Food trends for 2013: What’s the next kale?

2013 is the year of the snake, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. But in food circles, it just might be the year of the roast chicken or Asian noodles.Molecular gastronomy, fancy cupcakes, Korean tacos? So, so 2012.The new year is always the time when prognosticators of all stripes decide what’s in, what’s out and, most intriguing of all, what’s next. Will we eat more Asian-influenced sandwiches and less Asian fusion? More Latin American flair, with a focus on Peru and Brazil? What influen

Jan. 11, 2013

End of the year dinner at THE PLAZA

The hotel presents the “So Lovely View” dinner at the beautiful XYSTUM HOUSE on the last day of the year. XYSTUM HOUSE is a penthouse on the 22nd floor of THE PLAZA. The dinner menu includes two kinds of canap, crab and smoked salmon marinated in herbs with ruccola, sweet pumpkin cream soup, Korean beef tenderloin steak, grilled prawns and white chocolate mousse. On the day of the event, a live jazz band will accompany eight-course dinners, as well as one glass of wine per diner selected special

Jan. 7, 2013

Kimchi mandu (Korean dumplings)

The Korea Herald is starting a new series, Korean Home Cooking, in which Ro Hyo-sun, author of the Korean Bapsang blog, explains how to make quick Korean comfort foods. The recipes are designed for people who are not familiar with Korean cooking and ingredients. ― Ed.Kimchi mandu is a variation of Korean dumplings made with kimchi as the main ingredient. The key to making good kimchi mandu is to use fully fermented kimchi for the extra kick that this mandu is known for. Kimchi mandu is especiall

Jan. 4, 2013

Belgian chocolatiers face up to changing tastes

BRUSSELS (AFP) ― Belgium is rightly proud as producer of some of the world’s finest chocolate but changing tastes and new markets in Asia and the Arab world are shaking up its somewhat predictable scene.“Belgian traditional chocolates? Some people still do them really well, such as the major brands,” said Laurent Gerbaud, one of the new generation of chocolatiers trying to keep up with a discerning clientele.In his workshop in the centre of Brussels, a customer will find few traces of the Manon,

Jan. 4, 2013

The story behind a Korean-American mom’s passion for cooking

Ro Hyo-sun is a Korean American mother of two who currently works as a government professional specializing in contracting and auditing in Washington, D.C. However, aside from being a full-time worker and a mom, Ro is also a dedicated food blogger.It started when her two children, who are now grown up and living away from home, wanted to start learning how to cook the food they grew up eating. Her children would call around dinner time asking how to prepare certain dishes. They complained there

Jan. 4, 2013

Winter special cuisine at Sheraton Grande Walkerhil

The hotel’s restaurants introduce winter special menus until Jan. 31. Ondal, the Korean royal cuisine restaurant, will present sanchae bibimbap ― root vegetables and green vegetables mixed with rice ― and seafood silky tofu stew for those looking for a high-protein, low-fat meal. In addition, Kiyomizu, the authentic Japanese restaurant, presents special blowfish dishes through Feb. 28. Blowfish is low in calories and high in protein, and has beneficial effects on blood circulation and diabetes.

Dec. 28, 2012

New Year’s celebration at Hyatt Regency Jeju

The hotel is hosting a New Year’s Countdown Party on Dec. 31 with a festive Happy New Year Buffet that will be served at Terrace Caf from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. In addition, a New Year’s Eve raffle will be held starting at 7 p.m. and winners will receive accommodation vouchers that can be used in Hyatt hotels all around the world. The raffle event will be held at the hotel’s lobby lounge from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. with a special “Nanta” performance staged by Jeju Island children. At 6:30 a.m, Jan. 1, the hotel

Dec. 28, 2012

‘Secret key package’ at Lotte Hotel World

The hotel offers a “Secret Key Package” until Feb. 28 to warm your body and mind during the cold winter season. The “Secret Key Package” provides exquisite relaxation in the middle of the city with one night’s stay in a Deluxe Room, SK-II Boutique Spa program for two, two Lotte Cinema movie tickets and one Krispy Kreme coupon. Guests may choose from three options: Pitera, Signature and LXP Royal. The Pitera program package includes a facial massage and the Signature program package covers foot s

Dec. 28, 2012

Fortune cookie event at Millennium Seoul Hilton

Celebrating the New Year, Taipan, the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, presents a special fortune cookie promotion from Jan. 1-Feb. 28 with an opportunity to win various prizes. Guests dining on one of “The Monk Jumps Over the Wall” set menus or whose dining bills exceed 200,000 won for two persons will receive these special fortune cookies. Inside the cookies, on the hidden slip of paper, are chances to win various prizes, which include certificates for hotel stays and meals at hotel restaurants. “T

Dec. 28, 2012

Goguma Juk, (sweet potato porridge)

Goguma Juk is a long-cooked sweet-potato porridge made with sticky rice powder. It has a sweet and nutty flavor.Ingredients● 2 sweet potatoes (yams)● 3 cups milk● 4 tbsp sticky rice powder● 100 g water● 2 tbsp honey● 1/2 tsp salt1. Clean sweet potatoes and rinse well with water.2. Set up a steamer over high heat. Once it starts to steam (which takes approximately 9 minutes), put sweet potatoes in the steamer and steam them for about 15 minutes. Peel the skins.3. Blend it with half the amount of

