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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.

Nami Island Holds Foreigners Free Festival

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Nami Island, known as the location for the popular TV drama ``Winter Sonata,'' is offering free admission to foreign visitors for nine days from Saturday. The ``Foreigner's Free Festival'' (iNDi Fest 2009) will be held on the picturesque island Feb. 28-March 8, marked by a series of art exhibitions, dance performances and concerts. Located in Chuncheon, 63 kilometers east of Seoul, Nami Island was where young love blossomed between Winter Sonata's lead characters, played by hallyu stars Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo. Tourists, mostly Japanese fans of the series, came in droves to the small island in 2005 and 2006. But as the drama's popularity faded, so did tourists' arrivals. ``We want to welcome more foreigners to Nami Island. Every year, we hold international festivals, but this is the first time we are having a free festival exclusively for foreigners. They can enter free of charge and enjoy free snacks,'' Kang Woo-hyon, Nami Island CEO, told The Korea Times. Although Winter Sonata helped boost the island's profile as

Feb 25, 2009

Taste New York-Style Brunch at My Chelsea

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Successful entertainer-turned-restaurateur Hong Seok-chun has opened his fifth franchise in Itaewon, My Chelsea. As the name suggests, it is a trendy New York-style brunch place that can be found in the food alley behind the Hamilton Hotel. In a country obsessed with finding the latest ``matjib,'' or a restaurant with reputable dishes, many bloggers have already posted comments and photos of My Chelsea's dishes and colorful decor. Hong has recently published a book on running a restaurant, and his flair for styling shines through. It exudes with rustic charm, with plastered white and orange walls, wooden furniture, vases of fresh flowers in every corner and adorable props. Bright sunrays fill the spacious hall, as the entire facade is made of glass. It caters particularly to trendy young women to whom ambiance matters. But perhaps the restaurant, barely two-months-old, is yet too infantile for a ``guerrilla'' restaurant review. While the decor certainly lived up to expectations set by bloggers, the food and service were rather disappointing,

Feb 19, 2009

Hotel Lobby

W Seoul-Walkerhill W Seoul-Walkerhill introduces the ``Baby Me'' package for future mothers as a celebratory gift, offering unforgettable memories. The package includes one night in the Fabulous Room, with a panoramic view of the Han River, and 60 minutes of pre-natal treatment at Away Spa, including a massage with special oil that helps prevent stretch marks and promotes correct circulation, as well as an infant gown with a W logo and skincare products from a luxury baby skincare brand and gift certificate for maternity wear. Breakfast for two at Kitchen restaurant is also included. The package starts at 460,000 won. For reservation, call (02) 2022-0000.

Feb 19, 2009

Gourmet Foie Gras Offered

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter Foie gras, the delicacy of a lifetime, is on offer at various French restaurants and local hotels. Foie gras is one of the most distinctive culinary dishes of France and has been dubbed one of the three most delicious delicacies in the world. It is full of protein, calcium, vitamins and other nutrients and famous for its soft texture. Table 34 of Grand InterContinental Seoul re-invites famous One Star Michelin Chef Daniel Chambon and his son Stephane, renowned for their expertise in foie gras preparation, Feb. 23-28, the first time for the hotel to re-invite a chef after only a year due to requests from guests. Choices include carpaccio of sea scallops and jumbo prawns with hazelnut oil and foie gras, as well as delicious pan-fried foie gras wrapped with potato strings. Duck breast with foie gras and creamy mashed potatoes are also excellent typically French dishes. A la carte items cost from 13,000 to 45,000 won, while sets are priced from 45,000 to 115,000 won. For reservations, call (02) 559-7631. Novotel Ambassador Gangnam's Europ

Feb 19, 2009

Chef Fallini Brings the Nature of Tuscany

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter A joyful Italian chef from Tuscany offers fresh and simple Italian food at Marco Polo, the Grand InterContinental's Mediterranean restaurant, until Feb. 21. Antonio Fallini, 45, was born in a town near Lake Como, northern Italy. He started cooking when he was 15 and has spent 30 years in kitchens around the world, including two years at the Four Seasons Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Now, he's the executive chef of Hotel Relais Borgo San Felice, a boutique hotel located in the middle of Tuscan wine country, just one hour away from the city of Florence. A sommelier of the Grand InterContinental found out about the boutique hotel and fine dining in Sienna during the promotion of the winery of San Felice and recommended the chef visit Seoul to present his authentic Tuscan creations. ``Tuscany is the culture of Italy. The language and all the works of the Renaissance are from Florence,'' Fallini told The Korea Times during an interview Wednesday. ``I like this region very much because I like the wine and we are just one hour from the Mediterrane

