After a big first round, round two took us to Polpo. Lately I feel a bit awkward carrying bottles around, so when there is something I want to drink I tend to head to Polpo. It is not so much a corkage issue as a vague feeling of being watched. Eating and drinking are only fun when you can relax. And I question whether it is worth drinking at all if you have to keep looking over your shoulder. This day, too, I walked into Polpo feeling completely at ease.

Blue crab pasta

Blue crab is at the tail end of its season, but I had asked in advance, and it was outstanding. Hard to see any more of it this year, I suppose.

Hanwoo beef carpaccio

As always, it is the perfect thing to drink with, so we ordered about three plates.

Trippa

The flavour has settled into something reliable now, so if you like offal you really should try it. This dish was even featured on the TV show Tasty Road. A lot of people have a bad image of offal, though, so it is hard to recommend it to everyone.

Octopus karaage

This was the debut of the dish that day, and karaage of this level is not easy to find even in Japan. Perfect with a drink.

Shiitake mushrooms

It is mushroom season right now, so I have been going to the market and buying them in bulk to eat at home. A proper mushroom has an aroma to die for.

Shiitake mushroom pasta

Make pasta with mushrooms like that and there is no way it will not be delicious. Can you smell autumn in it..

Panna cotta

They even brought out dessert that day.

The Macallan Ruby

The drink of the day: The Macallan Ruby. It is a superb whisky, but having already gone through so many different kinds at round one, it felt a little light on the alcohol. I think it would have had to be over 50% to register. Maybe I should have opened the whisky back at Singsing Odongdo, but then again, opening a Macallan in a place like that feels a bit wrong. Next time I will have to pace the get-together so that I can bring it out at the perfect moment.

Sculpin at Le Pub

Round two left us wanting more, so for round three we moved on to a beer bar called Le Pub in Seocho-dong. Sculpin is excellent, as always. It has a great atmosphere, and I hope I get reasons to come back often.

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