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Seoul hotels celebrate strawberry season with special menus

Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel’s strawberry dessert buffet / Sheraton Grand Incheon HotelBy Kim Se-jeong Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese and unsaturated fatty acids. They also contain phytochemicals, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. They decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Strawberry season has arrived, and to celebrate, hotel restaurants are offering menus and dishes featuring the delicious fruit.Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel is among the many luxury hotels that have created a decadent strawberry menu.The hotel’s Japanese restaurant, Miyabi, is serving strawberry sushi, which features a slice of strawberry in between the rice and raw fish. Meanwhile, its Chinese restaurant, Yue, has incorporated the seasonal fruit into the sauce for “tangsuyuk” or deep-fried pork. The strawberry dessert menu features more than 30 desserts, cakes and pastries, including Danish, tart and choux cream. Tea and coffee will be served at the dessert buffet.

Feb 11, 2016
Seoul hotels celebrate strawberry season with special menus

hotel briefs

The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul presents a new package for Chinese guests who will be traveling to Korea for the Spring Festival that lasts until Feb. 18.Guests who plan to stay at least two nights are eligible to purchase the package, which also includes buffet breakfast at The Garden, dinner for two at Oksan Buffet and free access to the fitness club and indoor swimming pool.The package costs from 30,000 won per night, excluding tax and service charges, and is available simultaneously at 22 Ritz-Carlton properties in Asia. Reservations are accepted until Feb. 16 for stays until Feb. 18. For more information or reservations, call (02)3451-8114. JW Marriott Hotel Seoul is inviting Chef Takagi Kazuo to its “Culinary Art at JW” event between Feb. 23 and 28 at the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, Mikado.Takagi, who heads a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, will feature Korean dishes using local ingredients, like crab, blowfish, tofu, shiitake mushroom, mountain vegetable, clam, spring onion, oyster, strawberry and persimmon.He runs two restaurants in Kyoto, where he is based,

Feb 11, 2016
hotel briefs

Seoul hotels offer Valentine's Day packages

 By Kim Se-jeongSeoul hotels are offering packages for a memorable getaway this Valentine’s Day.Grand Hyatt Seoul’s Valentine’s Day package includes a one-night stay in one of the rooms, a theme party at J.J. Mahoney’s with a free welcome cocktail, and breakfast for two at Terrace. Guests will also receive a bottle of wine, chocolates, a J.J. Monkey in celebration of the Year of the Monkey and a June Jacob’s VIP travel kit.The package is available on Feb. 12 and 13, and starts from 345,000 won, excluding tax and service charges. For more information and reservations, call (02) 799-8888 or visit seoul.grand.hyatt.com. Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s romantic package includes a one-night stay in a Club room and complimentary access to the Club Lounge, which offers a breakfast buffet and happy hour drinks. The package also includes balloon art, a bottle of Chandon sparkling wine, chocolate-covered strawberries and macaroons and a framed photo print of the guests, as well as free access to the gym, swimming pool and sauna. The package is a

Feb 11, 2016
Seoul hotels offer Valentine's Day packages

Ko Eun-kyoung, godmother of Korean fashion models

YGKPLUS President Ko Eun-kyoung, center, poses with her agency models. / Courtesy of YGKPLUSYGKPLUS model Hyoni Kang Courtesy of YGKPLUSModel-turned-actor Gang Dong-won / Courtesy of ShowboxPresident of YGKPLUS Ko Eun-kyoung / Courtesy of YGKPLUSModel-turned-actor Cha Seung-won./ Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunThere is always an unknown hero behind every successful person who often goes unrevealed. Fashion model-turned-CEO Ko Eun-kyoung is one of those hidden heroes, often called the godmother of the Korean fashion industry. She is now the president of YGKPLUS, a fashion model agency that merged with YG Entertainment in February 2014.Ko is not a big industry name in Korea like YG Entertainment’s chief producer Yang Hyun-suk or the CEO of JYP Entertainment Park Jin-young, but no top Korean model has not passed through the hands of the female CEO.Ko has worked with top models, from the 1990s and 2000s including Cha Seung-won, Noh Sun-mi, Song Kyung-a and Jang Yoon-ju to the current hottest fashion icons Hyoni Kang, Choi So-ra, Nam Joo-hyuk and Park Hyeo

Feb 11, 2016
Ko Eun-kyoung, godmother of Korean fashion models

Seollal filled with events for families

Performance group Yeonhuidan Palsandae performs “nong-ak” (traditional Korean music performed by farmers) at the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul during the Seollal holiday. / Courtesy of National Museum of KoreaBy Baek Byung-yeul As more than 36 million Koreans are expected to hit the road for the annual exodus to their hometowns during the Lunar New Year holiday this Feb. 8, there will be a variety of cultural events for foreign residents and families to enjoy during one of Korea’s two biggest holidays.During the five-day long weekend, temperatures are expected to drop slightly making it a great time to visit popular tourist destinations such as palaces, museums, amusement parks and galleries. Palaces, royal tombs During the holiday, palaces and royal tombs will be open for extended hours.The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that historic venues such as four of central Seoul’s major palaces _ Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Changgyeong Palace and Deoksu Palace _ royal tombs of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and Hyeo

