By Alan Green
Contributing Writer

Seoul’s international area will be in festive mood as 2009 draws to a close. On and around Itaewon’s main strip restaurants, bars and clubs will be offering a variety of ways to usher in 2010.

If you want to treat your taste buds this New Year’s Eve, La Cigale Montmartre is offering a host of delicacies on its four course menu. A starter of foie gras terrine with porcini mushrooms is followed by scallops and oysters in a short broth. The main course is beef tenderloin with Sichuan pepper and brandy, and to finish a dessert platter featuring four mouthwatering sweets, including cakes and creme brulee. This feast costs 80,000 won excluding tax.

As well as their signature steaks, Hollywood Grill has added pizzas to their menu in time for the year’s end with toppings, including feta cheese, rocket, sausage and bacon. For drinkers, house spirits cost 4,000 won or double up for just 6,000 won. To cap the festivities, guests will get a free glass of bubbly for the New Year’s countdown.

For warm hospitality, Bless U will welcome you with drinks promotions all night. House specials will change hourly and include 2,000 won draft beer and 3,000 won shots plus discounted pitchers of cocktails all night long.

Door prizes, drink specials, live music and champagne at midnight awaits at Rocky Mountain Tavern. This lively bar will be partying hard and the music of high energy rockers U R Seoul will get the crowd jumping.

More live music beckons at Ole Stompers. A 20,000 won all-you-can-drink deal runs from 9 p.m. to midnight and the great night’s entertainment kicks off at 10 p.m., with the talented duo of Zee Kang and Aaron Fursman, followed by the Latin beats of The Willman Band. After the countdown, Sticky Fingers will rock the first few hours of 2010.

However you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Itaewon has something for everyone and revelers will be living it up all around this area. Come early, stay late and have a happy new year.

alan_green9@hotmail.com