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Hotel Lobby

COEX InterContinental Seoul Paul Schenk, director of kitchens at the COEX InterContinental Seoul, will host a cooking class in English Tuesday for up to 120 children ages six to 12. The class will be followed by a children's buffet and all participants can take home the cookies they make. The hotel will provide all ingredients and lunch is included. The cost is 60,000 won per child. For more information, call (02) 3430-8686. Millennium Seoul Hilton The Italian restaurant Il Ponte will host a winemaker's dinner featuring Italy's renowned Biondi Santi wines Sept. 3. Chef Anita Bidini will offer a six-course dinner with wines. The dinner and wines is priced at 210,000 won per person. For more information, call (02) 317-3270.

Aug 14, 2008

Olympic Mania Getting Stronger

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The first week of the 2008 Beijing Olympics is over, but Olympic mania is only getting stronger. Turn on the television, and Olympic competitions are being shown in a seemingly endless loop. Newspapers and Web sites are flooded with Olympics news, photos and videos. Multinational brands like Samsung, McDonald's and Coca-Cola have spared no expense with commercials reminding everyone that they are the official sponsors of the Olympics. Other brands, even if they're not officially affiliated with the Olympics, have jumped on the bandwagon, coming up with limited edition products to commemorate the Games. There's no escaping the Olympics at least for one more week. Until then, sit back, relax, watch the Games and ``buy" some Olympic spirit with special edition Olympics goods available at stores now. Sports Gear Sportswear giant Adidas is the official sportswear partner of the Beijing Games, providing outfits for over 3,000 athletes, 16 national committees, 214 country federations, as well as 100,000 volunteers and staff.

Aug 14, 2008

Hotel Lobby

Oakwood Premier Coex Center Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul offers a summer package with Chrysler available through Aug. 31. Guests can drive a Chrysler vehicle for two hours with the package. Four lottery winners can drive one of the vehicles for three days. Also included is access to the newly renovated fitness center including indoor swimming pool and golf range. Rates range from 190,000 won for the studio deluxe to 290,000 won for the two-bedroom deluxe. For more information, call (02) 3466-7708.

Aug 7, 2008

A Porky Affair at Cheolsanjip

By Min Hee-young Korea Times Intern Sundae, the Korean blood sausage, is the sort of dish that elicits immediate judgment from novices. Those who can stomach the fact that sundae is made by boiling or steaming pig's intestines in pig's blood are in for a savory delight. Already acquainted with, and won over by sundae, I was not expecting any surprises at "Chul San Jib," a tiny six-table restaurant located in an alleyway in Namdaemun market. But the dishes served at Cheolsanjip imparted to me a bloody revelation: Sundae can get porkier. The sundae I am accustomed to, the type rife on Seoul streets, is pork-intestine casing stuffed with glassy noodle barley, pig's blood, glutinous rice, bean sprouts, green onion, and garlic. Serving a porkier variety, the restaurant has additional pork stuffed inside the natural casing, befitting for sundae aficionados seeking an exceptionally hearty meal, or perhaps after a night of heavy drinking to soak up the alcohol. We each ordered ``sundaeguk'' (5,000 won), which is sundae and steamed rice immersed in broth. We also shared a d

Aug 7, 2008

Music Makes the Movie

Rock the Summer Heat With Music-Themed Films By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The movie theater always provides escapism, and can be a haven ― air-conditioned and entertaining ― from the sultry summer heat. But don't hide from the sun ― why not enjoy a break filled with cinema and live music by the lakeside? The 4th Jecheon International Music Film Festival (JIMFF) will take place Aug. 14-19 in the scenic city in North Chungcheong Province featuring 82 movies from 30 countries as well as 30 live concerts. While very young, JIMFF has established a reputation as popular getaway, where one can enjoy a silent film with music by a live band by Chungpoong Lake. But more than just a feast for cineastes and audiophiles, the festival is the first of its kind in Korea and Asia, and is out to establish music movies as a recognizable genre like fantastic movies. Music in Cinema Music often plays a critical role in cinema ― by heightening the drama, creating an ambiance or adding to character portrayal. But sometimes, music plays a more central role. ``Music movies'' ― anything from

