Free cooking classes for the kimchi-curious

For those unacquainted with Korean cuisine, kimchi can taste and smell a bit strong. But don’t let that first impression scare you off from the amazingly rich, versatile and savory world of kimchi, says Son Jong-won, executive chef of L’Amant Secret, a Michelin-star restaurant at L'Escape Hotel in Seoul. At a cooking demonstration on Tuesday with 20 foreign guests, the chef showcased how the fermented cabbage, which has a varying mix of pungent, sour and spicy tastes, can ta

Sept. 22, 2022

[Temple to Table] Food that help one attain the way: Mushrooms and green peppers

To go forth and become a monk is not a trivial matter. Its purpose is neither to seek bodily comfort nor to be warmly clothed and fully fed, nor to seek honor and wealth. Rather, its purpose is to escape the cycle of birth and death, to sever one’s affections, to walk in the bright wisdom of the Buddha and to save sentient beings by showing them the way out of the threefold world. Baru gongyang, the monastic communal meal, is a Buddhist practice that promotes solemnity and pensiveness. Eac

Sept. 17, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents ‘Autumn Holiday at JW’ package JW Marriott Hotel Seoul greets autumn with a promotion filled with autumn-themed gifts, presenting a seasonal staycation. Featuring a choice of Griffin Suite or Deluxe Room, the autumn package includes a facial serum, volumizing cream and softening lotion set by Cle de Peau Beaute, with a total value of 150,000 won. Mont Blanc desserts crafted by the JW Marriott Seoul pastry team are available for package guests to tak

Sept. 16, 2022

Liquor shops beckon sophisticated drinkers

From wine and beer to liquors like soju and whiskey, numerous alcoholic beverages fill the display shelves at an E-mart24 convenience store in Cheonho-dong, southeastern Seoul. More than 700 varied options await liquor lovers, especially those who enjoy a tipple at home after work. Oh Jin-song, a 29-year-old office worker, said he drops by the specialist convenience store at least twice a week after work, which spares him the hassle of visiting the kind of busy supermarket where most Koreans b

Sept. 13, 2022

Koreans’ two all-time favorite snacks named among Asia’s 50 best street foods: CNN

Two popular on-the-go meals in South Korea, gimbap and tteokbokki, have been named on CNN’s list of the top 50 street foods in Asia. Gimbap, the seaweed-wrapped rice roll stuffed with vegetables, eggs and various meat sliced into bite-size discs of goodness, has long been Koreans' go-to soul food along with tteokbokki, a dish made of white rice cakes in a thick, fiery red sauce. Stressing gimbap’s portable size, the US news network said “not unlike Japan's makizushi (

Sept. 11, 2022

Chuseok cooking challenge for the whole family

The fall season is here, and so are family reunions as the Chuseok holiday approaches . Women of the house traditionally prepared food for the ancestral rites and later, the extended family sat down to a table overflowing with special dishes prepared for Chuseok, a time of thanksgiving. "Jeon" has been a constant staple among the ancestral offerings and later on the family dining table has had an assortment of jeon, typically slices of zucchini, fish and meat covered in a thin coat of

Sept. 9, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul unveils ‘Autumn Holic’ tea set The Lounge at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents the Autumn Afternoon Tea Set through Nov. 30. The tea set includes a selection of desserts, savory items, premium teas, coffee and champagne. Guests can choose among a choice of nine teas -- US organic tea brand Rishi Tea, Homage Coffee, custom-blended for JW Marriott Hotel Seoul by America’s Trinidad Coffee, and Korean traditional teas. The tea set is priced at 100,000 won for

Sept. 9, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents ‘Feeling Lucky at JW’ package for Chuseok holiday JW Marriott Hotel Seoul celebrates the Chuseok holiday with a promotion created for guests seeking a luxury hotel staycation without leaving the city. The package is available for four days only, for stays from Sept. 9 to 12. The package features a luxury stay in a choice of a deluxe room or Griffin Suite, as well as entry in a raffle with prizes including a Migak teaware set by Korean ceramic brand

Sept. 2, 2022

[Food] Omakase adds new flavor to Seoul’s food scene

“Omakase” is a traditional Japanese dining style where guests leave their menu choices up to a chef. Literally meaning “I will leave it to you” in Japanese, omakase in Korea usually refers to a high-end dining experience at a Japanese restaurant’s sushi counter. The chef prepares one piece of fish at a time and introduces its name and origin.  Recently, non-sushi items, from tempura, coffee and pork, have also found their way into the local omakase scene. The

May 28, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

L’Escape launches ‘You be You’ package with Starbucks L’Escape Hotel, located in Seoul’s Myeong-dong, is offering a collaboration package with Starbucks. The package includes a night stay at L‘Escape’s Deluxe Room. Gifts include a Starbucks logo patch and a limited edition design patch made by L’Escape for a fashionable summer look. At Marque d’Amour, the 26th floor hotel bar, three special cocktails based on Starbucks VIA coffee is serve

