Raffine presents take on Parisian neo-bistro

 　Texture, flavor and presentation are all accounted for at Raffine, a French establishment that showcases cerebral cuisine from its 18-seat perch in Sinsa-dong, Seoul.　“We want the food to be fresh but not flamboyant,” said head chef Lee Dae-ryuk, 31, explaining how the goal is to give diners something new but not something over-the-top. 　This attitude is in line with Paris’ neo-bistro trend, where chefs are stepping away from tradition to present their own personal takes on cuisine, often in s

Oct. 28, 2017

[Korean Bapsang] Yeongeun jorim (sweet soy braised lotus root)

Yeongeun jorim is a popular fall side dish that’s made with lotus roots. It’s sweet, savory, and crunchy! It surely deserves a spot on your favorite basic side dish (mitbanchan) list.To make the dish, you first peel and slice the lotus roots, and then pre-boil in water with a little bit of vinegar before braising. This is a technique Korean home cooks use to reduce the starch level and remove any bitterness from the lotus root.  Yeongeun jorim (sweet soy braised lotus root)As for the braising li

Oct. 20, 2017

Italian tapas at Cucciolo Terrazza

After Cucciolo Terrazza, the newest eatery dreamed up by Cucciolo Group’s owner-chef Ji-woon Julian Kim, opened this September in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, it quickly became the hip place to be. Fans of Kim’s Italian establishments -- Cucciolo Osteria, Maremma Trattoria, Volpino Ristorante and Volpino Ristorante Busan -- seemed eager to check out his latest offering. The new wine bar-style hangout lives up to expectations with a lineup of plates -- both big and small -- that are classic Cucciolo --

Oct. 14, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Seaside getaway at Hilton Namhae Golf Spa ResortHilton Namhae Golf and Spa Resort is offering a seasonal package of accommodation, food, spa and coffee through Nov. 30. The Colorful Autumn Package features a one-night stay in a suite room, breakfast at the restaurant Breeze and access to the spa, as well as take-out coffee. The Namhae area in the southern coast of Korea is ideal for travel in fall, with its seaside walking trails and close proximity to scenic mountains. The resort has rooms offe

Oct. 13, 2017

Co-owner of Manimal listed among ‘30 Under 30 Asia’ of Forbes

Kim Dae-young, 28, co-owner of Manimal, has been listed among the “30 Under 30 Asia” rankings compiled by Forbes magazine. Kim has focused on strengthening teamwork and developing delicious food in a bid to make inroads in the food and beverages industry. 　　Stressing the role of the Manimal team, Kim said his business itself is small, but it’s been selected by Forbes thanks to the interesting story behind his business and the company’s philosophy.Kim graduated from Glion Institute of Higher Educ

Sept. 25, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Meat, Malbec combination at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Park Hyatt Seoul’s restaurant and teahouse The Lounge is holding a promotion of premium meat dishes paired with Argentine Malbec wine through Jan. 31 next year. The combination of Terrazas Malbec varieties and meat dishes is priced at 58,000 won per person. A glass of wine costs 18,000 won. Wine varieties include Terrazas Single Vineyard Malbec (165,000 won per bottle) and Terrazas Reserva Malbec (90,000 won per bottle), both produced at the Terraz

Sept. 24, 2017

[Korean Bapsang] Seafood cheese tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cake)

What happens when spicy tteokbokki -- Korea’s most popular street food -- meets seafood and cheese? It’s elevated to the next level! All the contrasting flavors work so well together to create something incredibly flavorful and comforting. Use any cheese(s) you would use for pizza or pasta. Mozzarella is great, and I also like the pizza blend (provolone, asiago, mozzarella, etc.) in this dish. You can melt the cheese over the stove top, in the microwave, or under the broiler. 　Any combination of

Sept. 22, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Authentic Mexican food at Millennium Seoul HiltonThe Millennium Seoul Hilton’s flagship restaurant, Cafe 395, is holding a promotion of Mexican cuisine through Wednesday. Authentic Mexican dishes prepared by Chef Daniel Gonzalez from Mexico are available alongside regular buffet offerings. Mexican specialties include hot and cold appetizers, entrees and desserts, including green ceviche tostadas, scallops aguachile, duck tamales with black mole sauce, soft crabs with green mole, beef sweetbreads

Sept. 15, 2017

It’s all in the dough at Darobe

The pizza crust at Darobe, which opened near Seoul Forest this August, is a mouthwatering exercise in texture and flavor. When the 40-hour fermented dough at this new pizzeria meets the blistering heat of a wood-fired oven it takes on its own delicious personality. The edges taste smoky, nutty and sweet, all crackly crisp on the outside and chewy and airy on the inside. Towards the center, the crust grows more elastic and soft and takes on a richer, more robust flavor reminiscent of roasted waln

Sept. 15, 2017

Halal eating, not as easy as ABC in Korea

For Muslims, eating right means more than simply a balanced diet; it is a sacred law of their religion that they dutifully abide by.Halal -- roughly translated into “permissible” from Arabic -- food refers to that which is permitted for consumption in Islam. Haram, or “forbidden,” foods are those that Muslims must stay away from, such as alcohol and certain types of meat, notably pork and dog meat. Muslim bloggers in Korea try halal food at a hotel in Seoul on Thursday during an event organized

