A dish by chef Quingquen Lin, visiting chef from Lai Heen a Cantonese restaurant in China to the Ritz-Carlton Seoul.

By Kim Rahn

For those missing the exotic food they enjoyed during overseas trips, hotels provide authentic international cuisine by inviting chefs from top-class hotels and restaurants around the world.

The Ritz-Carlton Seoul has invited chef Qingquen Lin from China’s famous Cantonese restaurant Lai Heen to present authentic Cantonese dishes through March 31 at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant Chee Hong.

With more than 10 years of experience at China’s super deluxe hotels including the Ritz-Carlton Guangzhou, his classic and contemporary menu balances colors, smells, texture and tastes in each dish. La Heen has been recognized by several magazines.

During the promotion in Seoul, the chef offers delicacies such as braised abalone and sea urchin roe, black moss steamed chicken with mushroom and vegetable, steamed shark’s fin with green laver sauce, double-boiled black truffle and minced meat, and double-boiled fresh milk with bird’s nest soup.

The lunch set menu is priced at 78,000 won and dinner, between 130,000 won and 210,000 won. For more information, call 02-3451-8273.

Another Chinese promotion will be presented by the Lotte Hotel Seoul in its Chinese restaurant Toh Lim.

Executive chef Fung Chekeung from Michelin two-star restaurant Chugoku Hanten Fureika in Tokyo and the owner chef Nakazo Tomizo of Chugoku Hanten Group will showcase the essence of Chinese cuisine on March 16 and 17.

Loved by Japan’s royal family, politicians, celebrities and gourmands, Chugoku Hanten hires renowned chefs from various regions of China to create the genuine taste of the country. The nine-course lunch and dinner will be priced at 120,000 won and 180,000 won, respectively. For more information, call 02-317-7101.

The Grand Ambassador Seoul also holds an “Authentic Cantonese Cuisine Festival” at its premium buffet The King’s through March 13.

Three chefs invited from China will produce over 30 dishes along with the Chinese premium wine Changyu. Stir-fried scallops, deep-fried breaded filet of turbot with sweet and garlic chili sauce, braised king prawn with mayonnaise and black bean sauce, dim sum and many more will be presented.

Lunch is priced at 58,000 won and dinner, 65,000 won. The wine is 80,000 won. For more information, call 02-2270-3121.

Another Asian cuisine offered by the Grand Hilton Seoul will be presented at the hotel’s Buffet Restaurant by two visiting chefs from the Hilton Garden New Delhi who will cook an array of Indian dishes throughout April.

The chefs will introduce not only Indian classics like tandoori, nan and curry, but also lesser known dishes, featuring distinctive flavors of traditional Indian cuisine. The dishes will include chicken, mutton, seafood, vegetable, cheese plate and lassi. Lunch is priced at 50,000 won and dinner, 60,000 won. For more information, call 02-2287-8271.

For Middle Eastern cuisine lovers, the Grand Hyatt Seoul’s “Flavors of the Middle East” promotion is a good opportunity to sample authentic dishes from the region.

Visiting chefs from the Grand Hyatt Amman will demonstrate their native cuisine at the hotel’s international buffet restaurant, The Terrace, from March 11 to 20. A collection of Middle Eastern delicacies will be presented, including Mezze, an appetizer that is a selection of meat and vegetable dishes and specialty desserts. The promotion price starts from 52,000 won. For more information, call 02-799-8166.

At the Park Hyatt Seoul, customers can enjoy an Italian flavor.

Through March 13, Filippo Gozzoli, executive chef of the Park Hyatt Milan who gained experience at three-starred Michelin restaurants, presents authentic Italian cuisine at the hotel’s main restaurant Cornerstone.

His dishes include barley risotto with mushroom and taleggio cheese, grilled sea bass with orange sauce, vongole spaghetti with seafood, prime beef tenderloin with Bordolese sauce, and white chocolate mousse with mango. Set menus are also available: a three-course “Ristorante The Park” and four-course “Filippo Signature Experience.”

Prices for the a la carte menu start from 22,000 won, while the lunch set menu starts at 45,000 won and dinner, 78,000 won. For more information, call 02-2016-1220.

The Novotel Ambassador Gangnam features another European cuisine ㅡ French. The hotel’s “French Harmony” promotion at the European restaurant, The Bistro, introduces French-style dishes presented by chief chef Gerald Mosiniak.

The promotion menu includes foir gras terrine, fig chutney and cucumber cold cream soup, white tuna tartar, scallops, black pork belly, morels risotto, and desserts. It is priced at 80,000 won.

The “Versailles Set,” the most favored menu in the second half of last year, is offered with more options for appetizer and main dish ㅡ customers can select between spiced marbled duck foir gras terrine and pressed lobster and grilled vegetable as a starter. Also two options are offered for the main dish ㅡ salmon or seared beef fillets. The set is available for 62,000 won. For more information, call 02-531-6604.

Here is a collection of Asian cuisine at the InterContinental Seoul COEX.

The hotel’s international buffet restaurant, The Brasserie, is holding an “Asian Food Festival” through the end of March on weekdays. Customers can enjoy an array of exquisite Oriental delights from Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and India.

Some of the delicacies include Malaysian-style fresh green papaya avocado salad, Tom Yam Gung, Vietnamese Pho noodles in special sauces, Hong Kong-style handmade dumplings cooked instantly table-side, Indian grilled tandoori and tuna, and Indian-style tapioca punch.

Although the Brasserie is a buffet restaurant, customers can enjoy freshly cooked food by chefs served at their table during the promotion. The price is 50,000 won for lunch and 62,000 won for dinner. For more information, call 02-3430-8610.