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Hotel Lobby

Grand InterContinental Seoul The Grand InterContinental Seoul's Italian restaurant Caffe Espresso features special veal dishes in May. Various selections of veal are available such as country chicken soup with veal, veal carpaccio and Italian style veal tenderloin. Tortellini filled with veal and parmesan, tomato and onion ragout, osso bucco Milanese and veal piccata with grilled asparagus, fennel, garlic and mushroom with lemon butter and sage sauce are also on the menu. For more information, call (02) 559-7616.

May 17, 2007

Single Malt Whiskey Offers Multiple Delights

By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter While Koreans are notorious for drinking to get drunk, there are also those who seek quality alcoholic beverages for a little more than to be just a tippler. That's why there is an increase in the consumption of single malt whiskey, which has started attracting drinkers to its pure yet varied flavors. But the problem is that as single malt whiskey is still comparatively unknown and rare here, it is hard to find a good place to enjoy it. So it is definitely good news that the Library Bar & Lounge at the Shilla Hotel Seoul is holding a single malt whiskey promotion event. The bar specializes in single malt whiskey, having a total of 70 different brands, the largest number in town. The selection even includes 13 different single malt whiskeys that Michael Jackson, Britain-based, award-winning drinks and spirits writer, praised as the best single malts in the world in his classic reference books. ``In the past, you could easily see people drunk at a bar even in a hotel,'' CK Park, manager of the bar in the Shilla Seoul. ``But now more and m

May 17, 2007

Alternatives to Luxury Shopping

Rentals, Pawn Shops Offer Options By Bae Keun-min Staff Reporter Kim Hyun-a, 28, was picking out a luxury dress from clothes racks in a shop in southern Seoul Tuesday afternoon for a special dinner she had planned for Wednesday. Kim and her boyfriend were to dine out at an upscale restaurant to celebrate the second anniversary of their relationship. Kim wanted to dress up for the special day. But no clothes in her closet were to her satisfaction, which was why she went shopping that afternoon. Kim finally selected the latest sleeveless minidress in light blue by a high-profile American designer. She paid only 35,000 won for it with her credit card as she was not buying it, but was in fact borrowing it from the shop, Ace Maker, for two nights and three days. She would have paid some 2 million won for the same dress at a local department store. ``I cannot afford such an expensive item. It's better to lease it for my special day without spending a lot of money,'' Kim said. Leasing a Luxury Look Ace Maker, equipped with some 1,000 outfits and accessories, is

May 17, 2007

Simply Delicious by the Mekong

By Ed Peters Contributing writer After a day of organized tours around Vientiane's temples, markets and other major sights, part of the package we booked through the www.visit-mekong.com Web site, my wife and I bade temporary farewell to our guide, had a quick shower, and then set out to find somewhere for dinner. We strolled from our hotel, the Novotel Vientiane, along the banks of the Mekong, which was reflecting the last rays of the sun as the day drew to a close. We'd consulted our guide about the best places to eat, looked over a couple of guidebooks to the city, and asked the concierge, but still hadn't made up our minds. So, trusting to luck, we decided simply to follow our noses till we came somewhere we liked the look of. Fa Ngoum Road runs parallel with the Mekong, Asia's greatest waterway, and the lights of houses in Thailand on the other bank were starting to glimmer faintly in the darkness as we made our way past the Presidential Palace toward the main strip of restaurants and bars. Beside the pavement, families and couples, grandmothers nursing babies in

May 11, 2007

‘Homyeondang’ Offers Quality Meal

By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter Organic food has yet to catch on in Korea, although it has earned quite a following among health and environment conscious consumers in the West over the last few decades. Dining at Homyeondang, which labels itself an ``organic noodle bar,’’ however, you would think it is about time. The restaurant has sprouted branches across Seoul from Cheongdam-dong to Yeoido. Busan and Daegu will have one within this year. As word of mouth and blog reviews about Homyeondang spread, this reviewer decided to try one of the branches located in Myeongdong, central Seoul. At first glance, the restaurant does not stand out from its peer-level restaurants located in Cheongdam-dong or other fashionably populated areas, which have promoted their atmosphere’s chic-ness along with the food’s fusion-ness to appeal to 20-or30-something customers in recent years. The difference is that Homyeondang claims to use organic cooking materials only. And there seems to be no reason to doubt that proclamation yet, at least judging from the dressing and vegetables served