Feb 4, 2016
Seollal filled with events for families

Holidaymakers throng traditional markets

By Chung Ah-youngTraditional markets might be one of the best places to understand the culture of the regions where you are traveling.For the upcoming “Seollal” or Lunar New Year’s Day on Feb. 8, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) introduced “Traditional Markets Selling and Buying Fun,” markets in six regions that best represent the unique cultures of some popular tourist destinations around country.Traditional Markets in Gwangju Songjeong Market in Gwangju Malbau Market is a quintessential traditional market in Gwangju, southwest of Seoul. Opening every five days, the market sells fresh agricultural items from vendors from Damyang, Gokseong and Suncheon in South Jeolla Province that are not easily available in other regions. The market, where some 20,000 people visit a day, is famous for its “Grandma Alley,” in which elderly vendors sell their vegetables and herbs they have grown themselves at affordable prices.Songjeong Market is a flea market that also opens every five days and sells fresh seafood, among other things. It a

Feb 4, 2016
Holidaymakers throng traditional markets

hotel brief

Park Hyatt Seoul offers premium gift sets for Lunar New Year’s Day. They include braised short ribs with abalone and a Mount Worak honeycomb set for 250,000 won; a set of four different meats for 240,000 won; 30 grams of Italian Calvisius caviar for 80,000 won; and Won Mae plum honey soju for 70,000 won.Other gift sets include a Bollinger Special Cuvee for 125,000 won; Nerone six-year balsamic vinegar from Italy for 90,000 won; and Korean ginseng-flavored chocolate for 80,000 won.For those looking for more affordable gifts, Arke’s extra virgin olive oil is available for 45,000 won and brie and mascarpone cheese stuffed with nuts costs 43,000 won. Items like smoked Maldon salt, truffle mustard and Andresy jam start from 20,000 won.For more information and order, call the Lounge at (02) 2016-1205/1206 or email to selph-lounge@hyatt.com.JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents a wide range of gifts for Luna New Year’s holiday.A set of low-sodium Pollack roe, preserved by traditional culinary master Jang Seok-jun, is available for 270,000 won. A set of silver hairtail and dried

Jan 28, 2016
hotel brief

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel, other hotels offer Lunar New Year packages

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s Deluxe room / Courtesy of Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelBy Kim Se-jeongExcellent service makes Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel a great accommodation choice for families planning a getaway for the upcoming Lunar New Year.The hotel’s 186 Deluxe rooms are all between the 29th and 36th floors, offering stunning panoramic views of the city, stretching from the north to the south. Each room also has quality amenities that will help guests relax. One of the hightlights of each rooms is the spacious bathtub, which is separated from the main area by an in-room window, enabling guests to watch the TV while in the bath or for parents to keep an eye on their children in the tub. The tub also has safety devices to prevent guests from slipping. The shower and toilet are also separate.In addition to the luxe bathroom amenities, the room has a carpet floor, a 42-inch HDTV, mod lighting, a coffee and tea marker, an international power outlet and a hair dryer as well as Wi-Fi access at an additional charge.The room package includes access to the hotel&

Jan 28, 2016

Spend your romantic getaway this Valentine's Day at luxury hotel

Conrad Seoul’s Stair Table / Courtesy of Conrad SeoulBy Kim Se-jeong In celebration of Valentine’s Day, which falls on a weekend this year, hotels’ around the country are offering packages for guests wanting to go on a romantic getaway. Conrad Seoul offers three packages. The Stair Table is an exclusive dining venue that will host only three couples on Feb. 14. The table will be set on the fifth floor on the hotel’s spiral staircase, the tallest in Korea. A five-course dinner will be served, accompanied by Charles Heidsieck Rose champagne, a flower arrangement by Helena Flower and a special dessert. Three couples can choose to dine at either 5-7 p.m., 7-9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m.-midnight. The Stair Table dining package costs 1 million won, including tax.Midnight Valentine is a party that will be hosted at 37 Grill & Bar on the hotel’s 37th floor for only six couples. There are live music, drinks, snacks and desserts, including chocolates. The party starts on Feb. 13 at 11:30 p.m., and costs 600,000 won per couple.Valentine’s Day Market Din

Jan 28, 2016

Food trucks: Where are they at?

Customers line up in front of a “Kimchi Bus” food truck parked inside Common Ground, a shopping complex near Konkuk University in Seoul. / Courtesy of Kimchi BusBy Yun Suh-youngRyu Si-hyeong, center, CEO of “Kimchi Bus” poses with kimchi in front of his food truck with his two chefs and co-workers Jo Seok-beom, left, and Kim Seung-min./ Courtesy of Kimchi BusWhen the film “Chef” (“American Chef” in Korean), about a head chef of a popular restaurant opening his own food truck, was released locally in January last year, it created a huge sensation. Viewers watched it more than once as they were inspired by the story and vicariously satisfied by the scrumptious Cuban sandwiches sold from the food truck. It stimulated people to go home and make the same Cuban sandwiches featured in the film. Some left the cinema mumbling maybe they should start a food truck like the protagonist Carl Casper did in the film.The cinema-induced fervor may have been temporary, but in reality, the food truck business is actually growing in Korea. Many young would

Jan 28, 2016
Food trucks: Where are they at?
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