Culinary-minded cafes

Sure coffee is on the menu, but when a cafe dishes out great eats and sweets as well, then the shop is not just a place for a good brew, it is where one can go for a meal, dessert, or both. Newcomers La Taverna and Glamorous Penguin are two such spots. The grub, the cake, and the cookies merit the extra time required to settle down, pick up a fork and dig in. La TavernaOwners Paolo De Maria and Genie De Maria moved chef De Maria’s namesake trattoria from Seorae Village to Hannam-dong and also op

Feb. 28, 2013

Strawberry promotion at The Ritz-Carlton Seoul

The hotel’s deli, Ritz Deli will celebrate the strawberry season throughout March. The deli will offer delicious cakes and desserts including “lemon and strawberry tart,” vanilla cream and strawberries on a crispy lemon tart base, “strawberry yogurt mousse cake” made from fresh strawberries and yogurt, “strawberry chocolate tower,” where juicy strawberries top a crunchy mixture of nut brownie, crispy crunch and white chocolate, “black forest cakes” stuffed with pitted dark cherries and cheese ca

Feb. 22, 2013

Hanwoo sashimi at Millennium Seoul Hilton

The hotel’s restaurant Cilantro is introducing beef sashimi to the buffet during March. Diners can experience the most sublime presentations of the nation’s finest grade beef. Served uncooked or lightly seared, beef sashimi is mixed in with a variety of sauces and toppings, offering a sublime tasting experience for visiting guests. The Cilantro buffet, with the Beef Sashimi, is available for lunch and dinner. The lunch buffet is priced at 65,500 won for adults and 39,300 won for children under 1

Feb. 22, 2013

Spring package at Hyatt Regency Jeju

The hotel offers the Spring Cartel Escape from March 1 to April 30. The package includes a one-night stay in a mountain view room, a rental sedan for 24 hours, a strawberry signature box at Island Lounge, complimentary access to the indoor pool, fitness center, and a discount on the sauna. The rental car will allow guests to freely explore Jeju Island as well as attend various Jeju festivals: Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, Rape Flower International Walking Festival, and more. Trekking equipment a

Feb. 22, 2013

Spring weekend package at Renaissance Seoul

The hotel is offering three special packages for spring from March 1 to June 2. The “Spring Saving Package” is priced at 189,000 won for one night at the hotel’s deluxe room. The “Spring Delight Package,” priced at 235,000 won includes the deluxe room, breakfast for two at Caf Elysee, a bottle of red wine, six praline chocolates, and one free movie. The “Spring Family Package” is priced at 245,000 won and offers a deluxe room, breakfast for two at Caf Elysee (free for 2 children under 12 years o

Feb. 22, 2013

From New Orleans

Mardi Gras devotees are destined to have New Orleans on the brain with the recent celebration of Fat Tuesday ― which, for those who have grabbed a bite in the city, probably includes a hankering for local treats like the iconic beignet. The beignet is Louisana’s answer to the more widespread donut. While the fritter with a French pedigree varies from place to place, many view those from New Orleans’ famed Cafe du Monde as representative of a classic beignet. Either way, there is something undeni

Feb. 22, 2013

Kimchi kongnamul guk

Kimchi kongnamul guk is a variation of kongnamul guk, a soup made with kongnamul (soybean sprouts). Kongnamul is high in B vitamins, vitamin C and protein. This explains why kongnamul guk is a popular home remedy for common colds and hangovers in Korea. The addition of kimchi takes the soup to another level, with a spicy kick that’s strong enough to clear your sinuses. When my kids were growing up, I made this soup for them when they had a cold, just like my mother did when I was growing up. It’

Feb. 22, 2013

Vegetarian meals make their mark

When Begun editor-in-chief Yi Hyang-jae became a vegan about six years ago, she dared not ask restaurants to tinker with dishes to make them meat-free. “In the past, that would not have been possible,” the 50-year-old publisher of the Korean vegetarian magazine told The Korea Herald. Then two to three years ago, right around the time Begun was launched, Yi noticed a change. “These days, because people know what vegetarianism is, one can call a Chinese restaurant and ask for black bean sauce nood

Feb. 15, 2013

Vegetarian delights in the city

Once thought to be found only in secluded temples in the mountains, healthy and tasty temple cuisine is now available in the heart of Seoul. Baru, a temple cuisine restaurant run by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, opened in 2009 to promote Buddhist culture and its palates. At the Templestay Information Center, located between Jonggak and Anguk stations, there are Baru restaurants on the building’s second and fifth floors: the lower floor serves casual meals and mini-buffets with side dishes

Feb. 15, 2013

Alto-Adige promotion at Imperial Palace Seoul

Verona presents the “Alto-Adige” promotion from Feb. 14 to March 31. The one-course menu features T-bone steak with mushroom sauce, veal rib barbecue with herb sauce, and steamed veal shank with rice and asparagus. The lunch set menu includes a risotto croquette with marinated beet and steamed veal shank with rice and asparagus. The dinner set menu includes pineapple cannelloni filled with crab meat, marinated mushroom, Sicilian green olive, baked oyster and white asparagus followed by T-bone ve

