Creative myeongnan dishes to try in Busan

BUSAN -- Busan is one of the cities to head to if you are looking to feast on fresh seafood, but the city also has great know-how about preserving seafood to be enjoyed later. Myeongnan, or pollack roe, is a popular side dish that is often also called “bap doduk,” meaning rice thief. Bap doduk is a moniker used for side dishes that have you eating more rice than usual because the combination is so tasty. While there is a misconception that myeongnan originates from Japan’s me

July 2, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Gamja bokkeum, Korean panfried potato

If you visit a Korean home for a home-cooked meal, you’ll be amazed at the variety of delicious Korean side dishes served along with the main course. This Korean potato stir-fry (gamja bokkeum) is one that you’ll see pretty often, and it is one dish that I adore. Gamja bokkeum is a simple Korean stir-fried or panfried potato side dish, or banchan. It’s a gluten-free side dish and perfect for vegetarians and vegans. You can stir-fry the potato alone or with other vegetable

July 2, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul launches ‘Summer Perfection’ package JW Marriott Hotel Seoul greets summer with a cobalt-blue color-inspired package, in collaboration with skincare brand Swiss Perfection. All package guests are offered a 15ml bottle of Cellular Soothing Facial Lotion presented in an elegant blue carry pouch, including a mirror. Guests choosing the Griffin Suite will receive an additional 30ml bottle of Cellular Essential Vitamin Cream. Two bottles of Wine Cruiser Bluebe

July 1, 2022

[Temple to Table] Storehouse of vitamin C: Ongsimi

As nutritious summer dishes that are easy to cook at home, Balwoo Gongyang’s head chef Kim Ji Young recommends potato dough soup with ground sesame seeds. Balwoo Gongyang is a restaurant dedicated to temple cuisine that is run by the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism. Kim chose the dish for the simplicity of its preparation and as a food that is universally enjoyed. Potato dough (gamja ongsimi) is a regional food from Gangwon Province. Potatoes grow well in harsh environments, and Kor

June 25, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Shilla Seoul launches ‘Summer Floating Yoga’ package To meet with growing demand from guests wanting wellness programs, the Shilla Seoul, located at the heart of the Korean capital, is launching a special yoga program for the summer. The floating yoga program starts before the regular operation hours of the hotel’s “Urban Island” pool, open only to yoga package guests. After the 50-minute yoga program, guests can choose to continue using the pool for a morning sw

June 24, 2022

Taste of Italy’s Chianti for wine lovers in Seoul

The 2022 Chianti lovers Asian Tour was held Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, bringing together wine experts of Italy and Korea. Representatives from 14 different wineries showcased their masterpieces to domestic wine importers and managers from bars and restaurants. Hosted by Wine 21.com, a South Korean wine portal established in 1998, the wine tasting and trade event focused on Chianti, wine produced in central Tuscany in Italy. Visiting each winery booth, participants started out by tast

June 18, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Kimchijjigae with pork

Kimchi and pork are a match made in heaven. And this kimchijjigae recipe is a must if you have a ton of fermented kimchi that you need to use up. The diverse tastes in this stew — warm, comforting, hearty, savory, and almost tangy — really bring out the love in all who try it. Kimchijjigae with pork is a classic. For all Koreans, it brings a nostalgia of childhood. It is a staple of Korean home cooked meals and people make this stew on a regular basis. Considering how much kimchi

June 18, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul presents summer signature cocktails Mobo Bar, located on the seventh floor at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, serves creative cocktails mixed using house-made and homegrown ingredients. The bar, which has an outdoor terrace, presents two signature cocktails paired with small bites. The Mobo is a gin-based cocktail crafted by brewing gin with fresh basil, green cardamom and lemon grass in a siphon coffee maker. Smoked Rocks is a Korean-style cocktail created from a rum-based

June 17, 2022

Summer is for buckwheat noodles

One of the summertime dining staples in Korea is buckwheat noodles. Even when the scorching weather makes one easily lose their appetite, it is hard to resist the slurpable noodles that can be served either hot or cold. Known for their unique grainy texture, buckwheat noodle lovers seek those that are made entirely out of buckwheat. In Korea, such buckwheat noodles are recorded in the 17th-century cookbook “Eumsik dimibang.” The book defines buckwheat noodles as food shared by t

June 11, 2022

[Temple to Table] Out of grass and flowers that bud in spring: Hwajeon with spring flowers

The Ven. Yeogeo entered monastic life 21 years ago at age 31, relatively late to become a nun in Korea. Thanks to her Buddhist parents, she had become familiar with temples at a young age. When she turned 19, she visited the temple Yongjusa in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and decided to renounce secular life then. She became an enthusiastic member of Yongjusa’s Young Buddhist Association and began studying Buddhism in earnest. Memorizing sutras written in Chinese characters and understan

