[Weekender] ‘Freshness differentiates artisanal cheese’

Where do you buy cheese? Supermarkets are the easiest option, while department stores offer more refined products. Cheese shops provide a more upscale option. What if you are searching for not just any cheese, but cheese made in a traditional way? Room for affinage, or cheese-aging process (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)Finding high quality cheese here can be a challenge, but Cho Jang-hyun may be the person you are looking for. Cho is an owner-chef and cheesemaker at Cheeseflo in Hannam-dong,

Feb. 21, 2019

Foreign student develops kimchi timer, receives KAIST degree

An industrial design student from Costa Rica who developed a kimchi timer during her time at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology is set to receive her master’s degree on Friday. Maria Jose Reyes Castro from Costa Rica (KAIST)Maria Jose Reyes Castro, 25, conducted a study to develop the device, which uses a mobile app and a smart sensor to check the pH level of kimchi as it’s fermenting. With the app, users input the desired levels of fermentation and salinity. The app then for

Feb. 15, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘Chocolate is all about love after all’

Stepping inside chocolate shop Piaf, the aroma of chocolate fills the nose. The smell is captivating, exciting even those who are not sweet-toothed. The floor plan of the chocolate paradise is relatively simple, without chairs or tables. The furnished atmosphere resembles that of a fine jewelry boutique. A lone refrigerated showcase stands at the center, open without a glass cover on top. Inside, the stainless steel case is jeweled with a variety of chocolate confections. A chocolatier picks up

Feb. 7, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Romantic night at Grand Hilton SeoulGrand Hilton Seoul presents its Valentine’s Day package. The package includes one night’s stay at the hotel, a 30 percent discount for a breakfast buffet for two, a 20 percent discount for a cake at the Alpine deli and white wine. Gift sets from women’s lingerie brand Vivian will also be offered. For the Deluxe Room, the gift will be a set of lingerie valued at 120,000 won. For the Executive Room, a set of sleepwear and lingerie valued at 200,000 won will be i

Feb. 7, 2019

Maverick pastry chef bends flavors at new shop

When pastry chef Kim Min-sun came up with the name for her dessert shop, L’Inconnu, she selected a word that best expressed her approach. “The name, ‘L’inconnu,’ comes from the way I see pastry,” said owner Kim, 31. “I don’t want to copy and paste the stuff that I learned in Paris. “I want to take that and somehow make my own interpretation.” Less than two months into business in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, Kim is still experimenting, still exploring, which is why “l’inconnu,” which means “the unknown” i

Feb. 7, 2019

Ready-to-eat meals on way for Lunar New Year holiday

Lunar New Year holiday is just around the corner. While the word “holiday” may cheer some up, there are also those who don’t welcome the season. The two big traditional holidays in Korea, Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (fall harvest holiday), mean days of kitchen labor for many Koreans, particularly married women, to prepare food for their families and their ancestors.But with the popularity of ready-to-eat meals increasing steadily, food companies are looking to Seollal dinner tables as t

Feb. 1, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Packages and promotions

Strawberry-filled afternoon at Novotel Ambassador DongdaemunNovotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel & Residence presents the Strawberry Afternoon Tea promotion.The set menu will be available until the end of March from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Gourmet Bar on the 20th floor of the hotel. It includes desserts such as eclairs, financiers, mille-feuille and creme brulee. Diners can choose two drinks from the options of coffee, tea and strawberry coconut smoothie. Those who make reservations in advance

Jan. 31, 2019

Korean beef jerky dreams to be charcuterie for the world

Beef jerky is a very basic form of preserving meat, needing just sun, wind and time. Depending on the regional characteristics, the details may vary, resulting in different flavors and textures. The most well-known products are probably strong-flavored Singaporean and American beef jerky.But although it is not widely known to younger people, Korea has its own kind of beef jerky, yukpo, that was served at important events in the past. Even these days, it is offered at traditional wedding ceremoni

Jan. 31, 2019

Thai food empire turns a new chapter

Chicken, consistently juicy and flavorful, can be found at restaurateur Im Dong-hyuk’s newest Thai hangout -- Soi Yeonnam Mao.“We call it Soi Mao,” said Im, 37, of his latest enterprise, which he described as a “Thai tapas” spot. While Soi Mao’s main focus is Thai drinking food and wine, one cannot ignore the restaurant’s mouthwatering chicken dishes, from their “kai yang” to their “kai ping.” “Kai yang,” which is available for both lunch and dinner, is Soi Mao’s riff off a dish that hails from

Jan. 26, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Lunar New Year at Grand Hyatt SeoulGrand Hyatt Seoul Hotel presents the Good Luck 2019 package in celebration of the Lunar New Year holiday. The package includes a one-night stay in a standard room, breakfast buffet for two at Terrace, admission to an ice rink for two hours as well as skate rental for two and hot chocolate for two at the ice rink’s snack bar.Guests will also be offered complimentary shuttle bus services to and from Namsangol Hanok Village, where families can experience Korean tr

