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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

KoreaToday Can Topokki Attract Global Taste Buds?

By Kim Sue-young Staff Reporter What first crosses your mind if asked about Korea's representative snack food? Many foreigners and Koreans would think of the combination of rice cake and fish stick doused in red pepper paste, ``topokki (ddeokbokki).'' It is spelled as ``ddeokbokki'' in accordance with the government's Romanization, but the Topokki Food Research Institute (TFRI) spells it as the former. Topokki is easily found at snack bars that line the streets of Jongno, central Seoul, and from street vendors who populate crowded areas. Its spicy aroma and strong red color tempt passers-by who have empty stomachs and thin wallets. Now, moves are in motion to make the commonplace snack food ― priced at between 2,000 won ($1.50) and 4,000 won ($3) ― charm people around the world with the help of academic research. Standardization 'Key' to Globalization Just an hour from Seoul is a two-story research and development (R&D) center, two plants and large outdoor cafe, all for topokki studies. The TFRI has just opened with 800 million won ($530,000) in fu

Mar 26, 2009

Train Travel Through Europe — When Every Cent Counts

By Alan Wissenberg Contributing writer Most visitors to my office in Munich are surprised that I publish a Korean newsletter. And the surprise only grows when I tell them I have an office in Seoul. When asked why, I tell them ``because every traveler I have met from Korea is good at math, and they can smell a bargain.'' This answer surprises Americans and Canadians; it should not surprise those of you living in Seoul, Busan or Gwangju. At a time when the economies of the world are down, is it still possible to find a bargain for train travel through Europe? Of course, but the Korean method for planning train travel around Europe needs to consider even more information before the trip starts. Success starts with a good plan. Let me share another thought that leads to success: ``The route between two (European) cities is not a straight line and the direction often matters.'' For overnight train travel to succeed (and save you money), you must know more before you decide on the correct reservation (and even the correct rail pass). Most train travel books (in Korean and othe

Mar 19, 2009

Vancouver Strikes Man-Nature Harmony

By Park Si-soo Korea Times Correspondent VANCOUVER ― Vancouver, Canada's major gateway at the western tip of the country, is where untapped nature and civilization meet in stunning harmony. Various types of vessels ranging from luxurious cruises to bulky cargo boats sail on crystal blue water melted from million-year-old glaciers. Spacious public parks packed with hundred-year-old leafy trees are scattered around high-end skyscrapers and residential and shopping districts. Skiers armed with state-of-the-art equipment carve lines on uncharted snow plains and mountainsides during winter season. As such, Vancouver is the best destination for travelers seeking the ``coziness'' that untouched nature provides and the ``convenience'' the city offers simultaneously. Spectacular natural environment For those seeking to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the city of Vancouver is highly recommended. Unsoiled mountains, forests and gorges ― homes to various species of wild animals ― are in the vicinity of its downtown, enabling visitors to be refreshed by eating

Mar 19, 2009

Shanghai-Style Crystal Jade Delights Seoulites

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter If you're a frequent traveler around Asia, the name Crystal Jade may sound familiar. After all, it has a chain of 80 Chinese dining places, bakeries, dimsum places and even Korean ginseng chicken and barbeque restaurants in 11 Asian cities. In Seoul, the Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant has already been serving upscale Cantonese dishes at the Grand InterContinental Hotel for a few years, but its prices lean towards the high-end. Now, a more affordable option can be found at the Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight restaurant, which recently opened on the 5th floor of the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong. Expectations are high for the restaurant, especially since the Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight outlet in Hong Kong recently won the ``Michelin BIB Gourmand'' 2009 award. As the name implies, the restaurant serves Shanghai-style dishes, including dumplings, noodle soups and vegetable and meat dishes at affordable prices. One of the favorites is ``xiao long bao,'' or steamed soupy pork dumplings (5,000 won), which are made fresh ev

Mar 19, 2009

Hotel Lobby

Lotte Hotel Seoul Lotte Hotel Seoul's buffet restaurant La Seine presents the ``Journey to Argentina'' promotion March 19-31. During the promotion, guests can journey into Argentina's colorful culture and gastronomic world. Enjoy traditional Argentine fare and wines of Mendosa, the country's largest wine-producing region. An audio-visual displaying the beauty of Argentina will also be pleasing to the eye and breathtaking tango performance will provide a glimpse into South America's diverse and sensuous culture. Lunch is priced at 57,000 won and dinner is 62,000 won for adults. For inquiries, call (02) 317-7171. W Seoul-Walkerhill W Seoul-Walkerhill presents delicious and healthy chocolates handmade by its Pantry chef. Chef Thomas, who is in charge of all desserts at W hotel, created the ``Wild N Wonderful Chocolates @ W'' series. More than 10 kinds of well being ingredients, such as of bokbunja (raspberry), ginseng, rosemary, chili, wasabi, ginger and more, are turned into chocolates. The extraordinary chocolates are available only at W Seoul. Prices

