Healthy-ish grain bowl and other new eats at Bimbom’s second outlet

In a residential area of Seongsu-dong rapidly morphing into a clutch of eateries and cafes, Bimbom owners Sim Ka-young and Kim Tae-kyung found a second home for their famous brunch-friendly eats. “We came here by chance and had that feeling right away,” said co-owner and designer Kim, 43. “It felt like the neighborhood I grew up in.”  Bimbom’s Seoul Forest outlet serves up new additions like “eggnolia” -- a pesto quinoa and barley grain bowl topped with pickled red beets, avocado and a poached e

July 28, 2017

Around the Hotels

Champagne, sparkling wine at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Lounge at Park Hyatt Seoul, offering a panoramic view of the city from the 24th floor, has a promotion of champagne and sparkling wine at discount prices.Two types of champagne -- Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque and Billecart-Salmon, Extra Brut -- and nine types of sparkling wine -- including Fantini Gran Cuvee Rose Swarovski and Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rustico -- are available along with snacks. One glass costs 24,000 won or a bottle is 61,00

July 28, 2017

Making more than makgeolli

Julia Mellor’s first experience with makgeolli was, by her own admission, terrible. The cheap green bottle she had purchased from a local convenience store here left such a bad aftertaste that she gave up on Korean alcohol there and then. So it’s surprising that now, almost 10 years after her first and what she thought would be her final sip, she finds herself at the helm of a company dedicated to educating and spreading awareness of traditional Korean alcohol.Daniel McLaughlin (left), managing

July 19, 2017

Revitalizing Seoul through food

The evolving dining industry in Seoul has transformed blue-collar communities into hipster havens, where artists and expats alike relocate to open their restaurants and cafes. With food comes locals, drawn by the aesthetically pleasing interiors and foods on a platter, housed inside abandoned warehouses and narrow alleyways.Industrial neighborhoods, like Mangwon-dong, are only in their beginning stages of revival. Mangwon-dong’s main roads are crowded with open-air markets and low-cost produce,

July 18, 2017

Maison M’O launches new bakery near Seoul Forest

If one walks into A Cote du Parc at 10 in the morning, one is greeted with the intoxicating scent of freshly baked brioche, a warm, toasty, buttery scent that is hard to resist. The spread of pastries, bread and cakes on display makes it even more tempting to walk away with an armful of carbs from this new bakery, which opened in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong this April. The second offshoot of Maison M’O, a dessert shop that opened over two years ago, A Cote du Parc differentiates itself from its well-kn

July 14, 2017

Kkaennip Jjim (Steamed Perilla Leaves)

This steamed perilla leaf side dish (kkaennip jjim) is enjoyed in the summer when fresh perilla leaves are plentiful. The fragrant perilla leaves are lightly seasoned with a simple mixture of seasonings. Briefly steaming mellows the taste of this strong flavored vegetable while keeping the freshness of the leaves. If you find fresh perilla leaves a bit too strong, try this steamed version. Once you clean the leaves, it only takes a few minutes to put the sauce together and steam the leaves eithe

July 14, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Summer package at Westin Chosun Seoul The Westin Chosun Seoul offers the Urban Oasis accommodation package until Aug. 31. The package features accommodation in the deluxe, executive and junior suites, with prices ranging from 230,000 won to 520,000 won. The executive room package offers access to the executive lounge on the 20th floor for breakfast, snacks and cocktails, as well as the sauna. The junior suite package offers breakfast at the executive lounge or Aria Buffet Restaurant. Various cos

July 7, 2017

[Weekender] Extravagant desserts, once banned, return to spotlight

Topping off a savory meal with something sweet has become a commonplace ritual all over the world.　But long before cafes or bakeries flooded the streets of Korea, sweets were not used as desserts but rather spotlighted on their own, according to Lee Sun-mi, professor of Korean traditional cuisine at Sookmyung Women’s University’s Korean Food Institute.　 A plate of ripe persimmon and red bean paste (left) and iced yuja tea at Cafe Noshi (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)“Korean confectionaries, or

July 7, 2017

[Weekender] Taiwanese desserts gain ground in Korea

Move over macarons and Frappuccinos. Just as Starbucks made coffee drinks a daily essential for millions of Koreans and consumers around the world, authentic Taiwanese desserts are soaring in popularity here. Taiwanese dessert shop 315 Taiwan Cafe located on Teheran Street in Gangnam, southern Seoul (315 Taiwan Cafe)Seoul isn’t exactly home to the most authentic Taiwanese desserts. But if you take a chance and indulge in freshly crafted milk tea and munch on a heated Taiwanese pancake at 315 Tai

July 7, 2017

[Weekender] Bingsu, Korea’s heat-beating ice dessert

If Italy has gelato and France has sorbet, Korea has bingsu. It is a national dessert made of shaved ice, milk and condensed milk, and often topped with sweetened red beans or fruits. It is a dish beloved across generations, chilling their taste buds and slaking their thirst in the thick of summer. After a meal, Koreans like to go to a bingsu store to dive into a bowl of shaved ice, usually with friends or family. While the original “patbingsu” is made of ice, milk and red beans, more varieties

