Cocktails and nosh for urban bar-hoppersBalmy weather takes nightlife up a notch, bringing the crowds into watering holes throughout the city. Beer, wine and soju are tip-top staples for the thirsty party-goer. For the pub crawler in the mood for a sip, cocktails are where it’s at. Here’s a quick look at a couple of places worth checking out for a tasty tipple or two. The Timber House If you’re lo

Piggy Dolls and full-figured leading ladies bask in limelightFor years, thin girl groups have traipsed and wriggled across the stage, belting out catchy tunes while executing perfectly choreographed moves. There was the occasional breakthrough not-so-skinny act ― like the iconic Big Mama ― but those bands generally stayed away from the realm of dance music and brought on the soul. Then, in January

Singer-actress puts work in China on hold for romantic comedyMaking a comeback after a six year-hiatus can faze even the best of actresses, which might be why pixie-cute Jang Nara is making her return to the South Korean small screen on familiar territory ― the romantic comedy. Having cemented her reputation in the rom-com genre with series like SBS’ “Bright Girl’s Success,” the upcoming KBS drama

Shops dish out blue cheese scrambles, 11 kinds of cream cheese and moreAt La Fromagerie, the egg scramble sandwich is above and beyond. Never mind the pillowed hunks of house-made bread it comes cradled in. It is the bits of melted blue cheese the diner stumbles upon with each fluffy bite that makes the experience worth repeating. Run by two sisters who love cheese, the new shop specializes in cui

Carrot cake and banana bread for the sentimental sweet-fiendCertain desserts hearken back to the hearth. One bite stirs up childhood memories, like the cream cheese frosting over a slab of carrot cake, or that moist, dense crumb off a freshly-baked wedge of banana bread that mom packed for school. “I went for what I ate often,” Holly Sorim Yang, owner of The Cheesecake, explained why she put carro

TV dramas take second crack at unsuccessful comic book hero genreIn Hollywood, comic book heroes are a surefire draw. “Superman” helped jumpstart a cinematic pantheon of costumed crusaders. “Batman” swooped onto the scene in 1989, “X-Men” in 2000 and “Spider-Man” in 2002. Fascination with the genre spawned the NBC TV series “Heroes” in 2006. A macabre exploration of the dilemmas that torture human

Chic boxed fare for the parkIn a perfect world, picnic-goers would wake up early in the morning to pack hampers full of freshly baked homemade goods. Come weekend, the overworked and exhausted may groan when faced with such a daunting feat yet still want a tasty spread for the great outdoors. Enter the grab-and-go feast as dreamed up by catering veterans who have mastered the art of the packed mea

Edible blossoms enliven and brighten up mealsFlowers serve as emblems of spring’s arrival, a sign that plants are stirring, birds are warbling and bees buzzing. Though often used to create decorative bouquets, blossoms at the dinner table are not restricted to the vase. Technicolor petals add a burst of color to a bowl of salad, a frosted cake or even a cheesy slab of pizza. The Korean tradition o

Earthquake-driven plot of new multinational TV series to remain unchangedNo one could have predicted the massive earthquake that hit the coast of Japan on March 11, especially not the team and cast of the forthcoming quake-centric drama, “Strangers 6.” On March 3, just nine days before disaster struck, a press conference in Seoul unveiled the ambitious joint collaboration among Chinese, Japanese a

Beloved sweet comes in different shapes and sizesWith spring just around the corner, dessert lovers might be experiencing a new set of cravings for classic chou a la creme. Gobs of cool cream or custard oozing out of airy choux pastry shells lose out to molten chocolate fondue and souffles in the winter but hit the mark on a warm, sunny day. In Britain, they are generally called profiteroles, in A

Do coffee capsules pose a threat to baristas?At first glance Apgujeong’s Cafe Italico looks like a run-of-the-mill coffee shop.The flagship store of this 20-outlet cafe franchise, however, is anything but average. Visitors will quickly notice the lack of baristas in the back whipping out cappuccinos. They will most likely blink when they see that the menu asks them to pay 500 won extra if they wan

Four premium restaurants drawing gourmands, more outlets comingWhen 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 becaus

SM searches abroad as overseas producers eye K-pop trends to keep hits comingThis is the final of a two-part series exploring the increasing involvement of foreign producers and composers in the K-pop scene. ― Ed.With the K-pop market going increasingly global, the pressure is on to churn out an array of catchy and addictive tracks that feed the public’s increasingly selective appetite for music.I

 Music industry slump and digital downloads spur increase in East-West collaborationsThis is the first of in a two-part series exploring the increasing involvement of foreign producers and composers in the K-pop scene. ― Ed.When footage of The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am working with girl group 2NE1 hit national television last year, it was a defining moment for the K-pop industry. Though the domes

‘The Slave Hunters’ star says he feels no pressure to live up to expectationsJudging from the star-studded cast fronting SBS’ new Monday and Tuesday night series, “Midas” looks like a shoo-in for success. Then again, so did its predecessor “ATHENA: Goddess of War,” but high-profile heartthrobs like Jung Woo-sung and Cha Seung-won did not prove alluring enough to reel in top ratings for the Monday

Traditional leafless brews delicious and serve as tonics for health-consciousLight 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. Instead, a m

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. Inste

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 fr

Meaning ‘nature-sprit’ in Hindu, cable drama uses computer graphics for powerful special effectsWhen cable channel OCN’s miniseries “Yaksa” exploded onto the small screen on Dec. 10, it lived up to its reputation as the Korean version of Starz’s “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” flaunting an excess of gore and sex that more than merited its 19-and-over viewer restriction. “Yaksa” lead actor Cho Dong-hy

For some reason or other, French cuisine ― outside of France, that is ― has come to be often associated with fine dining, an association which has its many perks, except, of course, when it comes to the bill. In truth, however, eating French is not synonymous with breaking the bank. Here are two excellent establishments that specialize in delicious and affordable French fare. La CeltiqueLocated in