Sept. 10, 2017

[Korean Bapsang] Jjolmyeon (spicy chewy noodles)

Jjolmyeon is a cold noodle dish of chewy noodles in a sweet and tangy gochujang sauce. The word “jjolmyeon” actually means chewy noodles, but it also refers to the dish made with them. The noodles are made from wheat flour and starch, and they are slightly thick, chewy, and bouncy. You can find these noodles either in the refrigerator or frozen section. 　Typically, kongnamul (soybean sprouts), green cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers are the vegetables included in this dish. These crunchy vegetable

Sept. 8, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

White asparagus meals at Millennium Seoul HiltonThe Millennium Seoul Hilton’s Italian restaurant Il Ponte is holding a promotion of Italian dining featuring a five-course menu of white asparagus throughout September. The meal starts with a salad of white asparagus, shrimps and micro leaves, followed by a white asparagus veloute with truffle-flavored parsley and garlic croutons. The next course offers pan-fried sea scallops on white asparagus in lemon butter. The entree is US beef tenderloin serv

Sept. 8, 2017

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Indian cuisine at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CityThe Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering authentic Indian cuisine at its restaurant Feast from Sept. 8-28. Star chefs from Le Meridien Gurgaon Delhi Hotel has been invited to introduce popular local dishes, including Indian-style salad, soup, diverse curry dishes such as lamb, shrimp cream, paneer butter masala, as well as the famous grilled tandoori chicken, seekh kebab and more.At the live station guests can taste Indian bread “tawa paratha,”

Sept. 3, 2017

Hip coffee brand expands in Seoul

Dorrell is a relative newbie to the coffee scene, almost six months old, but this Jeju Island-native is taking root fast. After opening its first 78-seat cafe on Jeju Island this March, the brand launched a second outlet near Seoul’s Garosugil in late May. Then, on Aug. 31, Dorrell opened a lab concept location in Cheongdam-dong. Within less than half a year, this fledgling cafe has unveiled three brick-and-mortar shops. Its latest is a beautiful, coffee geek-worthy spot in a renovated house.  

Sept. 1, 2017

[Home Cooking] Yeolmu kimchi

Yeolmu is young summer radish greens. It’s a variety of white radishes with tender, long greens, and a thin, small root. It’s not the top leafy part of mature white radishes or chonggak mu (young radish), which is much tougher. 　Very commonly, young napa cabbage, called putbaechu or eolgari, is also added to yeolmu kimchi, giving it a different texture and flavor. I like the ratio of radish greens to young cabbage to be 2:1. You can use only the radish greens without any young cabbages. 　 Yeolmu

Aug. 25, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Birthday package at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CityThe Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel will celebrate its sixth anniversary by offering a package of accommodations and promotions at its Lobby Lounge Bar and Aequalis Spa from Sept. 1-30. The Happy Birthday Sheraton Package offers a stay in an executive, honeymoon, hospitality or presidential suite for an additional cost, access to the Sheraton Club Lounge with breakfast and a bottle of Andeluna 1300 Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 wine. Guests receive Club L

Aug. 18, 2017

Off-the-menu eats at new Thai spot

Everything about Krap Pom, a new Thai eatery that opened in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, is underground. Not only is the restaurant located in the basement, the place also sequesters a slew of off-the-menu specialties that one either has to intuitively order or discover by monitoring the restaurant’s Instagram feed, where owner Lee Hyun-jong posts new dishes. “The dishes that have passed the test are the ones we post on Instagram,” said Lee, 34.  Krap Pom’s pla neung manao (back, left) -- steamed fish spi

Aug. 11, 2017

[Home Cooking] Gaji bokkeum (stir-fried eggplants)

In the summertime, Korean tables are full of vegetable side dishes. Here’s a quick and easy summer side dish made with eggplants. Asian eggplants have tender skin and sweet flesh. Look for slender eggplants with a rich purple color and shiny skin, and without any soft or brown spots. To add a pop of green color to the dish, I used a couple of green chili peppers for this recipe. Garlic chives (buchu) works really well with this dish as well. Sometimes, I also add a handful of mushrooms (oyster,

Aug. 11, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Skincare, spa at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City The Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a package of luxurious spa and skincare treatments with the Swiss company Valmont, a leading skincare brand with over 30 years of experience, at its Aequalis Spa.Valmont’s signature product Energy Ritual features four different facial treatments designed to replenish the skin using glacial water and reduce wrinkles. Guests can receive a treatment for 30, 90, 110, or 120 minutes. The 30-minute treatment s

Aug. 11, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Fusion bingsu at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Lounge at Park Hyatt Seoul, located on the 24th floor and offering a wide view of downtown, is offering two new types of the icy traditional Korean dessert bingsu -- cold-drip coffee bingsu and peach bingsu -- through Aug. 31, every day from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The new varieties follow the signature makgeoli bingsu, which was developed by the restaurant and teahouse. The coffee bingsu at 37,000 won uses Yirgacheff coffee beans, almond milk and shaved ice, t

Aug. 4, 2017