By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Valentine's Day is coming.
Romantics may have waited long for the day and circled it on the calendar, despite much criticism on its commercialized features.
But if you haven't prepared yet, you can check out some special offerings from local hotels.
The Bistro European restaurant at Novotel Ambassador in Gangnam, will offer a romantic Valentine's Day dinner on Feb. 14.
The restaurant features a five-course meal, specially prepared by French chief Didier Leibel. Also served is complimentary wine from Bordeaux.
The restaurant will be also decorated with Valentine's Day features such as romantic candles and flowers, plus live jazz music. (For more information, call (02) 531-6604.)
The Park Hyatt Seoul also offers special set menus for the day.
Special menus are available at the hotel's main restaurant, Cornerstone, the entertainment bar (Timber House) and the lobby lounge. (For more information, call (02) 2016-1234.)
Renaissance Seoul Hotel offers musical tickets in its special romance package for Valentine's Day.
Two tickets for the musical ``Harold and Maude'' will be offered to guests who order the ``Be My Valentine'' set menu at the Manhattan Grill, Toscana and Club Horizon restaurants. Priced at 120,000 won, the menu includes a premium dinner for couples with Belgium brand chocolate and a rose.
The musical is based on the original motion picture and is currently on stage at the Seoul Arts Center.
For younger audiences, the hotel has the musical ``Hair Spray'' at the Chungmu Arts Center, which is a Korean version of the hit Broadway musical. (For more information, call (02) 555-0501.)
The Millennium Seoul Hilton will feature a Valentine's Day package allowing couples to spend the night together with various benefits.
Two packages are available ― the Romance Package at 450,000 won and the Valentine Package at 250,000 won.
The Romance Package includes a corner suite, welcome bottle of wine and cheese platter, access to the executive lounge and a dinner for two at the hotel's French restaurant, Seasons. One person can help the Seasons' chefs prepare the evening meal.
The Valentine Package includes an executive room, access to the executive lounge, and a complimentary bottle of men's cologne. (For more information, call (02) 317-3000.)
The Grand Kitchen Deli at the Grand InterContinental Seoul will offer guests chocolate with personalized messages.
The deli will write a romantic message on either black or white chocolate at the request of guests, which will take about 30 minutes to complete. These chocolates go on sale beginning Feb. 7 and prices will range from 20,000 to 35,000 won.
The hotel's executive pastry chef, Martin Chiffers, will also produce boxes made of pure chocolate and pink sugar, priced at 35,000 won. Contained within each box will be a selection of chocolates including wild strawberry, ginseng, mulberry, raspberry, rose petal and champagne bubbles. (For more information, call (02) 559-7653.)