Mar 19, 2009

Somerset Offers Everything Best to Travelers

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter Jean Keijdener, the country general manager of Somerset Palace Seoul, is a pleasant and travel-loving manager who knows what to do to provide the best services to his guests. ``As the manager, my objective is to be the person who has answers,'' Keijdener told The Korea Times. He has been traveling for 23 of the 25 years of his career. ``Hospitality and working abroad is a great combination,'' Keijdener said. ``What I like about my job is that I have the desire to travel and I'm still traveling.'' Interested in the hospitality industry from an early age, Keijdener started working professionally at a local hotel in the Netherlands when he was 19. Then he traveled the world, working at various hotels, resorts and serviced residences in France, the U.K., U.S., Vietnam and elsewhere. Before coming to Korea, he managed a resort hotel in Indonesia. ``Basically, I live the experience that our guests live, particularly in serviced apartments. I get to deal with the guests who move from country to country,'' he said. Now, Keijdener has be

Mar 19, 2009

Flower Festivals Blossom in Spring

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Nothing signals the beginning of spring like the blossoming of flowers. As temperatures get warmer, delicate cherry blossoms, vibrant yellow cornus fruit flowers, pure white apricot blossoms and all kinds of flowers start appearing throughout the country. Everyone should take the opportunity to revel in the beauty of these flowers while they last until early April. Grab your cameras and follow the trail of the blossoming flowers throughout the country. A word of warning: Be prepared for the hordes of camera-toting tourists who are all eager to capture the fleeting beauty of the flowers. Apricot Blossoms Over 83 acres of blooming ``maehwa'' (Japanese apricot) trees can be found in Maehwa Village, in the Daap-myeon region in South Jeolla Province. The Gwangyang Maehwa Festival opened last weekend, the first in a string of flower festivals around the country this season. When in bloom, the apricot trees are filled with white flowers called ``ume.'' The entire Maehwa Village and the Baegun Mountain are blanketed with pure wh

Mar 19, 2009

A Taste of the Fresh Sea at Choongmoojip

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The weather has finally given in to the sun, hinting at a bit of spring here and there. For those looking for fresh spring dishes, visit Chungmujip and try out the restaurant's specialty: flounder wormwood soup (12,000 won), sea squirt bibimpab and the hard-boiled scabbard (10,000 won). The soup and bibimbap can be ordered together, which is 15,000 won. With simple tables and rooms and the quite bubbly owner, guests can taste special seafood dishes from Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. As soon as we placed our order, the waitress brought several side dishes, including kimchi, seasoned wild rocambole, boiled pumpkin leaves and pan boiled anchovies. The simple dishes were fresh and tasty, not overwhelming and perfect as appetizers. Then came the large pot of hard-boiled scabbard, which was placed on the small stove placed onto the table. With two large pieces of the fish, green onions and the soft radish, the dish was scrumptious. The sweet and tasteful soy sauce complimented the whole steamy dish, which would have been great with

Mar 12, 2009

Hotel Lobby

COEX InterContinental Seoul COEX InterContinental Seoul's Lobby Lounge offers unlimited drinks and delectable bites during the Wonder Hour Festival, every Monday through Saturday. An unlimited bounty of wine and draft beer will be provided between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The promotion also hosts an unlimited buffet featuring beef stews, fried chicken wings, cheese and fruits, spring roll, roasted potatoes and other delectable bites. The buffet items may change daily. Enjoying the aforementioned for only 19,000 won. Call (02) 3430-8603 for detailed information. Novotel Ambassador Gangnam Novotel Ambassador Gangnam presents a pork buffet, said to be the best meal for yellow dust season, at its buffet restaurant festival through April 30. The buffet features pig hock salad and nicoise salad in the salad corner, while pork rolls with kimchi and pork loin with cream sauce, Korean pork garlic soup, grilled pork with sauce, salted pork BBQ and pork belly marinated with wine are added to the regular selection of buffet dishes. The pork BBQ is available in the instant

Mar 12, 2009

Chef Lee Challenges Culinary Contest

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter Lee Jun-hi, 33, participated in the Bocuse d'Or, one of the top chef competitions in the world, Jan. 27, a first for a Korean. He did not win but had an experience worth more than any award. ``Though I didn't win, I am satisfied to have seen and learned so much at the Bocuse d'Or,'' Lee, a chef of Millennium Hilton Seoul's Mediterranean all-day restaurant Cilantro, told The Korea Times. Started in 1983 and named after chef Paul Bocuse, Bocuse d'Or is regarded as almost equivalent to the Olympic Games in the culinary world. The biennial world chef championship is a dream for chefs, especially in French cuisine. Lee has dreamed about taking part in the contest since years ago and was excited when he was able to compete in the continental selections, newly established in 2009 since too many countries wanted to participate. Lee won the tickets to Lyon with his creation of salmon roulade with foie gras in May 2008. At the final competition, held in Lyon, France, participants had to make meat and fish dishes with designated main ingre

Mar 12, 2009
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