May 20, 2022

Not your typical jjamppong

"Should we go for jajangmyeon or jjamppong today?” This is a typical question asked at a Chinese restaurant in Korea, where the two dishes are the most popular. Jjamppong refers to a Korean-Chinese noodle dish with either a spicy seafood broth or pork broth, made with red gochugaru, or red chili powder. In recent years, the traditional jjamppong has been getting a makeover, just like other fusion dishes that have mixed cultural roots. While retaining the spicy kick, jjamppong t

May 14, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul offers spring season’s signature menu The Margaux Grill at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul will offer a new signature menu starting April 15. The new menu features a variety of wood fire-grilled steaks, served with a selection of appetizers, salads and seafood dishes. The Margaux Grill’s central open kitchen serves handpicked beef cuts including strip loin, rib eye and tenderloin of Woorungchan Hanwoo (Korea’s highest grade of beef), prime US beef porterhou

April 8, 2022

[Visual History of Korea] Kimchi, the indispensable national dish of Korea

Over its long history, Korea has suffered, losing at times and recovering her land, language, history and culture. But Koreans never lost their indispensable national dish, kimchi. Kimchi is the staple of Koreans everywhere, including the Korean diaspora, which stretches as far as North and South Americas, Europe and the Middle East, Africa and all of Asia. Growing up in the US, I didn‘t always have kimchi on my dining table, but I enjoyed it when I could. When journalists from Korea ac

March 12, 2022

Doenjang’s thick and chunky makeover: Gangdoenjang

Doenjang jjigae, Korean soybean paste stew, is Koreans’ favorite hearty comfort food. The rich taste of fermented soybean paste goes well with a humble bowl of rice. Doenjang jjigae recipes range from those with assorted seafood to chadolbagi, or thin brisket slices. Decades ago, doenjang jjigae specialty restaurants were a common sight on street corners. They offered traditional doenjang jjigae, cheonggukjang and gangdoenjang, also known as ggangjang. The three dishes are all based on f

March 5, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korean chef’s French restaurant in London wins Michelin star

A rising star chef from Korea recently awarded a Michelin star for his French restaurant in London. Park Woong-chul, 38, who opened Sollip, a French restaurant with a Korean touch in the heart of London, is the first Korean chef to receive a Michelin star in the UK. There are currently 194 Michelin-starred restaurants in Britain, including 19 which were newly awarded this year. “I still remember us (my wife and I) being devastated when the UK government issued a COVID-19 lockdown just

Feb. 26, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Korean honey garlic chicken wings

If you like sticky party wings to munch on, you need to try my recipe for pan-fried Korean honey garlic chicken wings. These wings not only taste great, but they are so simple and quick to make. You will love the combination of soy sauce, garlic, and honey. As a Korean, I couldn’t resist adding some fresh chilies to give a spicy kick to the chicken wings. However, you can omit the chilies and enjoy the mild honey garlic chicken as is. If you love Korean chicken wings, this is perhaps th

Feb. 26, 2022

[Temple to Table] Refreshing spring veggies, stringy stonecrop water kimchi

“I thought for a while what to cook, and chose things that are easy to cook but that can revive one’s appetite in springtime. In fact, we don’t have recipes that require sophisticated preparation or many supplementary ingredients in temple cuisine,” said Ven. Yeoil. Saying her cooking skill is “just knowledge she picked up from everyday observations,” Ven. Yeoil reveals her humility, but the magic in her hands is well-known among her fellow Buddhist nuns fro

Feb. 19, 2022

Follow the scent: Hidden jeon spot in Gongdeok Market

The official campaigning period for the upcoming presidential election kicked off Tuesday, with most candidates heading to traditional markets on the first day. One of the pledges made at these stumps over the past several elections has been revitalization of traditional markets, a pledge clearly aimed at the merchants. Before the onslaught of mass retailers, traditional markets were crowded day and night, humming with vibrant energy. Today, many neighborhood taditional markets struggle to su

Feb. 17, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul unveils ‘Be My Valentine Afternoon Tea Set’ The Lounge at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents the “Be My Valentine Afternoon Tea Set,” with handcrafted desserts featuring romantic pink hues from four days starting Friday. The limited-edition tea set includes an exclusive gift of Manolo Blahnik Chocolate Shoes, dubbed the “Dream Wedding Shoes” for their appearance in “Sex and the City.” Strawberry Mont Blancs, Chocolate Mill

Feb. 11, 2022

Nutrimum bar contains essential nutrients for pregnant and lactating women: Nutricia

Recently, as the new coronavirus infection(COVID-19) has emerged as a major social problem, all men and women of all ages are paying attention to health functional foods to strengthen immunity.  In particular, while experiencing the pendemic, the highest-ranking infectious disease declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), the trend of 'Self-Medication', where people take care of themselves while the importance of hygiene and immunity management is imprinted on consumers is spreading.

May 28, 2020