[Weekender] [Herald Interview] Unraveling the mystery of kimchi

GWANGJU -- The unmistakable smell of spicy cabbage greets visitors at Gwangju’s Kimchi Town, where everything exudes Koreans’ love for that fermented dish ubiquitous on dining tables in the country. The grandiosely named World Institute of Kimchi occupies a building next to the kimchi museum in a corner of the complex. There, scientists and experts from various disciplines of research have gathered for a national mission: unraveling the science behind kimchi.  “We study ev

Nov. 29, 2019

[Weekender] Kimchi fridges evolve with new designs, technology and functionality

Wine aficionados have wine coolers and cabinets at home. Fish-loving Japanese have fridges with special features for raw fish storage. Koreans, likewise, have a refrigerator for their beloved kimchi. Although Korea’s very first kimchi refrigerator dates back to 1984 (Gold Star, now LG Electronics, was its inventor), the market only began to take shape in the late 1990s, with the rise of apartment complexes as the norm of urban dwelling. Traditionally, kimchi was stored in earthenware burie

Nov. 29, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Fermentation at heart of Korean, ASEAN cuisines

Experts on fermented food from Asia came together for a forum on Tuesday, amid growing recognition of the health and nutritional benefits of such food worldwide. Experts from Korea and four member states of ASEAN --Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia -- gathered at the aT Center in Seoul to introduce fermented food, exchanging knowledge and introducing the different cultural backgrounds of their cuisines.The ASEAN-Korea Food Fermentation and Culture Forum was held on the sidelines of the A

Nov. 26, 2019

[Weekender] Malaysian chef cooks ‘agak agak’ in Yeonnam-dong

Whenever a young Basira Yeusuff wondered how much chili there was in her soup, her grandmother would always say, “Agak agak.” Meaning “roughly” or “rough estimate” in Bahasa Malaysian, the phrase is used widely in Malaysian kitchens to explain seasoning amounts in home-cooking recipes, said Yeusuff, now a chef, using the tips of her fingers to explain how much “agak agak” could be. It sums up the Malaysian food culture, and that’s why she cho

Nov. 22, 2019

[Weekender] A culinary journey to Asian neighbors

Long overshadowed by Asia’s two gastronomical giants China and Japan, cuisines from Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations are tantalizing taste buds and adding new flavors to South Korea’s diverse food scene. A visit last week to the Shinsegae Department Store’s basement-level food mall, where only the hottest eateries in Korea are invited to set up, reconfirmed the geographical diversification. A section was created to resemble a food street in an imag

Nov. 22, 2019

[Weekender] Vietnamese coffee and sandwiches in Seoul

To refresh oneself with Vietnamese coffee in Seoul, Cong Caphe in Yeonnam-dong, western Seoul, is the prime destination. The successful Hanoi-based cafe chain offers visitors a glimpse inside Vietnamese cafe culture, serving various Vietnamese-style coffees and coffee variation drinks, such as the famous Coconut Smoothie Coffee. Coconut Smoothie Coffee features sweet coffee mixed with a coconut-flavored smoothie. In this rather chilling weather, the drink can be brain freezing, but the flav

Nov. 22, 2019

[Weekender] Taiwan arrives on Korean cafe scene

Myeong-dong is a symbolic battlefield in Korea’s franchise world. To be considered successful, one has to have a store or two there -- ideally right at the center of the busy tourist district. New store openings and closures are watched by many for signs of changes in food trends. A visit to the area earlier this week revealed the increased presence of one particular Asian country among Myeong-dong’s cafes and dessert shops -- Taiwan. Taiwanese tea chain Tiger Sugar has an impre

Nov. 22, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Year-end afternoon tea at Park Hyatt Seoul Park Hyatt Seoul’s The Lounge is offering the “Festive Afternoon Tea” to celebrate the Christmas and year-end season. The afternoon tea set includes honey cheese panini, bulgogi sandwich and mushroom cream soup. Desserts that resemble winter-related icons such as present boxes and mini trees will also be included. The food items will be served on traditional Korean pottery plates. 　The promotion is available from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. an

Nov. 21, 2019

Chef sues Michelin Guide for listing his restaurant against his wish

Controversy surrounding Michelin Guide Seoul now shows no signs of abating, as a South Korean chef has accused the fine dining guide of the crime of “insult” for including his restaurant on its list. On Nov. 15, chef Eo Yun-gwon, 49, who runs modern Italian eatery Ristorante Eo in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, took legal action against Michelin Travel Partner, formally accusing it of insult, which is a crime under Korean law, after the gourmet guide included his restaurant in the M

Nov. 21, 2019

Rice connects cuisines of Italy, Korea

Rice was the focus of a culinary event jointly organized by the Korean Food Promotion Institute -- affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs -- and the Embassy of Italy in Seoul at the Korean Cuisine Culture Center in central Seoul on Tuesday. Italy and South Korea have very different culinary cultures, but rice is an important ingredient in both.  “I think rice is a great ingredient that works (harmoniously) with the body for both Italians and Koreans,&rdquo

