Marriott' strawberry buffet opens in February

By Kim Se-jeong

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “One must ask children and birds how cherries and strawberries taste.”

To which JW Marriott Hotel Seoul staff might add, “People in Seoul must taste the strawberries at our hotel in February.”

The hotel’s third annual strawberry buffet will open on Feb. 7 and end on April 30.

The popular dessert buffet will feature 30 strawberry-based desserts, including strawberry tart, cheese cake, tiramisu and a chocolate fountain for dipping strawberries. For those who are looking for something more substantial, strawberry smoothie and strawberry ricotta cheese salad are also available.

Head Chef Shin Tae-hwan, who is in charge of the dessert section of the hotel’s restaurant, said no other fruit can be so versatile. “They are colorful, flavorful and easy to work with.”

Getting quality strawberries is a tall order, Shin said.

The buffet package will start before the strawberry season begins. Currently, a majority of the strawberries on store shelves is from greenhouses. However, instead of signing a supply contract with a farm, which is what Shin often does for other hotel ingredients, Shin said he shopped around in markets in Seoul. Last year, he ordered them from farms in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province.

Strawberries have many health benefits.

They are a good source of Vitamin C and manganese and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers have also found that the strawberries prevent cardiovascular diseases and regulate blood sugar and prevent breast, cervical, colon and esophageal cancers.

The strawberry buffet has been well received by guests, the chef said.

“Almost 3,700 guests have come for the buffet,” he said of the one held last year. “I’d highly recommend guests to make a reservation.”

The buffet will be open at certain times on weekdays and weekends. For Mondays through Fridays, it will be open between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and will feature 13 dishes, which will be served with a free cup of tea or coffee.

For Saturdays and Sundays, it will be open between noon and 5:30 p.m. and will feature 30 desserts. The buffet costs 35,000 won during weekdays and 56,000 won during weekends per person, tax and service charge not included. A glass of champagne will be available at 3,000 won.

The strawberry buffet will be held at Lobby Lounge, a restaurant on the lobby floor. For more information about the buffet and to make reservations, call (02)6282-6736.

skim@ktimes.co.kr