65page

65 Hackney Café: Elegance incarnate My first stop in the search for Christmas delights brought me to the twisty walkways of Yongsan’s Haebangchon area, other- wise known as HBC. Passing by those numerous expat hubs, Bonny’s Pizza and Jacoby’s Burgers among them, I eventually saw Hackney. It’s easy to access but not so easy to spot, and it looks like the Korova Milk Bar from “A Clockwork Orange”: small but deluxe, giving off the same intimidating vibe as a fabulously well-dressed man in a suit. Anyone who labels himself an “interior aficionado” will love the retro vibe. But I was there for the Banana Black cake. As I settled into the café’s hidden parlor, twiddling my thumbs in anticipation with only a few vague sources of ambient light as my confidantes, the idea of that cake consumed me, and with good right: The first bite held all the luxury provided by a chocolatier in Paris. The dark, fudge-like frosting, mousse and bananas were a triumph, and after I scarfed it down I fell over myself in praise for the staff. Their response, as one could only expect in this sleek atmos- phere, was a curt nod, a polite “thank you” and a smile befitting a Renaissance painting. The apricot sweetly balanced a creamy layer underneath and a gingerbread crust. With its soft, fresh- out-of-the-oven texture, it was exactly what I imagined Santa’s elves would all enjoy on their breaks. I was the kind of child who didn’t leave cookies for Santa because I knew he didn’t deserve them as much as I did. No, at Christmastime all the sugary stuff belonged to me. I still expect to be fully loaded on carbs and quadruple-layer cake by the time the new year rolls in. So this year, before that could come to fruition, I knew I needed to scope out some places with the finest and most exquisite desserts in Seoul, desserts so magnificent that even Santa would need a reser- vation in advance. Fortunately for me, there are five yummy joints that fit the bill just perfectly, so friends, let’s get ready to get fat together.