By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young
The Diplomacy Journal reporter met with Chef Kim Han-sol, owner of Casa Italy on Jahamun-ro 8-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to learn more about Italian food. Casa Italia is a restaurant that serves Italian cuisine based on Italian cuisine and seasonal Korean ingredients.
Casa Italia serves original Italian cuisine based on Italian cuisine, but with fresh seasonal ingredients from Korea. The menu changes according to the changing seasons, providing a unique experience where you can enjoy the deep flavors of Italian cuisine and the freshness of Korean ingredients at the same time.
In winter, the restaurant serves oven-baked oysters with herb breading and topped with tomatoes, onions, and parsley. In the spring, the crisp flavors of spring are captured in the Cress Pesto Pasta, a combination of fragrant shepherd’s purse, wild chive, clams, and shrimp. In the fall, you'll find savory pumpkin gnocchi and oven-baked eggplant involtini stuffed with meat and vegetables.
Signature dishes include truffle cream gnocchi and porchetta. “Gnocchi” means “loaf” in Italian, and is a traditional dish made with potatoes, flour, and cheese. Particularly developed in northern Italy, the dish has been a favorite since ancient Roman times, and at Casa Italy, the addition of a secret cream sauce and a noodle filling gives it a savory flavor and unique texture.
Another signature dish, porchetta, is a traditional Italian barbecued pork dish. Pork belly is rolled in a variety of herbs and cooked for a long time at low temperatures, deriving its name from the Italian word “porco,” meaning “pig.” The dish is so rich in flavor and aroma that it was known as a staple of banquets in the past.
Casa Italy also offers a wide variety of other pasta, pizza, and salad options to give customers a different kind of culinary experience. Through creative combinations of Korean ingredients and Italian cuisine, Casa Italy has been striving to become a special restaurant that bridges the gourmet cultures of Korea and Italy.