May 10, 2007

Hotels Offer Summer Outdoor Dinings

By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter It's only early May but it’s getting hotter and hotter and soon Seoul’s midday highs will soar to 30 degrees Celsius. Soon you may not feel like placing yourself in a confined spot when dining. Now is the perfect time to start savoring the early summer through outdoor dining experiences, which will make your dishes even more delicious. Local hotels are now offering a range of outdoor dining experiences at their outdoor terrace restaurants, and the following are some tips for you to take advantage of the wonderful weather and delicious dishes. Millennium Seoul Hilton The Oak Room, Millennium Seoul Hilton’s traditional English-style bar, features ``BBQ Happy Hour’’ special, which offers a no-frills barbecue complete with wine or ice-cold draft beer. Every evening (except Sunday), you can enjoy a barbecue buffet of salad, different types of BBQ dishes accompanied by BBQ sauces, side dishes including bread and rice, and fresh fruit. To quench your thirst, you can also drink as much draft beer or wine as you like. It’s available

May 10, 2007

Hotel Lobby

JW Marriott Seoul The Chinese restaurant Man Ho at the JW Marriott Seoul is offering spicy Sichuan specials. Sichuan cuisine is famous for its steaming hot pots and spicy seafood dishes, and the restaurant brings customers the authentic tastes of such dishes with four set menus, which will also showcase the rich regional diversity. Two lunch sets are available from 85,000 to 110,000 won each, while the two dinner sets range from 130,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6282-6741. The Shilla Seoul The Library Bar & Lounge at the Shilla Hotel Seoul presents a range of fine and rare single malt whiskey selections. At the venue, afternoon tea is served during the day, and in the evening, the 13 selections, which are carefully chosen by famous scotch critic Michael Jackson, will help guests blow away the day's stress and fatigue. The selection is available through the end of June. For more information, call (02) 2230-3389.

May 10, 2007

Shop and Stroll at Cheonggye Stream

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Thousands of people still stroll along the Cheonggye Stream every day, nearly a year and a half after its waters started flowing through downtown Seoul once again. Since the Cheonggye Stream restoration was completed in September 2005, its presence has been a welcomed sight for weary urban residents. Today, Cheonggye Stream is one of Seoul's main tourist attractions. The Cheonggye Stream starts near the Seoul Finance Center, downtown Seoul. No one can miss Cheonggye Plaza with its 20-meter high, multi-colored snail-shaped sculpture "Spring" by Claes Oldenberg. The walls along the stream's walkways are painted with colorful murals depicting Korean history and culture. With all the attention focused on the stream, the nearby traditional markets are often ignored. Despite sometimes being a little crowded, dirty, noisy and smelly, traditional markets nevertheless have their own kind of charm not found in glossy, air-conditioned shopping malls. At these markets, you can find unique treasures, good bargains and a taste of the

May 10, 2007

Paradise Busan Reopens With Brand New Look

Offering a spectacular view of Haeundae Beach, Korea’s most popular resort, the Paradise Hotel Busan, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World is renowned for its luxurious 540 rooms and its superb ancillary facilities that include a duty free shop, and a world-class casino. Since welcoming its first guests in 1987, the Paradise Hotel Busan has become Busan’s premiere five-star establishment whose popularity with local and international travelers led to the opening of an Annex in 1999. It has garnered numerous awards including The Golden Key in interior design by the American Hotel & Motel Associations in 1989. Having opened the Annex in 1999, a continual refurbishment and renewal program has ensured the highest standards of its state-of-the-art facilities and services. With the luxurious facilities and superb service, the hotel has been the logical choice as a main hotel for international meetings and conventions held in Busan. Paradise served as headquarters hotel for the Pusan International Film Festival, an official hotel for the 2003 International Conference a

May 6, 2007

Coffee Galore Original Alternatives to Chain Stores

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Freshly roasted Java? Or how about a cup of bittersweet Costa Rican blend, or a sip of Turkish espresso? Coffee, the seductive drink millions of people swear by and can’t seem to get enough of. Italian Pope Clement VIII (1536-1605) supposedly tasted the Moslem drink at the behest of his priests, who wanted him to ban it. ``Why, this Satan's drink is so delicious,’’ he reputedly exclaimed. ``We shall fool Satan by baptizing it and making it a truly Christian beverage!’’ And so, it is said coffee was popularized in Europe and eventually spread to the rest of the world. Korea is no exception when it comes to a love of coffee, where mega-brand Starbucks recently opened its 202nd store. But for coffee-holics in Seoul looking for a fresh new alternative to chain stores, there are plenty of options if you look closely. Northern Seoul Beans Bins This modernized hanok (Korean traditional building) cafe offers 100 percent pure arabica coffee. There are two major species of coffee plant, arabica and robusta. Arabica beans are older and often c

May 3, 2007

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

Hotel Lobby

Single Malt Whiskey Offers Multiple Delights

Alternatives to Luxury Shopping

Simply Delicious by the Mekong

‘Homyeondang’ Offers Quality Meal

Hotels Offer Summer Outdoor Dinings

Hotel Lobby

Shop and Stroll at Cheonggye Stream

Paradise Busan Reopens With Brand New Look

Coffee Galore Original Alternatives to Chain Stores

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