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Hanwoo Brings Out Best of Manhattan Grill

By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Korean diners tend to have a very strong preference for Hanwoo, the cherished purebred Korean beef, but it won't take Joerg Hontheim two seconds to tell you he could not agree more. That is good news for patrons of Manhattan Grill, the fine dining eatery at Renaissance Seoul in Kangnam since as the executive chef, Hontheim has seen fit to brandish an assortment of sumptuous dishes using nothing but Hanwoo. Take the beef carpaccio for instance. Marinated in black olive and pear, wild mushrooms with sesame ginger vinaigrette, the thinly sliced temperature-seasoned Hanwoo melts away, unfortunately, before you really have a chance to chew. So it is befitting that the German gourmet chef designed the first of two seven-course menus with this particular dish to get you started on just the right foot through a culinary adventure. This adventure takes you next to the double delight of Hanwoo ox-tail consomme with pine mushrooms and fatsia shoots cream soup, the combination of which really sets you up perfectly for the rest of the journey.

May 3, 2007

Pamper Yourself at Hotel Spas

By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Spas are increasingly becoming the center of competition among Seoul's luxury hotels thanks to health-conscious trends and a growing number of customers looking for more than just a place to sleep and dine. Such facilities are also a priority for business people and vacationers on the move seeking to melt away their stress with a little extra pampering. With the Grand Hyatt Seoul being the latest among the city's five-star properties to open a spa, simply named ``The Spa,'' hotels are now competing to roll out a variety of deals to provides customers a cornucopia of new treatments. To all those office bugs laboring under the weight of another grueling week, how about a nice little getaway that includes a massage and facial? You will feel a little lighter, although your wallet will feel the same. Grand Hyatt Seoul Grand Hyatt Seoul's The Spa, which opened on April 10, has the advantage of being the newest product in what has become among the most competitive sectors in tourism. The Spa provides 14 treatment rooms _ including

May 3, 2007

A Thoroughly Classic Tour of Laos

By Ed Peters Contributing writer The ``Enigma of Arrival’’ is a well-worn phrase, but one that has especial resonance when landing somewhere completely new, such as Vientiane. But after we had hurdled Immigration and Customs, there to meet my wife and me was the smiling, reassuring personage of Khamsouk Douanglakaysone who, thankfully, suggested we simply address him as Souk. Souk, a guide working with Laos Classic Tours _ which we had found and booked through the user-friendly www.visit-mekong.com Web site _ was to be our reception, mentor, vade mecum and chum over the next couple of days in the Lao capital. While the facts and figures that he could recite at the drop of a hat could all be found in a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide, he could also answer more searching questions, provide up-to-date shopping and dining recommendations, and even discourse knowledgeably about Russia, where he had trained as an engineer. He was the face and heart of Vientiane and its history, and pretty much Google on legs with a grin to go with it. After a comfortable and refreshing night

May 3, 2007

Hotel Lobby

COEX InterContinental Seoul The COEX InterContinental Seoul's Sky Lounge will be featuring a special steak menu for lunch through the month of May. Patrons can enjoy quality Australian beefsteak with their selections from the restaurant's salad buffet followed by dessert for 30,000 won, excluding tax and service charges. Choose from a selection of steak dishes such as a slow-roasted Australian beef tenderloin with mushroom deluxe and Macaire potatoes, or grilled beef sirloin with grilled prawns, avocado and hollandaise sauce, and beef tenderloin with caju seasoned roast potatoes in garlic. For more information, call (02) 3430-8630.

May 3, 2007

Cruising Through Hong Kong, Pearl of Orient

By Park Chung-a Staff Reporter If you just glance at Hong Kong, you may get somewhat distraught by the densely packed, skyrocketing buildings and the hectic atmosphereof this bustling, noisy city. However, the more time you spend in Hong Kong, the more likely that you will be mesmerized by the city’s unique charm, diversity and sophistication. It is a city of contrasts as the East meets the West and the traditional world meets the modern. City, harbor and green interlink, and ancient heritage, culture and festivals all thrive in this modern world. The following are some of the major attractions of the city that is one the most energetic places in the world. Ngong Ping 360 on Lantau Island is one of Hong Kong’s must-do tourist attractions. It includes a stunning 5.7 km cable car journey, Ngong Ping Skyrail, and an impressive cultural themed village, Ngong Ping Village, that provides visitors with easy access to the Tian Tan Big Buddha. Be prepared to climb 268 steps to get to see the Big Buddha that took 10 years to build, but do go and see it. Ngong Ping

