Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Premium delicacies offered for takeout
By Kim Rahn
The cold has gone and it is the season when warm breezes tempt people to go on a picnic.
For those who find it tiring to prepare a picnic meal, or those who want to have some special food for their outing rather than rolls of “gimbap,” hotels are offering lunchboxes and other takeout items.
At Novotel Ambassador Gangnam, takeout party sets from Deli have been the best product of the hotel since its introduction in August 2010.
The sets named “New La Petite Partie” are small outdoor picnic or home party menu sets featuring luxury delicacies made by the hotel’s chefs.
Set A (160,000 won) is comprised of six dishes including mixed green salad with thousand island dressing; sweet potato and pumpkin salad; ham and vegetable sandwich; fried rice with vegetable and beef; chicken breast with tomato sauce; and mini beef burger and cheese with mushroom cream sauce.
By Kim Rahn
Set B (220,000 won) has seven dishes including salmon and mixed green salad with balsamic dressing; Japanese rice rolls; fried rice with seafood; Chinese-style seafood vegetables; chicken wings with teriyaki sauce; pan-fried prawns with chili sauce; and fresh fruit. A bottle of wine also comes with the set.
The dishes are made of organic, low-sodium ingredients and prepared just 30 minutes before delivery for maximum freshness. They are packed in a picnic box with all the dishes and tableware for an instant party, such as plates, forks, knives, spoons, cups and napkins. Both of the sets are for 10 people.
A reservation should be made at least three days prior to delivery. For more information, call 02-531-6604.
Delivered pizza is a common picnic item as delivery boys can go anywhere. But if you want some quality pizza, Imperial Palace Seoul’s Italian restaurant Verona offers takeout.
The restaurant’s pizzas are prepared with thin hand-tossed dough topped with various toppings. They are baked in an authentic Italian oven to give them a crunchy texture and the unique flavors.
Five kinds of pizzas are available including quattrostagioni with original Italian hams, calabrese with potatoes and mushrooms, napolitana, and valtellina. They are packed in a case and tied with ribbons with the hotel’s logo on them.
The price starts from 22,000 won. For more information, call 02-3440-8135.
From InterContinental Seoul COEX’s Asian Live, any Asian food offered at the restaurant is available as a takeout.
The restaurant serves a wide variety of Asian cuisine including Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian food, and customers can order any dishes to go except for soups. Sushi and Indonesian curry have been most popular dishes, but more and more customers are asking for Chinese takeout.
For more information, call 02-3430-8620.
Porridge is digested well, and it is a food item favored by patients. Korean-style abalone porridge at Seoul Palace Hotel’s Japanese restaurant Ta Bong has been popular among guests who visit a patient at St. Mary’s Hospital just across the street.
Due to high demand, the restaurant serves the nourishing food as a takeaway. The abalone is brought from Wan Island in South Jeolla Province every day and the rice comes from the famous rice producing region Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province.
The porridge costs 30,000 won. The restaurant also offers a lunch box (50,000 won) and sushi kaiseki course menu (70,000 won). For more information, call 02-2186-6888.
A Japanese-style lunchbox, called bento, is available from the Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s Japanese restaurant Irodori, which offers a delivery service as well.
Two types of bentos are offered, both of which feature items including appetizer, sashimi, braised fish or vegetables, grilled fish and assorted tempura. They are priced at 45,000 won and 55,000 won and are available until March 31.
Irodori also offers delivery service for customers’ convenience. For the service, an order of a minimum of five boxes is required at least two days before delivery. For more information, call 02-2222-8659.
The Grand Hilton Seoul also presents lunchboxes from its Japanese restaurant Mitsumomo.
The takeout item features shrimps baked with seasoning, tenderloin on a skewer, roast eel and boiled fish. It is priced at 58,000 won and a reservation is required. For more information, call 02-2287-8888.
If you just want some bread, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s Deli has special offers.
The Deli Morning Set, available between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekday mornings, features one of the bakery menu items such as freshly baked croissant, a Danish pastry, and a smoked salmon bagel with vegetables and cream cheese. It includes one beverage among Americano, Santa Vittoria green tea or lemon or peach iced tea, and Gold Medal plain or sparkling apple juice.
It is offered at a low price, which starts from 3,000 won. A cup of illy coffee is also available for 2,000 won during the morning hours.
The deli is located on the first basement floor of the hotel, connected to Sindorim Station, so not only picnickers but also commuters can conveniently drop by and order the food. For more information, call 02-2211-1730.
Ibis Ambassador Seoul also presents toasted sandwiches and beverages for morning and lunch times on weekdays at affordable prices.
The lobby offers coffee, green or red tea for 2,000 won, and toast for 3,000 won between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Available choices are ham and cheese toast, hot chicken teriyaki, smoked sausage toast and chili shrimp toast.
A morning set with sandwich and coffee or tea is 3,500 won and Fresh Green Box featuring sandwich, green salad and coffee or tea is 7,000 won. For more information, call 02-3011-8120.