Four premium restaurants drawing gourmands, more outlets coming When Ferrum Tower opened last summer it looked every inch the slick office building. Slicing the firmament, this Dongkuk Steel-owned 28-story high skyscraper shouted corporate cool. Located flush up against shopping-and-tourist hotspot Myeongdong, the new addition soon started attracting rave reviews from bloggers. No, it wasn’t b...

The Korean food chain industry is quickly expanding overseas on the back of growing global interest in Korean food in recent years. Korean restaurant chains, however, should realize that there are only two markets in the world to which they can successfully take Korean cuisine without much alternation, a U.S. hospitality consultant has said. “I’ve met many Korean government officials and I have...

French chief believes Seoul ready for Michelin Red Guide Here for his bi-annual visit to Le Cordon Bleu’s Korean campus, Andre J. Cointreau ― president, CEO and MD of the prestigious culinary institution ― revealed a desire to change up the curriculum with a program devoted to Korean cuisine. “We have now opened a Thai cuisine classical cycle in Le Cordon Bleu,” Cointreau told The Korea Herald ...

Sheraton Incheon Hotel The hotel has appointed Jeon Ha-ryong as its new executive chef of its Chinese restaurant, YUE. Prior to joining the hotel, he built his career in deluxe hotels in Seoul specializing in Chinese and Asian cuisine. Working for the Sheraton Incheon Hotel, Jeon said he will focus on introducing original tastes and recipes in Chinese cuisine. For reservations, call YUE at (032)...

Vegetable soup hits the trifecta for a perfect winter meal: It’s hearty, healthful and hot. And for those without the time or energy for all that chopping and simmering, the canned soup aisle offers an array of effortless options. But are they delicious? We plucked five veggie soup brands from supermarket shelves and put them to a blind test. Nine tasters rated the soups on look, aroma, texture...

Read the labels, cook at home to reduce salt intake How does this sound for a quick breakfast: A single pancake, topped with 1 tablespoon each of reduced-fat tub margarine and reduced-calorie pancake syrup. Two slices of Canadian bacon. An 8-ounce glass of skim milk. A cup of coffee with 1 tablespoon of half-and-half. Congratulations. You just ate 1,254 milligrams of sodium before you even lef...

Traditional leafless brews delicious and serve as tonics for health-conscious Light sends soft rays through the floor-length windows of Ga Hwa Dang, a traditional Korean hanok-turned-teahouse located in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. Behind the counter, manager Kim Yu-ri painstakingly prepares the establishment’s brews. Surprisingly enough, less than half the 19 teas on the menu are leaf-based. Instea...

Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas The hotel said French hotelier Kamal Chaoui has taken office as general manager of Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and InterContinental Seoul COEX as of Feb. 9. The 50-year-old spent a great part of his hospitality career with Hyatt International Hotels. With over 26 years of hotel management experience, Chaoui has broad understanding of Asian culture havi...

WALNUT CREEK, California ― It sits on the plate, looking like a perfectly cooked, sunny side-up egg ― except the yolk tastes like spiced carrots and the white is made from coconut milk, with a side of sodium alginate and calcium chloride. This edible trompe l’oeil is not some practical joke. The faux egg is a perfect example of molecular gastronomy, the esoteric culinary trend associated with su...

There is almost no doubt that galbi, the Korean grilled beef or pork short ribs, is one of the most popular Korean cuisines. But a galbi outing can make you hesitate to go anywhere else afterward, because of the strong smoky odor that lingers on your clothes and hair. Rose Hill, a beef galbi and wine restaurant in southern Seoul, said it tries to differentiate itself from other galbi places by ...

In less than a week, women throughout the nation will be gifting boxes of chocolate ― homemade or store-bought ― to their men of choice. Valentine’s Day, an ancient day devoted solely to the pursuit of romance, has a very specific purpose here in South Korea, where it acts as a opportunity for girls to approach boys ― like the Sadie Hawkins dances in the U.S. where girls take the initiative. In...

In the quiet of a weekday afternoon ― when the cold spins out a strange, solemn silence ― several patrons rush into a small restaurant called Yeolcha Jip. The chill enters with them, curling up and dissipating into the warm space. Huddling up on the narrow wooden benches, they barely glance at the menu on the wall as they order bindaetteok (Korean mung bean pancakes). Chef Yoon Hyun-soo gets up...

NEW DELHI (AFP) ― The familiar green logo of Starbucks will soon appear on Indian streets as the U.S. group bets on lifestyle changes that are turning the tea-drinking country into a booming market for cafes. India’s appetite for the bitter brew has never been stronger, with its overwhelmingly young population opting to while away time in shiny Western-style cafes instead of the traditional coff...

Cuddling with your pets in bed may be comforting, but a study shows it can be harmful to your health. A study titled “Zoonoses in the Bedroom,” which will be published in the journal “Emerging Infectious Disease” next month, warns that pet owners risk catching diseases transmitted from domestic animals. Close contact such as kissing and getting licked by your pet may not be a good idea either, U...

With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, top-rated hotels in Seoul are busy preparing a variety of gift items including beef sets, wine sets and hampers. The hotels’ gift items are indeed pricier than those of department stores. However, a little luxury in the quality of products and wrapping services makes a big difference, according to Julie Shim, a marketing manager in Seoul. Shim, 32...