Sep 19, 2018

Michelin to announce latest stars of Seoul next month

The third edition of Michelin Guide Seoul will be released on Oct 18. Michelin Guide Seoul 2019 will be revealed at an award ceremony at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, in southern Seoul. This year’s ceremony will be held under the theme of “Journey to Passion,” paying homage to passionate chefs and food connoisseurs. Since its launch in 2017, the Seoul guide has had two three-starred restaurants and four two-starred restaurants. A total of 18 restaurants have earned one-starred status. The

Sep 14, 2018

[Video] Top 3 food combinations in Korea’s convenience stores

For busy workers and students alike, Korea’s convenience stores have emerged as favorite spots to grab a quick meal. The major convenience store chains feature a wide range of food -- everything from individual servings of fruit to basic groceries and ready-made meals. To make a quick meal taste even better, Koreans often mix and match convenience store foods. You can even search YouTube for recipe ideas, such as “legendary combination of foods found in convenience stores,” or “a heavenly taste

Sep 14, 2018

Aromatic, eclectic eats at Ithaca

Juban chef Kim Tae-yoon branches out with new fine dining restaurant

Sep 14, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Taste of Mexico at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s flagship restaurant, Cafe 395, hosts a special promotion featuring Mexican cuisine. Special guest chef Eric Daniel Gonzalez from a traditional Mexican restaurant will helm the kitchen to bring an authentic taste of Mexico’s finest foods, in addition to the regular offerings of Cafe 395’s buffet. Hot, cold appetizers, entrees and desserts -- including ceviche, soft crab stew, pork stew with tequila and beef ribs -- will be prepar

Sep 14, 2018

Gifts to make Chuseok fuller

Chuseok is just around the corner, packed with gifts. The traditional holiday, which falls on Sept. 24 this year, sees people visiting families in their hometowns -- and they do not show up empty-handed. Preparing gifts is not obligatory, but it is considered good manners to visit a relative’s house with a gift, appreciating the effort that the host made. Also, Korean companies offer gifts to its employees in the season, recognizing the hard work and encouraging them. Businesses exchange gifts a

Sep 14, 2018

[Epicurean Challenge] Pink sausages under the sear: gaebul

Say “hello” to yet another sea creature: gaebul. Gaebul refers to the marine spoon worm, also called the fat innkeeper worm, as it creates tunnels in the ocean floor that provide shelter for other creatures and allows them to pass through.The plump pink creature resembles a skin-like sausage. But the texture has a feeling more similar to the softer parts of human flesh. (Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)Upon being touched, gaebul squirms and puffs up a bit. Then taken fr

Sep 7, 2018

[Weekender] Noryangjin, a home turf of test-takers’ soul food

From $1 Americano to $5 all-you-can-eat food, eateries fill up ‘hunger and wallet’

Sep 7, 2018

[Around the Hotels] Promotion and packages

Solo Parisian escape during Chuseok holidays French-style boutique hotel L‘Escape invites guests who would like to escape the daily life by themselves. The Singles Holiday package is a single room package, targeting guests who want to vacation alone in a hotel. It offers one-night stay with an elegant afternoon tea set at the hotel’s tea salon, Le Salon by Maison M’O. For a Deluxe Room, there will be room upgrades to Atelier Rooms, on a first-come, first-served basis. The price starts at 250,000

Sep 7, 2018

[Epicurean Challenge] Raw cow liver is like blood Jell-O

Warning, this is not for the faint of heart.Walking into an average beef tartare eatery in Korea, you will see the word “liver” on the menu board. Here, the word refers to cow’s liver -- served raw.  Raw cow liver and omasum (Im Eun-byel/The Korea Herald)　The raw, chopped liver has a dark red hue. Though some may think fresh liver should have a scarlet or bright red shade, the dark red is a sign of freshness. The surface gleams with moisture, so much so it is almost reflective. It is hard to pic

Sep 5, 2018

[Trending] K-pop stars rave about ‘Inkigayo sandwich’

A simple sandwich that originated from the cafeteria of broadcaster SBS has caused a stir among K-pop fans. K-pop stars have heaped praise on the “Inkigayo sandwich” made with salad and strawberry jam, and it has gone viral on social media. Inkigayo Sandwich (de la Serna`s YouTube Channel)The sandwich was first made by the owner of SBS’ cafeteria, where only singers and staff are allowed to enter. It earned the name Inkigayo sandwich as many K-pop singers have satisfied their hunger with it befo

Sep 4, 2018

Korea to host K-food fair in LA

South Korea will host a Korean food and beverage trade show in the United States to boost local firms' export opportunities in the major market, the government said Tuesday.About 40 Korean food exporters and 100 buyers from the US, Canada and Latin America will attend the "K-Food Fair" to be held in Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Kimchi (Yonhap)Exhibitors will showcase kimchi, ginseng, pears and citron tea, as well as healthy foods

Sep 1, 2018

Pierre Gagnaire to return, along with Lotte Hotel Seoul’s revamped Executive Tower

After extensive yearlong renovations, Lotte Hotel Seoul is ready to reopen its Executive Tower -- and, with it, the Michelin-starred French restaurant Pierre Gagnaire. The famous chef Gagnaire was in Seoul for two days to supervise the reopening of the restaurant, which has modernized its service while maintaining its quality.  The Royal Suite in the Executive Tower (Lotte Hotels and Resorts)Service during lunch hours has been simplified so that guests can finish eating within an hour. The resta

Aug 31, 2018

[Weekender] Rise of the convenience store dosirak

The word dosirak has a number of meanings in Korean. The word can mean any meal packed to be carried, the container specially designed for carrying packed lunches, or a Japanese style bento. However, in recent years the word has become almost synonymous with factory produced, ready-to-eat meals on offer at the convenience stores that occupy every nook and cranny of major Korean cities. “Young men seem to pick these up a lot more than young women. I think it might be because there are a lot of pe

Aug 31, 2018

[Weekender] Dosirak, evolution of packed lunches

From transporting meals in bamboo wicker baskets during the Joseon dynasty, packed lunches, or dosirak in Korean, have evolved with the times, and become a source of nostalgia for some, and a convenience and necessity for others. “Lunch was a big part of school life when I was young. It may sound cliched, but checking out friends’ dosirak and sharing the food was one of the more fun parts of going to school,” Lee Mi-sook, a 56-year old housewife, said, adding that her high-school-age nephews had