July 7, 2017

Buttermilk Biscuit Co. brings Southern-style eats to Seoul

When Kwon Yong-ki and his brother brainstormed ideas for their new restaurant, the siblings remembered late nights spent chowing down on biscuits in Virginia.“There was a diner inside the grocery that stayed open till five in the morning,” Kwon, 41, recalled of their favorite college haunt when he and his brother were studying in Virginia. “They always had biscuits and gravy. That was our go-to.” The two, now living in Korea, realized how much they missed those biscuits and the idea for Buttermi

June 30, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Summer package at Westin Chosun Seoul The Westin Chosun Seoul offers the Urban Oasis accommodation package until Aug. 31. The package features accommodation in the deluxe, executive and junior suites, with prices ranging from 230,000 won to 520,000 won. The executive room package offers access to the executive lounge on the 20th floor for breakfast, snacks and cocktails, as well as the sauna. The junior suite package offers breakfast at the executive lounge or Aria Buffet Restaurant. Various cos

June 30, 2017

[Home Cooking] Tonkatsu (Fried pork cutlet)

Tonkatsu is a panko breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. Like the curry rice I posted last time, tonkatsu (called donkkaseu in Korea) is another dish that made its way into Korea by way of Japan and became widely popular. The Japanese adapted their version from the West. Pork loin chops are the best cut for tonkatsu. In the markets, you can find pork cutlets that are specifically prepared for tonkatsu with slits all over on the meat. The slits help tenderize the meat and keep it nice and flat when f

June 30, 2017

Grilling? Don’t hold the mayo!

This is the season of outdoor parties and cookouts, as those of us self-professed grill masters and weekend warriors deftly show off our live-fire cooking skills in front of family and friends. That is, until the grill flares up and those beautiful steaks are reduced to charcoal and we’re peeling them off the grill through a cloud of smoke.It’s an all-too-common tragedy played out in backyards everywhere. What if there was an easier way?My challenge was always fish, which would glue itself to th

June 23, 2017

Fresh veggie dinner perfect for a hot summer night

Combine fresh sauteed vegetables with fresh fettuccine for this quick, vegetarian dinner. You can use the vegetables in this recipe, or mix and match any type you have on hand. Use the recipe as a blueprint for the amounts needed.The recipe calls for fresh fettuccine, which can be found in most supermarkets. Dried can be used. Follow the package instructions for cooking time.Helpful Hints:-- Linguine or spaghetti can be used instead of fettuccine.-- Use tongs to easily toss vegetables with pasta

June 23, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Summer package at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CitySheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a summer package that includes a one-night stay in a Club Room, express check-in at the Club Lounge on the 38th floor overlooking the city, continental breakfast for two and happy hour coffee, tea and snacks. Guests also receive an eco bag with a teddy bear, skincare products and other goodies. The package starts from 290,000 won and runs until Aug. 31. For information and reservation, call (02) 2211-2100.Ja

June 16, 2017

[Home Cooking] Curry Rice

Made with instant curry mix, Korean curry rice is a stew-like curry sauce served over rice. It’s one of those dishes that was introduced to Korea by the Japanese, and has since become a staple in Korean homes. The Korean version of the sauce is generally lighter, which makes it so good eaten with kimchi. It’s a hearty, comfort food we all grew up eating! 　 The instant curry mix makes this dish very easy to make. The curry roux is made with fat, so it has a richer taste and makes the sauce thicke

June 16, 2017

Fresh eats at new Korean deli

If one walks in at the right moment, one will be greeted by the mouthwatering scent of chicken grilling over smoldering charcoal at “Mamalee Market,” a Korean deli that opened in Samseong-dong, Seoul, two months ago. That barbecued chicken, which is basted with doenjang (fermented soybean paste) and grilled to smoky succulence, is one of the most popular eats at this new takeaway spot. Mamalee Market in Samseong-dong offers an array of dishes, from Korean "namul" (vegetable dishes) to salads and

June 16, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Filipino cuisine at Millennium Seoul HiltonThe Millennium Seoul Hilton’s flagship buffet restaurant Cafe 395 will introduce Phlippine cuisine prepared by Filipina celebrity chef Michelle Adrilliana until June 13. Adrilliana is renowned in the Philippines for her culinary prowess, working as chef, restaurant consultant as well as ambassador of Filipino cuisine around the world. Adrilliana visited Guangzhou, Sydney and Doha prior to coming to Seoul.Alongside a live cooking station offering beef, s

June 9, 2017

Foreign tourists enjoy Korean food, find some dishes overly spicy: poll

Foreigners visiting South Korea generally enjoyed eating traditional dishes but said some were overly spicy, a poll conducted by a state-run tourism agency said Sunday.According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 66.3 percent of the 974 people surveyed in February said they were satisfied with Korean food, with 31.4 percent saying it was "alright" and 2.3 percent expressing dissatisfaction. (Yonhap)Among those that complained about local food, 46.1 percent cited the spiciness as a problem, with

June 5, 2017