Feb. 15, 2013

Spring picnic at Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel

The hotel presents “Spring Picnic Package” from March 1-31 for guests who want to enjoy an outdoor picnic in Seoul. The hotel offers two bicycles and helmets for guests to enjoy a ride along Dorim Stream and the Han River close by the hotel. Guests will be provided with a picnic mat and an outdoor meal from the Deli and can select from a wide variety of sandwiches, pastries, coffee and beverages available at the Deli. Guests will be provided with a Sheraton voucher for 30,000 won. The package in

Feb. 15, 2013

Cocktail Happy Hour at JW Mariott Hotel Seoul

Exchange Bar is launching a new Happy Hour promotion, with unlimited cocktails on a different base liquor every evening. The promotion will run from Feb. 18 to March 31, from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday’s Happy Hour cocktails are gin-based martinis, followed by rum-based lime mojitos and pina coladas on Tuesday, vodka-based martinis and Black Russians on Wednesday, tequila-based margaritas and tequila sunrises on Thursday and whiskey-based Rusty Nails and whiskey sours on Friday. All Happy Hour cocktai

Feb. 15, 2013

Very Berry Strawberry promotion at Sheraton Grande Walkerhill

The hotel’s lobby lounge, The Pavilion, and caf, The View, are offering Very Berry Strawberry promotion for spring from Feb. 23 to April 28. The promotion will run every weekend from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The menu includes strawberry tiramisu, delicate strawberry pastries, strawberry truffles, strawberry cupcakes, and more. Reservation in advance is required. The strawberry buffet is 55,000 won for adults and 30,000 won for children, tax included. Guests who leave the venues before 3 p.m. will be giv

Feb. 15, 2013

‘Joseph’ musical package at Lotte Hotel World

The hotel presents the “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” package until April 10. The musical is based on the “coat of many colors” story of Joseph from the Bible’s book of Genesis. Actors Song Chang-ee, Jo Sung-mo and Kim Sun-kyung star in the musical. There are three packages available: The Secret Bronze Package priced at 320,000 wom features a one-night stay in a deluxe room with two R tickets; for an extra 80,000 won you can get the Twinkle Silver Package which includes club lou

Feb. 15, 2013

Kongbiji jjigae (Ground soybean stew)

Kongbiji jjigae is a stew made with a creamy pure of soaked soybeans. Traditionally, this stew is made with soy pulp that’s leftover from making tofu. It’s also commonly made with finely ground soaked soybeans. Growing up, we usually had it with pork ribs and kimchi. I think that’s the best way. You can use pork meat instead, preferably fatty meat. Pork fat enhances the nutty flavor of soybeans. You can also substitute kimchi with boiled napa cabbage for a milder taste. All you need is a bowl of

Feb. 15, 2013

Sun Noodle, the super bowl for ramen chefs

LOS ANGELES ― What do some of the top bowls of ramen in Southern California ― the tsukemen at Tsujita, tonkotsu ramen at Daikokuya and kotteri shoyu ramen at Asa in Gardena ― have in common? Their noodles all come from the same place: a small factory near the Compton-Gardena border called Sun Noodle.The L.A. branch of a Honolulu-based company launched nine years ago, making just 10 kinds of fresh ramen noodles. Now, in the midst of a global ramen boom, the factory makes 160 kinds, to customers’

Feb. 15, 2013

One true Valentine’s Day at Grand Hyatt Seoul

The hotel’s restaurant The Paris Grill will be presenting a special dining experience in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The romantic dinner will serve seared sea scallops on mango carpaccio, Atlantic lobster bisque sauted with cauliflower and basil, roasted lamb, and prime rib eye with celeriac puree, accompanied by a bottle of Moet & Chandon Rose champagne, all for 245,000 won, including tax. Customers can upgrade the five-course dinner with additional options. Those who are interested can add

Feb. 7, 2013

Valentine’s Day menu at Seoul Palace

The hotel’s buffet restaurant Stone Plate will offer a special course dinner “My Sweet Valentine” for this year’s romantic event. In addition to the wide selection of dishes provided at the buffet, guests will be offered a main menu of their pick. Menu A includes tuna carpaccio with sea urchin and salmon eggs, foie gras, black caviar and grilled tenderloin steak, and menu B includes grilled prawns dipped in rubus coreanus fruit, salmon steak along with basil puree and lemon butter sauce. For des

Feb. 7, 2013

Romantic package at Sheraton Grande Walkerhill

The hotel’s two restaurants will each be offering a Valentine’s Day dinner. The hotel’s European restaurant Clock 16 will present a romantic eight-course set dinner, priced at 180,000 won, tax excluded, while the hotel’s buffet restaurant The View will offer a fresh seafood buffet at 120,000 won, tax excluded. Customers of the two restaurants will receive a 15 percent discount for the hotel’s seasonal dessert promotion, “Very Berry Strawberry Buffet.” For more information, call Clock 16 at (02)

Feb. 7, 2013