Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Captivating gourmet tour for foreign foodies

Participants on the “night dining tour” take pictures in front of a shop for “kkultarae,” a snack made of fine strands of honey and maltose, in Insa-dong, Seoul, Friday.By Yun Suh-young“Everybody look carefully. Dip the meat into the sauce that you prefer, place it on a leaf and fold it,” said food curator Kim Jin-wook, explaining how to enjoy “ssam,” a combination of meat and other ingredients eaten wrapped in leafy vegetables at an outdoor restaurant, Friday.In front of him were a dozen tourists who signed up for the four-hour “night dining tour’’ program, organized by O’ngo Food Communications, a company that specializes in food tours for foreigners.The group listened carefully and did as instructed. Ssam proved to be a fun and unusual experience for first-timers.Participants dine at a restaurant where “galmaegisal” (pork skirt steak) was served with leafy vegetables as part of “ssam,” in Jongno, central Seoul, Friday. “Is it okay to di

Jun 6, 2013

Captivating gourmet tour for foreign foodies

Hotel lobby

JW Marriott HotelThe JW Marriott Hotel Seoul will hold a series of gourmet dining experiences in June. Titled “Culinary Art @ JW,” the event brings seven globally renowned chefs from Japan, France, Italy, China, India and Thailand, including one single Michelin star holder, Christophe Gibert, head chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka's French restaurant La Baie and one double Michelin star holder, Takagi Kazuo, the owner-chef of Kyoto cuisine TAKAGI.   Each visiting chef will be in the kitchens of the JW Marriott Seoul in June, presenting a variety of à la carte dishes and special gala dinners in collaboration with the hotel's five restaurants: all-day dining restaurant The Café, Western-style JW's Grill, Italian Olivo, Chinese Man Ho and Japanese Mikado (see table overleaf for details).The highlight will be the Grand Gala dinner on June 20 in the Grand Ballroom. All seven chefs, together with JW Marriott Seoul's own star executive chef Andreas Krampl, will prepare a truly unforgettable feast.For more information, call (02) 6282-6262.Grand Hilton Seoul 

May 30, 2013

Sheraton Incheon, Chadwick join hands for charity

Interior of the lobby bar of the Sheraton Incheon Hotel in Songdo that will be the venue for a Starwood Charity event today. The ChadwickInternational school choir will perform at the charity gala dinner. / Courtesy of the Sheraton Incheon HotelBy Kim Ji-soo The Sheraton Inchon Hotel today is hosting the Starwood Charity, Bb, at the lobby bar of the hotel. Starwood Korea, a branch of the global hotel chain, is organizing the gala dinner for the local charity, the Beautiful Fund. The Chadwick International school’s choir, located in Songdo Incheon will be performing at the dinner. Mr. G. Simo, the choir’s director views their performance as part of their contribution to the worthy cause of helping needy children. The choir will perform for half an hour. The event is hosted by chefs from five Starwood hotels in Korea namely Sheraton Incheon, Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, W Walkerhill, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City and The Westin Chosun Busan. For the dinner, each Starwood Chef will set up a barbecue station with a signature barbecue dish including sirloin ske

May 30, 2013

Sheraton Incheon, Chadwick join hands for charity

Travel simple, smart and safe

A few travel tips from a travel reporter for those planning a vacation abroad this summerA convenient check-off list for the smart traveler By Yun Suh-youngThe air is holding on to a little bit of the spring and the first heat of the summer, which means it’s the time of year when you begin to think about your summer vacation. Here are some useful tips you should read before you book a flight, hotel room or vacation package that may help you travel smartly and safely. Exchanging currencies Exchange rates at the airport are frequently unfavorable so if you have enough time, exchange your money at the bank that you normally transact with because they will likely offer a favorable rate for their customers.If carrying cash around is inconvenient, then try the Internet currency exchange service provided by the banks. You can register online in advance for currency exchange at the bank you transact with and receive the cash at the bank’s branch office at the airport. The online reservation offers a slightly more favorable rate than exchanging at the airport at the

May 30, 2013

Modern Italian at Sky Lounge

The newly-renovated interior of the Sky Lounge, on the 30th floor of the InterContinental Seoul COEX, has a blue-color as its theme, which pairs well with the flood of neon and soft-lights stemming from the surrounding high-rises in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. / Courtesy of InterContinental Seoul COEX  Italian chef Federico Rossi at the Sky Lounge at the InterContinental Seoul, COEXBy Kim Ji-sooThe InterContinental Hotels in Seoul have undergone major renovations recently. The entrance to the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is currently behind a large, temporary wall with renovations set to finish next February. The InterContinental Seoul COEX, which faces the Bongeun Temple, completed its rooms and is at work freshening up its restaurants.As part of it, the Sky Lounge on the 30th floor has been transformed to feature modern Italian cuisine. The new interior is decorated from floor to ceiling in shades of blue, with stainless-steel plates presented on bamboo-smoke color mats combining to create a new, modern urban feel. The Sky Lounge offers a panorami

May 30, 2013By Kim Ji-soo

Does he need help?

