[FOOD COURT] Pepero Day and all its goodies are right around the corner

Pepero Day, similar to Valentine’s Day or White Day, falls on a Friday this year. Many people exchange the sweet 11-shaped snacks, and some go a step further and look for options with extra-pretty packaging or unique designs.

[DESSERTIST INSTAGRAM]

Pepero Day, a day celebrated by many couples, friends and individuals in Korea, similar to Valentine’s Day or White Day, falls on a Friday this year. Many people exchange the sweet 11-shaped snacks, and some go a step further and look for options with extra-pretty packaging or unique designs.

The day was initially marketed by the confectionary company under Lotte that sells the famous Pepero chocolate-dipped cookie stick snacks. As the snacks are shaped like a bunch of number ones, the company started to call Nov. 11 Pepero Day as part of its marketing campaign to encourage more people to buy the snack.

Many people still exchange a box of Lotte's Pepero, easily purchasable at local convenience stores and supermarkets, but still others set aside a bit more time and money to give their friends, family or partner a chance to try some sweets they may not normally buy for themselves.

Piaf

[PIAF INSTAGRAM]

Piaf is one of the first chocolate shops that releases a specially designed box of sweets each year for Valentine’s Day, White Day and Pepero Day. This year, given that Peppero look like matches as they are long and thin, the chocolate shop made match-like chocolates with tips highlighted pink and red, in an octagonal container like a match box.

Although it already took reservations last week to pick up the boxes this week, it will announce later how many more will be available for those who missed out in the first rounds of reservations.

All reservations for the specialty boxes are done online.

@piaf_artisan_chocolatier 109 Nonhyeong-ro 175-gil, Gangnam District

Adore Adore didn't stick to making snacks in the shape of the number one this Pepero Day. This year, the shop has prepared a box of heart-shaped chocolates in white and red. Although online reservations have been taken already, some additional boxes ready to pick up at its shop may be available for those looking for a last-minute purchase. It is recommended to go early in the day to ensure you can leave with a box of sweets.

[ADORE INSTAGRAM]

If you insist on sweets shaped similar to Peppero, it also sells boxs of orangettes, which are long strips of candied oranges dipped in chocolate.

@adoreofficial 24 Seolleung-ro 116-gil, Gangnam District

Dessertist

[DESSERTIST INSTAGRAM]

A trip to Dessertist can turn into a whole date course. The cafe is located right by the Seokchon Lake, perfect for picking up sweets from the shop before heading out for a walk around the lake.

Especially for the special day on Friday, it has made a long pastry dipped in dark and white chocolate. The dark chocolate version has sugar chunks sprinkled around it, and the white chocolate ones have dried strawberry flakes.

The store takes reservations and walk-ins and announced three days ago that it will make 200 boxes until Friday, to be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

@dessertist_ 37 Songpaadae-ro 48-gil, Songpa District

Sezane Just like Dessertist is only a 10-minute walk from a lake, a similar walk from Sezane takes you to the Han River. For those wanting to see some nature in the city before heading out to hustle and bustle in Mapo District's Mangwon-dong, filled with restaurants and cafes, Sezane will do just that.

[SEZANE INSTAGRAM]

While Dessertist dips pastries in chocolate, Sezane dips cookies in chocolate. About four times bigger than the average Pepero sold at convenience stores, the snack comes in four different flavors: basic, without any sprinkles; roasted almond flakes; Oreo crumbs; and cookie crumbs.

The house-made Peppero are only available in limited quantities, so it is best to come early or call ahead to check if they still have stock.

@sezane.patisserie 75 Poeun-ro, Mapo District

La Grande Jatte If participating in the limited edition rush is not your thing, try going for a box of baked goods like madeleines or financiers at La Grande Jatte. Usually, five of the oval-shaped baked goods go in a box. Each baked good is decorated to indicate its flavor: The ones with hazelnuts on top are hazelnut flavored, and the dark ones are made with black sesame.

[LA GRANDE JATTE INSTAGRAM]

The dessert shop is also known for its small gateaux and tarts. For the current apple season, it has unveiled its tarte tatin, an apple tart, made with slices of apple cooked under low temperatures to bring out the most flavors of the seasonal fruit and topped with vanilla cream.

@lagrandejatte_seoul 12 Dosandae-ro 62-gil, Gangnam District

BY LEE SUN-MIN [lee.sunmin@joongang.co.kr]