Feb 19, 2009

Cheap but Chic: Vintage Shopping in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Hwang Sung-hee Staff Reporter Vintage shopping, according to Project Runway's Tim Gunn, ``used to be the turf of the eccentric and bohemian.'' ``The idea of wearing old clothes was simply not mainstream. It wasn't until the early '90s and the ascendancy of grunge that vintage really hit the mainstream. Grunge as a fashion moment passed but the doors of vintage clothing shops had been thrown open, never to close. Subsequent trends meant interest in vintage has waxed and waned, but just barely. It has successfully permeated the red carpet, and instead of suggesting eccentricity, now suggests taste, a good eye and subtlety,'' Gunn said, in his book ``A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style.'' Vintage fashion is fast gaining ground in Seoul. More young and hip people are heading to second-hand shops in Hongdae, Samcheong-dong, and even Gwangjang Market to find one-of-a-kind, stylish items. Lee Yu-mi, who owns Romiwa vintage shop in Hongdae and a big fan of second-hand clothing herself, says vintage appeals to individuals with distinct styles and tast

Feb 19, 2009

Korean Food to Be Upgraded Abroad

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean food still has a long way to go to become part of international culinary culture, and many experts are striving to bring traditional dishes to the next level. Among them is Yoon Sook-ja, the president of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food, who has launched the ``Project for Cultural Enhancement for Korean Restaurants Abroad'' with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The institute held a special event to introduce its work with a special appearance from Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Tien Van and his wife, Duong Thi Dzung, at its headquarters last week. According to the institute, many Korean restaurants abroad are in fact far from Korean, as there are not many professional chefs who know how to make authentic dishes. Thus, Yoon said she realized the need to properly present Korean food to foreigners and teach foreign chefs the correct recipes of famous dishes. ``We've been working on this project for the last three years. As a start, we visited Vietnam and Hong Kong and after some research, we finally came up with 2

Feb 16, 2009

Elegant, Hearty Food at The Bistro

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter When it comes to good food and elegant atmosphere, space and size don't matter. For those who want to experience both without splurging or going overboard, try ``The Bistro,'' which offers contemporary food and wine with a special touch. Located just before the Hannam Bridge near UN Village, ``The Bistro'' is modest in size but rich in taste and character. As soon as visitors walk in, they can find five tables and an interior decorated in modern black and ivory. The place may seem a bit small, but it would perfectly fit a quiet, stylish meal or a party. Having opened last month, ``The Bistro'' aims to bring wine a bit closer to customers, not in a rush, but slowly and naturally. ``If you bring wine, we can make food that matches that wine, even if it's not on the menu. What we are trying to do is merge wine and food. We want visitors to learn about them slowly, theoretically and physically,'' said the owner Jinny Kang, who also is a food critic and party coordinator. In order to make people learn efficiently, Kang added that The Bistro i

Feb 12, 2009

Chakraa Offers Valentines Day Special

By Kwon Mee-yoo Staff Reporter If you're looking for an extraordinary way to spend Valentine's Day, try authentic Indian cuisine at Chakraa. Chakraa, an Indian restaurant chain, offers a romantic candle-lit couple set and exotic family set for the special day. The menu includes cream of vegetable or chicken soup, samosa, chicken tikka, tandoori vegetables or prawns, green salad with olive and almond dressing, butter chicken, palak paneer, saffron rice, tomato and cheese naan and garlic naan. Caramel custard, chocolate ice cream and coffee or Indian tea will be provided for dessert. The special menu is priced at 40,000 won for couples and 68,000 won for families of four. The restaurant also will have a raffle event. The lucky winners will get a bottle of wine worth 49,000 won. Call (02) 796-2255 or visit www.chakraa.co.kr for more information. meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr

Feb 12, 2009

Hotel Lobby

Lotte Hotel Lotte Hotel Seoul and Lotte Hotel World are promoting local seafood festivals at buffet restaurant La Seine until Feb. 28. The ``Dongmyeong Port Seafood Festival'' at Lotte Hotel Seoul offers winter specialties from the East Coast including sailfin sandfish, Korean sand eel and common moray eel. Guests can taste fresh seafood from Sokcho's Dongmyeong ― East Sea ― Port, where the sun rises brightly. ``Seafood Favorites from Eight Provinces'' at Lotte Hotel World serves traditional favorite regional winter delicacies, including red tilefish from Jeju Island, marsh clam soup from Gyeongsang Province and skate ray sashimi from Jeolla Province. For inquiries, call (02) 317-7171 or (02) 411-7811.

Feb 12, 2009
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