Dec. 28, 2012

Signature cocktails to hail 2013

Champagne tends to be the libation du jour when New Year’s Eve rolls around, but seasoned party revelers know the many hours preceding the stroke of midnight often result in a wide variety of drinks downed, including, especially if bar hopping, cocktails.With New Year’s Eve falling on a Monday, some sippers might opt for quality over quantity to avoid the aftermath of heavy drinking, ushering in 2013 by lingering over a top-notch cocktail or two before popping the Champagne. To that end, The Rit

Dec. 28, 2012

Classic bar for the V.I.P.s

Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed. Most bars in Seoul do not differ greatly from one another. They uniformly feature a modern or futuristic interior with loud music. It is not bad to be in such an environment, but in a party scene like that, people get exhausted and everyone needs an escape from time to time to a more relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Club Horizon located on the top floor of Renaissance Seoul Hotel is a perfect place for a relaxing and comfort

Dec. 26, 2012

Christmas special promotion at Renaissance Seoul Hotel

The hotel features a Romantic Christmas Menu on the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas. The hotel’s steakhouse Manhattan Grill offers a menu including lobster salad and Hanwoo steak. Italian restaurant Toscana will have a special Christmas dinner menu, which includes a scallop dish, special pasta and abalone specially prepared with an Italian touch. The price of the promotion at the Manhattan Grill is 86,000 won for lunch and 135,000 won for dinner, excluding tax and service charge. Additionall

Dec. 21, 2012

Gimbap, (Rice rolled in laver)

Gimbap is cooked white rice seasoned with sesame oil and salt, then rolled with other ingredients in a sheet of laver. Gimbap has been popular since the 1960s. It is good to pack for a picnic for lunch or as a snack because it is convenient to eat and contains many different ingredients and flavors. Ingredients:● 2 cups non-glutinous rice, 2 1/2 cups water ● Seasoning for rice: 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tbsp sesame oil● 1/4 carrot, 1/4 tsp salt ● 1/2 cucumber, 1/4 tsp salt ● 70 g pickled radish ● 100 g bu

Dec. 21, 2012

Best of the best menu at Westin Chosun Hotel

Aria, the hotel’s live buffet restaurant, holds the “Best of the Best” menu promotion revealing the most beloved dishes of the year available throughout December. The Best of the Best Menu is comprised of the 10 most popular dishes of the year including sea cucumber soup, braised beef short ribs, sautéed octopus with chili paste, Korean beef tenderloin steak, grilled abalones, truffle oil-scented mushroom cream pasta and Chosun Hotel baby napa cabbage kimchi. The lunch buffet is priced at 85,000

Dec. 21, 2012

Christmas desserts at Sheraton D Cube City Hotel

Deli, located on the B1 floor of hotel, presents special Christmas desserts to celebrate the festive season. For Christmas parties and year end celebrations, Deli proposes a wide variety of cakes for the seasonal celebrations, including the all-time favorite “Christmas Ginger House,” “Yule log tree cake,” a redesigned version of the traditional “Yule log” cake, “Christmas Forest cake” decorated with chocolate Christmas trees to express a little forest made of chocolate and cake, and the extraord

Dec. 21, 2012

‘Joyful X-mas Party’ package at Seoul Palace

The hotel presents the “Joyful X-mas Party,” a package for couples, families and friends available from Dec. 20-25. Three types of packages are available. The first one includes a one-night stay in an executive double room, breakfast and happy-hour meal at its club lounge EFL, a bottle of sparkling wine, Christmas party cake, a Santa Claus hat and a Rudolph headband, and is priced at 360,000 won, excluding tax and service charge. The second package includes one night at a corner suite or a corne

Dec. 21, 2012

Winter package for ladies at Grand Hilton Seoul

 The hotel presents a winter package designed for ladies through Feb. 28, 2013. Package I, for groups of up to four women, includes an overnight stay at a three-bedroom unit in the Grand Suite and is priced at 199,000 won. For groups of up to six, Package II provides a four-bedroom suite and is priced at 219,000 won. The packages also feature a diverse selection of snacks and beverages, including red and white wine, a 12-piece Hilton chocolate box, Lindt Chocolate, two bottles of imported beer,

Dec. 21, 2012

Shepherd’s pie near Dosan Park

When menswear designer Woo Young-mi opened a massive shop-and-eat store near Dosan Park, she devoted every inch of the newly minted space to her main clientele ― guys. Aptly christened Manmade, the shop sells Woo’s eponymous line, a carefully curated selection of man-friendly accessories and also boasts a cafe on the second floor. Camping chairs outfitted with custom-designed covers and low tables add a rustic, masculine vibe to the eat-and-drink space. The grub, according to barista Park Hyun-s

Dec. 21, 2012

Tropical nights at Bungalow

Following is part of a series on Seoul’s hottest bars and clubs. ― Ed. Imagine yourself on vacation in a tropical country, sitting in a lounge chair digging your toes into white sand and seashells from the beaches of Boracay. Especially on a cold night in December, just the mere image is enough warm you up. This doesn’t have to end as a thought in Seoul if you know the right place to go: Itaewon’s Bungalow Tropical Lounge.From regular American-style pubs to unusual gay bars, nightlife in Itaewon

Dec. 19, 2012