Nov. 20, 2019

Health-conscious brews at Oga Teahouse

Sequestered on the basement floor of a building near Posco Center in Seoul’s Daechi-dong, Oga Teahouse is a personal haven for manager Oh Ki-hwan. Oh, who runs this Korean teahouse with his mother, turned to herbal remedies when he found himself burned out from work. Herbal medicine was not unfamiliar to Oh, whose grandfather was a doctor of traditional Asian medicine. “We always had licorice root around,” he said.Oh, 44, recalls sucking on the bark-like root and how sweet it t

Nov. 15, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Winter packages at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul is offering special promotions for winter vacationers as well as those planning year-end gatherings. The “Winter at Park” package offers a 20 percent discount for all food and beverage in the hotel and those who book suites will receive a bottle of red wine and voucher for the sauna. A separate promotion for year-end gatherings is available for events with eight to 60 guests. Prices vary depending on the options. For inquires and re

Nov. 15, 2019

[Weekender] Busan’s delectable fare

SEOUL/BUSAN -- From fresh seafood to street snacks, Busan is a city of many delectable delights. That’s why it was chosen as the top travel destination for foodies in a 2017 survey by the Korea Tourism Organization. Busan’s culinary heritage was shaped by the Korean War, during which the city -- serving as the country’s provincial capital -- saw a massive influx of war refugees. Some of its most iconic delicacies were adaptations of dishes from other regions -- mainly North Kor

Nov. 15, 2019

Michelin reveals new starred restaurants in Seoul

Michelin Guide Seoul’s fourth edition was released Thursday at Vista Walkerhill Seoul, despite suspected meddling with the selection process. Highly acclaimed Korean fine-dining restaurants Gaon and La Yeon kept their three Michelin stars, maintaining their stars since the Seoul guide was first published four years ago.  A total of 31 restaurants received at least one star this year.There was no new addition to the three-star list. However, two new restaurants made it to the two-star

Nov. 14, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Wrap up 2019 at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul presents year-end promotions suitable for those planning gatherings to wrap up the year. Guests who make a booking from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 can choose from a festive menu (buffet or set), a beverage package, or a welcome canape set. All promotional sets are available for events with eight to 60 guests. Prices vary depending on the options. Benefits offered to all guests include vin chaud welcome drinks (one per person), festive table centerpieces, C

Nov. 8, 2019

Dive into diversity of Vietnamese cuisine

With restaurants in practically every city district, it’s fair to say that Vietnamese food has a firm foothold in South Korea. But while the restaurants are many, the options are not, with most serving the same dozen dishes, half of them pho. So when faced with the abundant options here, it’s hard to know where to start.An invitation from Paradise Vietnam and its Viet Deli group of restaurants gave The Korea Herald a chance to taste what Vietnam had to offer, revealing a world of fre

Nov. 1, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Italian beer night at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s Italian restaurant Cornerstone presents the Italian Craft Beer Flights promotion, featuring three varieties of beer from craft beer brewery Barley.On offer are Barley’s signature beers Friska, Macca Meda and Tuvi Tuvi, made from a unique blend of fruits and herbs. Served with a selection of four pairing dishes -- sausage with grilled vegetables, potato fries with truffle oil and assorted Italian antipasti, grilled chicken and p

Nov. 1, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

 Trick or treat at Millennium Hilton Seoul Millennium Hilton Seoul’s all-day buffet dining restaurant Cafe 395 will feature a special Halloween-inspired dessert buffet station in addition to its usual buffet spread, from Saturday to Oct. 31. Creepy fingers cake, eyeball gelatin, witch cupcakes and much more will be prepared at the station, alongside jack-o’-lanterns and other Halloween decorations. Children who come dressed in Halloween costumes will receive a special gift.Cafe

Oct. 25, 2019

[Weekender] ‘We sell a lifestyle’

At Altdif, a boutique teahouse in Seoul’s Seogyo-dong, tea masters don’t just sell a cuppa. They sell a lifestyle.“We’re not just a tea shop. We’re a lifestyle shop that centers on tea and the tea-drinking lifestyle,” explained Ryu Gyeonghyeong, general manager of the shop. Since its opening in late 2016, Altdif has stuck to its unique concept by offering a five-tea course for seven guests only. Just like a full meal, it starts with a straight tea, as ent

Oct. 25, 2019

Hot sandwiches, soup and coffee for colder months

Crisp, cool weather invites warmer fare like hot soups exhaling curls of steam, cups of heartwarming coffee laced with creamy milk, and crunchy-edged sandwiches, fresh off the panini grill. That is precisely what one will find at Sunset Swimming Sandwich, a sandwich bar that opened last month in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong. “I felt most confident about sandwiches and coffee,” Sunset Swimming Sandwich founder Lee You-jin explained. Before Lee launched her sandwich bar in September, she f

Oct. 25, 2019