Jan. 26, 2019

[Eye Plus] Shake off cold with winter delicacies

As the icy wind blows in winter, there is nothing like street snacks to shake off the cold. From roasted sweet potatoes and bungeobbang to egg buns and fish cakes, these snacks can be spotted at street vendors in winter.While waiting for a bus, take a moment to grab a fish cake and sip hot broth to warm your body.  (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald) (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald) (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes are all-time winter f

Jan. 24, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Lunar New Year at Grand Hyatt SeoulGrand Hyatt Seoul Hotel presents the Good Luck 2019 package in celebration of the Lunar New Year holiday. The package includes a one-night stay at the Standard Room, a breakfast buffet for two at Terrace, admission to an ice rink for two hours as well as skate rental for two and hot chocolate for two at the ice rink’s snack bar.Guests will also be offered complimentary shuttle bus services to and from Namsangol Hanok Village, where families can experience Korea

Jan. 17, 2019

Seoul’s sweet rendezvous with chocolate, ‘Salon du Chocolat’

Seoul hosted Salon du Chocolat, a show dedicated to everything chocolate, over four days from Thursday to Sunday at Coex. The chocolate festival premiered in Paris in 1994 and has so far toured 16 countries around the world.Visitors could try their hands at dessert making at the cooking corner, shop for chocolate and drinks that go well chocolate such as tea, wine and coffee -- all of which were available to sample. A chocolate-themed fashion show and a chocolate art exhibition pleased the eyes

Jan. 15, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Strawberry pleasure at Novotel Ambassador DongdaemunWelcoming the strawberry season, Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences presents the “Feel the Berry” promotion. The hotel’s cafe and bakery The Deli offers coconut berry smoothie and berry cream latte. Gourmet Bar offers strawberry vanilla latte, a strawberry coconut blended drink, strawberry cream soda and strawberry gin. The strawberry promotion continues until the end of January, with prices starting from 6,500 won. For mor

Jan. 10, 2019

Local chocolatier, local ingredients, local flavors

For chocolatier Jang Ka-young, chocolate is about many things.Sweetness is a given, but there are other elements as well. “Both aroma and acidity are important to me,” Jang said. “I want the chocolate to have a clean finish and I need to a certain degree of acidity to achieve that,” the 32-year-old explained. Adore Chocolaterie’s signature collection features nine colorful and eye-catching bonbons in flavors like banga, or Korean mint, green citron and caramel ginger and orange confit. (Park Hyu

Jan. 10, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Yellowtail feast at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s vinyl music bar The Timber House hosts Winter Yellowtail promotion.During weekday happy hour from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. guests can enjoy a 4-course meal featuring yellowtail. The set-course menu starts with salad, followed by a sushi platter, tempura and udon. The meal will be completed with an unlimited flow of white wine, house sake and Japanese draft beer.The promotion deal costs 69,000 won per person. For more information or reservation, call

Jan. 3, 2019

'Makgeolli' contributing to alcoholic consumption by older women: report

The traditional alcoholic beverage "makgeolli" has contributed to the increased consumption of alcoholic beverages by older women, a report showed Monday.According to the report conducted by a team of researchers at Seoul National University College of Medicine, a daily average of alcoholic beverages consumed by women aged between 40 and 69 increased from 4.6 grams in 2003 to 5.8 grams in 2009.Also, the percentage of makgeolli consumption among alcoholic beverages jumped from 4.2 percent to 7.4

Dec. 31, 2018

Strawberry season returns to luxury hotels

Though the air is freezing, hotel dessert sections have already warmed up, gearing up for the strawberry buffet season.Over the past decade, local luxury hotels have been presenting all-you-can-eat buffets filled with strawberry-related desserts each winter, following the trend of hotels in Japan and Hong Kong.Though the buffet season used to start around February, the saturated market has moved the timeline as early as December. Most now start around the winter holiday season. Intercontinental

Dec. 24, 2018

Salami Museum opens in Seoul

Johncook Deli Meats opened its Salami Museum on Thursday, the first of its kind in Korea. Though it bills itself as a museum, the space is more of a showroom next to its factory in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. Admission is free. Visitors can observe how various types of salami are fermented, at the around 30-square-meter establishment. Salami on display at Salami Museum in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. (Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)“We began to work with salami 20 years ago, finding ways to consu

Dec. 20, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Welcoming 2019 at Novotel Ambassador DongdaemunNovotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel & Residence presents the Countdown package to welcome 2019. The package includes a night’s stay at the hotel, two tickets for the Countdown Party and a late checkout option. The countdown party starts at 9:30 p.m. and ends past midnight. Jazz and other live music performances are to take place at the rooftop bar of the hotel. Guests can choose a welcome drink -- sparkling wine, gin tonic, vin chaud and lemon

Dec. 20, 2018