Freddy’s, like their soufflé pancakes, is rising once more. Originally situated in a bijou premises in downtown Sosabeol, Freddy’s has recently moved into a shiny new building situated among verdant rice fields just 10 minutes from Camp Humphreys.
The ambition of this new Freddy is extraordinary, encapsulated by it’s slick new pad. Well, I say pad, but the exterior conjures thoughts of massive ocean-going super-tankers with enough (free) car parking space to fill a sea lane. This is a welcome development given the arduous venture it used to be to get to Freddy’s old urban locale, and immeasurably more convenient for the largely mobile expat community living on and around USFK’s primary base.
The interior strays from the maritime to the aeronautical. The first floor (of three) is clean, cavernous, open-planned, and ivory in color-scheme, with bouncy jazz playing in the background - one might think they’ve stumbled upon a small Scandinavian terminal. However, scents of pastries, pancakes, and odorous coffees quickly dispel the thought as servers scurry around with orders.
For new initiates of Korea’s soufflé pancakes, you should realize that they aren’t fast food items; such parcels of wonderment take time to cook, so allow for a good 30 minutes in their manufacture (think popular tourist restaurant rather than McDonalds). While you wait, enjoy the view of the paddy that’s so incredibly close it’s almost touchable, or head up to the third floor platform for a panorama of Freddy’s new surrounding environs. Failing that, relax on the second floor that has the vibe of a business class lounge at an airport or an exclusive private bar (this impression is further pronounced when viewed from the stairs en route to the third floor). For all the comfort of those sleek perpendicular sofas, smooth tunes, and subtle lights, exclusive is the word - no kids under 13 are allowed upstairs, which isn’t really explained. This may be down to Freddy’s attempt at maintaining a chilled atmosphere where adults can quaff one of the two beer varieties it sells. Regrettably, this does mean families with anyone under 13 in their party are confined to the first floor. That said, it’s well worth parents taking turns to survey the view from the top.
That’s enough about aesthetics; let’s get back to the pancakes. Personally, calling these culinary triumphs “pancakes”, to me at least, rather undersells what they are (I should perhaps make the point that these pancakes, unlike varieties back home, are somewhat more expensive - 12,000-17,000₩ will get you three). “Pancake” doesn’t really suggest a sweet, rich, aerated, almost weightless, soul-refreshing treat, yet, that’s what they are. In this sense, soufflé is perhaps the more appropriate descriptor. The sugary boost is no ally to a calorie-controlled diet, however, but as an occasional waistline threat-multiplier, or a turbo-charging brain energizer, they are well worth a longer run on the treadmill. Patrons can choose from ‘original’, ‘cinnamon’, and ‘choco’ varieties.
As a sidebar (given that one chiefly goes for the soufflé pancakes, Freddy’s signature dish), a selection of coffees from the classic espresso (4,500₩) and the aromatic americano (4,500₩), to flavored lattes, such as vanilla and hazelnut (both priced at 6,000₩), are offered, as is a selection of other beverages ranging from the colonial-sounding “Earlgrey plum ade” (6,500₩), the cleansing strawberry mint tea (6,000₩), and the mysterious “Melange” (6,000₩). (Google tells me “Melange” is a specialty coffee blend similar to a cappuccino, and not a reference to the rare spice in Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune.)
Despite all of these positives, there are a few growing pains. The bakery that Freddy’s partly markets itself as being, whilst smelling like a Parisian boulangerie, and displaying sumptuous, well-crafted wares, doesn’t yet have the decision-stifling range of contorted yeast-based shapes or of chocolate-filled pastries that one might expect. Noteworthy also, are the first floor chairs, which are backless. These are fine for those working-brunch types, lurching over MacBooks, but were much less comfortable for my pregnant wife (I’m sure other expecting mothers may feel the same too). The other point to make is that two of Freddy’s five soufflé pancake varieties are strawberry. Strawberries, however, are seasonal, and were not being offered.
Overall, the rebooted Freddy’s has been dramatically upscaled from its original iteration (a big nod to its successful start), offering an almost opulent level of chill amongst its fresh, low-paced setting. Despite the changes (and some forgivable growing pains), the soufflé pancakes continue to offer a delightful, original treat (from 11am onwards; closed Mondays) that should be experienced by anyone living in the Pyeongtaek area.
Here’s the new address (be careful not to bring up the old store, which is closed):
Freddy Coffee, Gyeonggi-do, Pyeongtaek-si, Yucheon-ro 73
This article is written by Thomas David Dowling a PIEF Foreign Reporter
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