SeoulMatjip

Peyo. The store that made me decide to start a blog.

Sometimes there are just those days you find yourself wandering around Seoul (whether you live here or are visiting) in search of something delicious. For some of us...cough...those days happen more often than for others. If you find yourself with a little sweet tooth and want to try something different than just shaved ice, this cafe will undoubtedly hit the spot!.

While wandering the streets by 이대역 (Ewha Woman’s University Station), my boyfriend and I happened across Peyo. Always willing to try a good cookie (and even more so a macaron, which can far surpass a cookie), we walked in. Surprisingly, upon entering, we saw that the owner was clearly... not Korean. There was that awkward pause when I knew he was a foreigner, he knew I was a foreigner, and both of us wondered if we should try English. Instead, we both awkwardly went for 안녕하세요 (Hello).

After speaking to him a little in Korean, we transitioned into English. He has a really interesting and intriguing life story. Rather than reveal it here, I suggest you go ask him yourself :) I don’t think you will regret it! Suffice to say, he is French (and so his macarons taste of the authentic ones of his home country), and it was one of the most pleasant and interesting conversations I have had in a long time.

Pure and simple: I highly recommend this store. The atmosphere is nice, and the store is small, charming and cute all at once. The man is very pleasant, can speak to you in several languages, and you can get a taste of France! He uses his grandma’s recipe, and I learned that the first macaroons are not like the common ones today. Rather, they are like the ones he makes, with more of a regular cookie appearance, but the same delicious and light macaron taste we so love. None of his cookies use any flour or butter, so they have a delightful flavor. They are baked to perfection with that chewy center and savory baked, almost crunchy exterior that we want in any such dessert.

He has 4 flavors, and I highly recommend trying all of them to be honest. All of them have a pure, undiluted, and unforgettable flavor. Original is a must try - for obvious reasons. Then, based on this recipe, he has created several delicious variations. Grapefruit and lemon are made using the rinds of the fresh fruit, and in turn have the same refreshing taste. Chocolate tastes better than any brownie you could easily find with a much lighter texture, and original is almondy, light and chewy. The price is reasonable as well!

They were so good I went back the next weekend. In addition to eating more macarons, I tried an ‘Indian’, which is a special carbonated French soda with pomegranate syrup. In a hot Korean summer, it is very refreshing and something you cannot find at the average cafe here.

Because of the combination of how delicious these macarons were and how pleasant and refreshing of an encounter my boyfriend and I had with the owner, I start this blog. My goal - to help awesome businesses like this by helping other foreigners learn about them too! To help support others, and honestly just to enjoy delicious food, please look here if you are ever in want of a place to go. Note!! He is not open on Sundays because it is his day to spend with family, which I respect :)