Where to go for good Korean food, sweets and teaNo doubt, some readers are in town for the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. While here, sampling the food is a must, especially for those who are here for the long haul. Be the stay temporary or permanent, it would be a shame to waste this opportunity to taste authentic hansik. For those looking for some delicious Korean grub, drinks and desserts, here are some places worth a visit. Pyeongyang Myeon OkNaengmyeon i

March 26, 2012

Global leaders attending the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit will be served luncheons and dinners prepared with the delicacies of the spring season by the country’s top chefs.“Spring of Korea” will feature four-course Western meals both for the dinner on March 26 and the luncheon on March 27 at the COEX Convention Center, where the summit meetings take place. A farewell dinner hosted by President Lee Myung-bak and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok will be held at The Hotel Shilla in Jangchung-dong, central S

March 25, 2012

A fascinating beauty from Portugal’s Douro, the 2009 Quinta do Crasto reserve comes from old vines (average age 70) and 25 to 30 different grapes. In other words, it’s a field blend, hand-harvested from the steeply canted vineyards along the Douro River. Soft and elegant and tasting of red plums and blueberries, this is a wine to serve with something substantial, the better to savor the wine’s nuances.● Region: Douro, Portugal● Price: About $37 to $40● Style: Rich and full-bodied● What it goes w

March 23, 2012

David Fenton’s kung pao chicken was always followed by a disappointment. He would unwrap the fortune cookie and sigh at the mindless drivel written on the slip of paper tucked inside. Even tacking on the words “in bed” to his fortune gave him little pleasure.So, more than a century after San Francisco conceived this quaint Chinese-restaurant tradition, Fenton launched his own, fearless fortune cookie company ― iLLFortune ― in Union City, Calif., and began stuffing boldly wicked fortunes in the t

March 23, 2012

Minari ganghoe is a dish of pressed meat, red pepper and egg white and yolk garnish tied into bundles with blanched minari (Korean watercress). It is served with a vinegar and red pepper paste sauce. Minari ganghoe has a beautiful presentation. It best served in the spring when the minari is new and tender.Ingredients120g beef (top round), 6 cups water 50g watercress (minari), 3 cups water, 1/2 tbsp salt 1/2 a red pepper 2 eggs1 tbsp oil Vinegar and red pepper paste sauce: 2 tbsp red pepper past

March 23, 2012

Over 130 French cheese varieties available in KoreaA few decades ago, it was hard to find a wide variety of French cheese in Korea. Now, according to CNIEL communications director, Laurent Damiens, there are more than 130 kinds. Damiens, who attended a French cheese press luncheon co-sponsored by his center in Seoul Tuesday, said that the South Korean market is quickly embracing French cheese. “The South Korean market is still small but we see it as having great potential to become very big,” Da

March 23, 2012

Thomas Keller, owner-chef of The French Laundry, says he is ‘just the middle person’In a world where the list of places you have dined are a barometer of your financial standing as well as good taste, it is not uncommon to find people who will fly across oceans for an exceptional dining experience. And of course, they will have made reservations months in advance, eagerly counting down the number of days, just like a school child crossing days off the calendar to his much awaited summer break.A

March 21, 2012

Bukeotguk is a soup made by boiling seasoned bukeo (dried pollack) after it has been soaked and ripped. Bukeo is available year-round at a low price in Korea, therefore, bukeotguk is an everyday soup for Koreans. It is believed that bugeo protects the liver and many people have bukeotguk after drinking alcohol. Ingredients● 70g dried pollack● 100g radish, 20g small green onion, 1/4 red pepper● 1 tsp sesame oil ● 7 cups water, 1 tsp clear soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp salt ● 1 egg For seasoning ● 1/2 tbsp

March 16, 2012

Kale is about as unlikely a food star as you can imagine. It’s tough and fibrous. Bite a piece of raw kale and you’ll practically end up with splinters between your teeth. Nevertheless, kale has become a green of the moment because, given a little special care, it actually can be made not only edible but delicious.You can cook it, of course, the lower and slower the better. But surprisingly, one of the most popular ways to use kale these days is in salads. Though kale leaves have always been fou

March 16, 2012

When a special bottle of red is on the agenda, you can’t go wrong with this ripe, sinewy Tuscan from the Montepeloso estate. A blend of Montepulciano with Sangiovese, Marselan and a touch of Alicante Bouschet, “Eneo” has a voluptuous bouquet and tastes of cherries, earth and sweet spices. Complex and elegant, the 2008 will stand out at any dinner party, a beautiful example of Tuscan winemaking from Fabio Chiarelotto.Price: $37 to $50 Style: Rich and complex.What it goes with: Break it out for a

March 16, 2012

French treats served as multi-course set at new dessert barA sweet plate shared over coffee with friends, a treat saved for the end of the meal ― it seems we can never get enough of dessert. Perhaps, that is what has spawned a new breed of sweet shop. The dessert bar ― an establishment where confections can be enjoyed as a full course set (often called a tasting menu) ― emerged in Manhattan as early as 2003 and can also be found in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and, in Seoul. When Lee Hyu

March 16, 2012

Sejong Center for Performing Arts is offering a premium lunch concert featuring traditional music and food at Samcheonggak, a Korean restaurant on Mount Bugak in northern Seoul. “Jami,” will be held Monday to Wednesday until June 27 at Samcheonggak’s Ilwhadang Performance Hall, the restaurant operator said. The 45-minute concert features music and performances by traditional Korean ensemble “Cheongarang” and five artists. The seven short performances featured include “Suryongeum,” meaning Korean

March 14, 2012

Award-winning bartender says some bars are bringing back retro cocktailsDisco could be staging a comeback, as predicted by medal-wielding bartender Alex Kratena.  “This industry is exactly like fashion,” said the head bartender of the Langham Hotel London’s Artesian bar. “Sometimes it changes even faster than the seasons.”Kratena, who was in Seoul last week to teach Diageo Reserve World Class 2012 bartending competition participants about gin, is referring to cocktails of the past. According to

March 12, 2012

Deodeok-saengchae is thinly ripped deodeok roots mixed with spicy, sour seasonings. Deodeok is referred to as sasam (ginseng from sand). It is high in saponin like ginseng and bellflower roots. In Oriental medicine, it is considered a health food that is good for the stomach, and strengthens the lungs, intestines and kidneys. Ingredients● 300g deodeok roots● 2 cups water● 1/2 tbsp salt Seasoning sauce● 1 tbsp sugar● 2 1/2 tsp red pepper paste● 2 tsp ground red pepper● 1/2 tsp salt● 1 tbsp minced

March 9, 2012

LOS ANGELES ― With its dim warren of dining rooms and hearty menu of ratatouille, filet mignon and duck, Taix feels more Old World than Echo Park.The tables are stretched with white linen, and the soup is served family style, from a big bowl with a ladle. In the main dining room with its gold-plated mirrors, Edith Piaf songs are hummed by a debonair waiter.That’s Bernard Inchauspe, a 77-year-old Basque Country emigre with a velvety accent who for half a century has greeted diners with: “Hello, l

March 9, 2012