Apr 26, 2007

Hotel Lobby

Millennium Seoul Hilton Millennium Seoul Hilton’s British-style bar, the Oak Room, will return its BBQ Happy Hour starting May 1. Every weekday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., guests can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet of salad and a variety of barbeque dishes with unlimited beer, wine and other drinks. Guests will be charged only 29,000 won per person and 39,000 won if opting for premium wine brands. For more information, call (02) 317-3234. Grand Hilton Seoul The Grand Hilton Seoul is pushing a special Dutch food promotion at its restaurants until April 29, offering a rare chance for local food-lovers to experience the authentic cuisine of the Netherlands. Chef Bos Dirk, who works at the Hilton Holiday Inn Ijmuiden Seaport Beach, will run the kitchen at the Seoul hotel’s Atrium Cafe and Buffet Restaurant to present the best of his country’s culinary delights. All restaurant guests will go into a lucky draw with a chance to win a two-night stay in Hilton Amsterdam, including a breakfast for two. For more information, call Atrium Cafe at (02) 2287-8270

Apr 26, 2007

Ibis Myeong-dong Marks Successful Start

By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Five-star hotels in Seoul are competing to improve services and upgrade facilities to win the title of the best business hotel in town. With all the talk about loud renovation projects and luxurious amenities, however, some people wonder whether the focus is shifting from delivering the right service at the right price. The Hotel Ibis Myeong-dong, which opened last year in Seoul’s bustling downtown district of Myongdong, has its focus on value, not frills. The 280-unit hotel offers rooms that are not much smaller than those of neighboring five-star hotels such as the Lotte Hotel Seoul or the Westin Chosun, providing guests with clean accommodation and quality amenities that would rival that of any top-end hotel. However, with its standard rooms priced at 105,000 won, Ibis Myeong-dong provides accommodation at 40 to 60 percent lower than its five-star competitors, making it among the city’s best budget choices. ``For businessmen moving on a limited budget or individual travelers with a light wallet, Seoul’s high accommodation pric

Apr 26, 2007

Pharaohs Serves Best Falafels in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Whenever someone talks about authentic Egyptian food in Korea, the name Pharaohs always comes up. Even if Pharaohs is located in a slightly dingy area in Itaewon, the restaurant has gained a reputation for serving some of the tastiest Egyptian food in town. Don't be deceived by the simple interior with only a few Egyptian decors, the place attracts crowds of foreigners and Koreans especially during the weekends. Hussein el Masry, owner and chef, is responsible for bringing the best of Egyptian food to Seoul. He has been in Seoul for nearly 10 years, working as a chef at the Hilton Hotel and Egyptian embassy. When we dropped by Pharaohs last Wednesday evening, el Masry said it was exactly two years ago when he opened the restaurant. On such an auspicious day, el Masry prepared some of the best dishes on his menu, such as the babaganush and hummus (both 5,000 won) for appetizers. Babaganush is a dip made with eggplant, taheeni (a paste made of sesame seeds) and sesame oil, while hummus is made of chickpeas and taheeni sauce

Apr 26, 2007

Kid’s Menu for May

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The month of May is blessed with mild weather and performances for the entire family. During this festive time, children will be given gifts and pocket money, as May 5 is specifically reserved for them. A common tradition for Children's Day is that families usually make trips to children's parks, amusement parks, zoos or other child-friendly locations. Below is a list of programs and events for next month will keep children entertained and parents' worries at bay. Musical The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (NCKTPA) will present a musical drama for children, ``Grandma Mago'' May 3-6. The musical is expected to help children learn about Korea's traditional culture. The story is based on a Korean myth that is reproduced in the form of traditional music, dance and songs for children. A giant elderly woman, called ``Mago,'' tells us how she created the land, how she created the river by urinating on the land, and how she built riverbanks and stone walls with her skirt flapping in the wind. Various

Apr 26, 2007

Restaurant Review : ‘Kooan’ Offers Italian Food, Tower Palace-Style

By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter It has been a while since Tower Palace, the affluent apartment complex buildings located in Togok-dong, southern Seoul, became a symbol for the nouveau riche's luxurious lifestyle. With residents who have plenty of spare money on hand and a few companies settling around the area, it is no wonder that all kinds of fancy _ or at least aiming-to-be-fancy _ cafes and restaurants have mushroomed there. The VANTT building, which serves as a luxurious sports center for Tower Palace residents, is one of the hotbeds. The building's first floor houses upscale Japanese and Chinese restaurants in addition to a chic ``boulangerie.'' ``Kooan,'' an Italian restaurant, is also located there. The restaurant's name sounds rather suspicious, as in Korean the full name is ``Kuane Masinnun Italian,'' meaning ``The Delicious Italian in It.'' What is ``it'' here? For your information, it could not have meant the VANTT building, as the first branch of the restaurant is located in Changchung-dong, near the National Theater of Korea. The spacious dining hall o

Apr 20, 2007
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