their sense of curiosity about Korean food. I hope not.
Wed, 16 Mar, 2011 at 11:07
[...] you’d walk down the high street to the roundabout, turn right (you would turn left for Hyun’s Bakery) and continue walking way past the residential area until you come to a small row of shops. [...]
Mon, 5 Sep, 2011 at 23:19
[...] Mal (Kimchi Village) for an excellent range of home-made pickles and side dishes or check out Hyun’s Bakery for mochi doughnuts (94 Burlington Road, Town Centre, New Malden KT3 4NT).Back on the High Street, [...]
Tue, 6 Sep, 2011 at 04:34
[...] Mal (Kimchi Village) for an excellent range of home-made pickles and side dishes or check out Hyun’s Bakery for mochi doughnuts (94 Burlington Road, Town Centre, New Malden KT3 [...]
Wed, 7 Sep, 2011 at 16:57
[...] Mal (Kimchi Village) for an excellent range of home-made pickles and side dishes or check out Hyun’s Bakery for mochi doughnuts (94 Burlington Road, Town Centre, New Malden KT3 [...]
Mon, 30 Jul, 2012 at 05:28
[...] Mal (Kimchi Village) for an excellent range of home-made pickles and side dishes or check out Hyun’s Bakery for mochi doughnuts (94 Burlington Road, Town Centre, New Malden KT3 [...]