Aug 7, 2008

Back to Korean-Style Ramyeon at Nenassis Noodle Bar

By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter The boom for Japanese-style ramen seems to be on the ebb. It's time to turn the eyes again to ``ramyeon,'' to which Koreans are more accustomed. ``Being accustomed'' may be the reason people have paid less attention to Korean-style ramyeon, as they think they can cook it at home. Nenassi's Noodle Bar, however, offers an upgraded version of ramyeon ― Korean-style but unlike the instant noodles ordinary snack bars offer. The small, but modern eatery in Nowon-gu, northeastern Seoul, has 11 kinds of ramyeon dishes. Most ramyeon are made with special soup, of which the recipe is secret, of course, and which is key to differentiating Nenassi's ramyeon to those served at ordinary eateries. ``Don (pork cutlet) ramyeon'' (4,500 won) is garnished with pork cutlet. Before eating, we thought the soup might be greasy because of the fried cutlet. However, it was not, and the pork went quite well with the noodle. What looks new and attractive, especially in the summer season, is ``naeng bibim ramyeon'' (cold spicy ramyeon). In spicy red paste sauce with a

Aug 7, 2008

Hotel Lobby

Imperial Palace Hotel The Imperial Palace Hotel offers a special package, featuring a concert by Alicia Keys. The package includes a night in a deluxe room or duplex suite, breakfast for two and two R-class tickets to the concert of the popular R&B singer-songwriter. The concert will be held at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium on Aug. 7, and is part of her tour to promote her third album ``AS I AM.'' The prices are 320,000 won for the Deluxe Room Package and 420,000 won for the two-story Suite Room Package. For more information, call (02) 3440-8000.

Jul 31, 2008

Uniqueness of Korean Cuisine(II): Kimchi

By Chad Meyer Contributing Writer This is the second part of a series focusing on the benefits of Korean cuisine and nutrition. We will continue an exploration of the Korean diet and an examination of culture, health, and longevity. The average lifespan of Koreans continues to rise, according to the 2008 Korean Health Data Report issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Koreans are now living 79.1 years, above the OECD average lifespan of 78.9 years. The data links longevity, among other things, to health care expenditure per capita. But South Korea goes against the trend. According to the report, Korea, with an above-average lifespan, ranks 28th out of the 30 OECD countries in terms of health care expenditures, based on GDP. Is Korea's diet the key contributor to longevity in the Land of the Morning Calm? Korea has one of the smallest pool of doctors of the 30 OECD countries. Koreans live longer lives and spend far less on health care than other leading countries such as Japan. And although Japanese live slightly longer, they are spendin

Jul 31, 2008

Icy Cold Patbingsu at Uhmji Bean

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Restaurants small enough to call themselves ``hole in the wall'' in Korea are associated with a certain type of food, in most cases, Korean. With just a little interest and determination to journey along narrow streets full of hidden shops, one can find a cozy eatery and enjoy recipes ranging from pastas, and fast food to desserts. Among these places nestled around Seoul, is ``Uhmji Bean.'' Located in Seorae Village in Bangbae-dong, the small shop offers the best of beans, from coffee beans to their specialty, red beans. ``Uhmji'' literally means ``thumb'' in Korean, and like the fairy tale character Thumbelina, the shop is indeed tiny. With no particular entrance, people just walk into the open space that leads directly to a very narrow staircase. There is a very busy and somewhat dangerous-looking open kitchen right next to the stairs, fit for only about two people to make coffee. Walk down to the small space below, and you will find three round tables, each with two wooden chairs, and two electric fans. Forget personal space here;

Jul 31, 2008

Splash Splash, Take a Ride

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Swirling, twirling dipping rides, bikinis, waves, waterfalls, or a cup of cool ice tea by the pool ― are these calling out to you? If so, water theme parks are dotting up around the nation, each boasting interesting and distinctive attractions and features. Ever more ingenuous and creative with new features, these parks claim that they are not just about splashing around in the pool, but enjoying a healthy, fun and relaxing time with water. On the other hand, there is ever more variety in the colorful dizzying rides. Others recommend a more peaceful and quieter atmosphere; with pine trees lined up along the pools complete with soothing spas and massage treatments. Exciting or peaceful, any choice will offer a memorable time by the pool. Vivaldi Park's Ocean World Ocean World boasts the highest artificial wave among other parks at their most popular pool ``Surfing Mount.'' Visitors can swim through the 400 tons of water and move back and forth with the powerful eight foot wave created once every 70 to 75 seconds. There are three small ``islands

Jul 31, 2008
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