Professional dating consultants promise to show the awkward and unattractive the ropes for surviving Seoul’s cutthroat romance scene. Do they really serve a purpose or are they sleazy opportunists?Can the art of pick-up really earn the heart? By Yun Suh-young, Jung Min-hoIn the 2005 romantic comedy “Hitch,” Will Smith plays Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a “date coach” who mentors men on how to approach women and win their hearts.“Three dates is all you need,” to get a woman interested he promises Kevin Jame’s hapless Albert. But he needs a heavier dose of his own medicine to woo sexy gossip columnist Sara, played by Eva Mendes.While Hitch is a fictional character, his story is a reflection, to some extent, of reality. At least it is in Seoul, where an increasing number of professional dating consultants offer counsel to help the goofs, the awkward and unattractive survive the city’s romantic battlefield. And the price of getting the inside track on dating is often an entire month’s salary, and sometimes even more.R

May 23, 2013

Hotel lobby

PlazaThe PLAZA will open its outdoor boutique bar “Garden Fest” from May 21 through Oct. 2. Guests can enjoy cool drinks as well as premium dishes including rotisserie duck, lamb and bulgogi. Side dishes range in price from 16,000 to 49,000 won and beer is 6,000 won per glass.There is also a Happy Hour (6 p.m-8 p.m.) for the price of 48,000 won for two people including VAT & service charges. This set includes one side dish and unlimited draft beer. For guests visiting on their birthdays, the Garden Fest will provide one of the Lounge's desserts and a pitcher of draft beer for free.Every last Friday of the month, a lucky draw will be held with prizes such as The PLAZA vouchers and gift certificates for Seven Square. For more information, visit www.hoteltheplaza.com or call (02)310-7400.Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s buffet restaurant, Orangerie, will the cuisine of the Philippines in June.Though not as well-known as its Asian counterparts, the cuisine of the Philippines has many influences from Malaysia, Spain, China, India, etc. due t

May 16, 2013

Treat yourself to delights of Thai cuisine

A spread of Thai dishes that will be available at the Hyatt Regency Incheon’s Restaurant 8 Noodle from May 22 through June 2./ Courtesy of Hyatt Regency IncheonHua Hin, Thailand, is well known as a popular resort area that house the Thai king’s summer residence. To Koreans, it’s also familiar as two foreign-born K-pop stars — Nickhun of 2 PM and Victoria of f(x) — filmed an episode for the Korean television program “We Got Married” at the resort town.The Hyatt Regency Incheon has invited the chef of the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin to feature Thai food loved by Koreans as well as royal Thai cuisine.Two Thai chefs will showcase their authentic cuisine with spices from Thailand and fresh ingredients at Restaurant 8 Noodle. The promotional event will begin May 22 and continue through June 2.A total of 29 dishes will be featured at the promotion. On offer will also be a variety of royal Thai foods such as Som Tum Thai Poo Nim salad, Tom Yum Goong soup, Pla Kao Rad Prig comprising of grilled fish and Khao Niew Ma Muang, a dessert mixing mango and st

May 16, 2013

Treat yourself to delights of Thai cuisine

Beckoning early summer birds

Hyatt Regency Jeju on Jeju Island offers a rental car service for its early summer bird package. / Courtesy of Hyatt Regency JejuBy Kim Ji-sooThe smartest consumers are those able to take advantage of niche-period deals.Targeting these guests, a few of the country’s leading hotels have put forth a variety of packages. The Hyatt Regency Jeju on Jeju Island offers from June 1 to 30 the “Early Summer Cartel Package.”The attractions of Jeju Island — the ocean, Mt. Halla, fresh seafood and Olle trekking trails — are numerous.Knowing full well its charms, the package includes a one-night stay in a room with a mountain view, a rental car for a day and other benefits. The hotel will provide a Jeju attractions coupon book, and for those interested in hiking, the hotel has an equipment rental service. The package is priced at 208,000 won. For more information, call (064) 733-1234 or visit jeju.regency.hyatt.com.Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul offers a special package including treatments at its Sulwhasoo Spa. / Courtesy of Lotte HotelThe Lotte Hotel in downtown

May 16, 2013

Rogue or vogue?

Fashion trends highlight North Korean consumerismBy Kim Young-jinIn February, reports surfaced about North Korea that, for a change, focused on the relatively mundane. The regime, it seemed, had handed down a list of state-sanctioned “socialist” hairstyles for its citizens.The reports circulated at a time of high interest in the country after it carried out its third nuclear test. Media pointed to the list as an example of the regime’s often-bizarre control over its people. “The cuts…are a statement about North Korea's values,” MSN News declared, “which apparently don't include spiky hair.” Posters depicting the hairstyles reportedly hang in salons across the country.Photographs of the list went viral, raising questions about fashion norms in the isolated state. Are men really forbidden to have locks more than five centimeters long? Do women wear these mullet-like dos? Are clothing regulations similarly strict?Girls wearing bright jackets roller-skate at a park in Pyongyang in this photograph taken in April. / Courtesy of Uri Tour

May 16, 2013

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

Captivating gourmet tour for foreign foodies

Hotel lobby

Sheraton Incheon, Chadwick join hands for charity

Travel simple, smart and safe

Modern Italian at Sky Lounge

Does he need help?

Hotel lobby

Treat yourself to delights of Thai cuisine

Beckoning early summer birds

Rogue or vogue?

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