June 11, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Westin Josun Busan promotes chefs’ special edition Westin Josun Busan is presenting a special edition of chef-cooked meals, available only through June 30. At the hotel’s Korean dining restaurant Sheobul, grilled chicken legs with abalone are offered alongside a fresh vegetable salad and four delicate side dishes. At Camellia, the hotel’s buffet restaurant, four types of wine will be recommended by sommeliers. The special bruschetta course platter consists of tomato with moz

June 10, 2022

Jeju dining offers glimpse into ‘haenyeo’ life

JEJU ISLAND -- In the quiet coastal village of Bukchon-ri, east of Jeju, home of hundreds of victims brutally massacred during the April 3 Jeju Uprising is a colorfully painted warehouse. Unlike other fishing villages in Jeju that entice visitors with lively fish markets and seafood eateries, this neighborhood does not have tourist attractions in sight, making its surrounding even more serene. A greeting at the entrance by a staffer wearing a modified diving suit usually worn by Jeju women div

June 4, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Korean street toast

Korean street toast is a popular breakfast on the go. This sandwich packs egg, cabbage, carrot, ham and cheese between slices of buttery toasted bread. It’s the salty and sweet taste from the unusual condiment combination that will make you swoon. Who would have thought this odd Korean sandwich would become a worldwide sensation that everyone wants to make at home? This Korean street toast recipe is something you should try yourself to believe that it is not as bad as it sounds. Ingredie

June 4, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul showcases innovative bingsu desserts Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is presenting seven varieties of bingsu in homage to global desserts at the hotel’s lobby lounge Maru, through Sept. 30. The hotel will reveal each month’s treats alongside three signature bingsu options -- golden Jeju apple mango bingsu, black sesame creme brulee bingsu and summer fruits Charlotte bingsu. The golden Jeju apple mango bingsu, which is priced at 96,000 won, captures the flavor of

June 3, 2022

[Food] Omakase adds new flavor to Seoul’s food scene

“Omakase” is a traditional Japanese dining style where guests leave their menu choices up to a chef. Literally meaning “I will leave it to you” in Japanese, omakase in Korea usually refers to a high-end dining experience at a Japanese restaurant’s sushi counter. The chef prepares one piece of fish at a time and introduces its name and origin.  Recently, non-sushi items, from tempura, coffee and pork, have also found their way into the local omakase scene. The

May 28, 2022

[Temple to Table] Precious, revitalizing ingredient: Ssuk injeolmi

Located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Geungnaksa is a quiet, beautiful place. Surrounded by Gubongsan and a small creek running beside the temple compound, the temple looks well situated, even to someone who doesn’t know geomancy. The Ven. Yeogeo is well known to the general public as a teacher of temple food. Emphasizing the value of seasonal ingredients, she creates different dishes every season based on the veggies, fruits, and flowers available to be harvested from the mountains and f

May 28, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul offers homemade bingsu The Lounge, the premium lounge destination in the eighth-floor reception lobby at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, celebrates the arrival of summer with three varieties of homemade iced bingsu dessert, available until Sept. 18. Annual bestseller Jeju Apple Mango Bingsu, the Lounge’s signature summer dessert, features mango pearls topped with a whole sliced apple mango. Ocean Bingsu, newly created for 2022, features blue pearls topped with blue Cu

May 27, 2022

When flowers bloom on your plate

In the month of May, flowers are given on several different occasions in Korea, often to celebrate and express gratitude. From Parents’ Day to Teacher’s Day, flower shops are busy preparing lavish bouquets and baskets throughout what is known as Family Month. What if such beautiful flowers can also be enjoyed as part of your meal? An Italian restaurant and a dessert cafe in Seoul proves that flowers can indeed be a feast for the palate, not just a feast for the eyes. Flower piz

May 21, 2022

[Holly’s Korean Kitchen] Dububuchim, crispy Korean pan-fried tofu

This Korean pan-fried tofu recipe is a great way to enjoy plant-based protein in a healthy and inexpensive way. No pressing is required to get the crispy texture. This is one of the best low-effort, pan-seared tofu dishes you can easily make at home. Here I present one of my favorite Korean side dish recipes. This pan-fried tofu has just the right texture: Crispy outside and chewy inside. A slightly spicy Korean soy chili sauce drizzle gives a flavor boost to the bland tofu. This fast tofu r

May 21, 2022

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

L’Escape launches ‘You be You’ package with Starbucks L’Escape Hotel, located in Seoul’s Myeong-dong, is offering a collaboration package with Starbucks. The package includes a night stay at L‘Escape’s Deluxe Room. Gifts include a Starbucks logo patch and a limited edition design patch made by L’Escape for a fashionable summer look. At Marque d’Amour, the 26th floor hotel bar, three special cocktails based on Starbucks VIA coffee is serve

May 20, 2022