ongoing

Weekend Sushi Buffet at Irodori in the Renaissance Seoul Hotel. Irodori chooses only the freshest, high quality seafood. Seven kinds of sashimi and eight kinds of sushi, including flatfish, red snapper, tuna and scallop will be available. Each piece of sushi is made on request. Tepanyaki service is also available. Saturday and Sunday. W55,000 lunch, W60,000 for dinner, and Children under 11 years old will be charged half-price. (tax and service charges are excluded). 2222-8659.

April 3rd

Wine and Art Event at Bistro Restaurant, Novotel Ambassador Gangnam. There will be an inauguration photo exhibition, "Wine is a Natural Emotion," for Korean photographer Young Joon-Jang. The Bistro will be launching a new French wine list in celebration. Come taste the many exclusive wines. Free. 7-9pm. 010-9497-0343

April 6-8

Uljin Snow Crab Festival. Known as “bamboo crabs,” the Uljin crabs are celebrated throughout Korea for their delicate flavor. The festival will feature crab tasting and exhibitions, as well as, boat races and a yacht parade. This year the Uljin Dae Ge festival will take a stab at breaking the Guinness Book of World Records by making the world’s largest snow crab stuffed Kimbab. www.uljin.go.kr 54-1330.

April 11-13

Busan Spring Festival. The Gwangalli Eobang Festival is the most major spring festival. It starts off with a parade with over 1000 participants wearing traditional costumes as they make their way through the cherry blossom strewn streets to Gwangalli Beach. The festival offers the freshest raw fish dishes and be sure to see Jinduehwa: a reinactment of a traditional torchlight fishing event. www.visit.busan.kr 51-1330.

March 1 until April 30

Tempting Sweet Fresh Strawberries at The COEX InterContinental Seoul’s Lobby Lounge (1F) will be featuring a “Strawberry Dessert Buffet.” enjoy different kinds of desserts made with only the freshest strawberries. Enjoy a welcome pick-me-up with strawberry treats such as Strawberry Pistachio Frasier, Puff Strawberry Fruit Band, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Strawberry Crumble. From Monday to Sunday 14:30 – 17:30. W25,000. (VAT and service charge will be added). 3430-8603.

April TBA

Margarita Night at On the Border in Shinchone. Unlimited Authentic Margaritas and all-you-can-eat Mexican with freshly fried chips, salsa, guacamole, chili cheese, Mexican rice, black beans, refried beans and chicken flautas. Mexican dress strongly encouraged! Limited seating, call between 12 and 8 for reservations. 7 pm – 9:30 pm. W25,000. 324-0682.

April 10th

French Networking Party at Café du Commerce at Gran A Entertainment Bar, Novotel Ambassador Gangnam. A French networking party with unlimited French wines and food, including cheese, cold cuts, soup, hot meal desserts, etc. 6:30-8:30pm. 18,000 (+ VAT). 010-9497-0343.

April 17th

Well-being dinner at Bistro Restaurant, Novotel Ambassador Gangnam. The Bistro Chefs will offer a 4-course menu at Bistro made with only natural ingredients. Three different organic wines will be paired with the meal. 7 pm – 10 pm. W50,000 + VAT. 010-9497-0343.

April 18

Zelen VIP Wine and Buffet Party. Drink wine and taste authentic Bulgarian food in hip, upscale atmosphere. There is a variety of wines from different regions and the food includes Bulgarian specialities such as Spinach Rolladas, Eggplant Salad, Smoked Salmon Canapes, Chicken and Lamb Skewers, and much more. This month will be a VIP reservation only buffet and wine party. 8 pm- 12 pm. 749-0600.

April 23rd

Wine Around the World 2008 in the Champagne ballroom, Novotel Ambassador Gangnam. This is a cross-cultural wine festival with the best wines from more than 10 countries. There will be an international buffet dinner, lucky draw, performances and dance party! 7 pm – 3 am. W80,000 price at the door, W60,000 paid in advance. nagfbmkt@ambatel.com, Catherine : 010-9497-0343.

April 19~24, 2008

Korean Traditional Drink & Rice Cake Festival in Gyeongju. Korean liquor and rice cakes are not just food but, more importantly, a part of Korean culture. Liquor has been used for ancestral services or to serve guests, while rice cakes have been widely used to celebrate joyful events and ceremonies. Visitors can see, learn, and experience the taste of liquor and rice cakes in Gyeongju, most of which has been designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Hwangseong Park, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Check out this spoof on a Korean Drama

check out this great video

THIS IS THE ULTIMATEST FOOD FIGHT EVER

Again from Madtv

Yes, I know. I am going blog crazy. It's been a while since I've had any time to write.

Here's Coach Hines from Madtv.

Dan

http://cafe.daum.net/bbangsangGyo

Aliens are among us!

This ajumma (Korean Middle Aged woman) claims that she can speak to aliens.

So if you say bbangsan, the aliens will respond krala krala

Just watch it... It's just too odd to be real.

I LOVE KOREA!

She's selling ice cream bars in the most creative way possible.

Daejanggum

When my friends come to Korea, I feel it is my mission to jettison the myth that all Korean food is fiery, oh-my-god, spicy. Many of my friends are professionals or travelers that are only in town for a couple of days. Although, I would love to take them to Gyeong-ju to my favorite restaurant in Korea, Yoseongung, for real traditional food, there is simply a lack of time. While in Seoul, I find that Daejanggum near Seolleung station is a safe bet. Afterwards, my friends become my new crusaders in my mission to dispel the myths about Korean food.

Centrally located, Daejanggum is near Posco Intersection and down the street from the COEX City Air Terminal. The restaurant has a wood paneled traditional façade that is, unfortunately, bombarded with pictures and neons. The interior has clean lines and there are several private rooms. When I make a reservation, I request a room and I’ve never had a problem. The one drawback is, on evenings, they have a traditional music show and your guests might be curious about what they are missing out on in the main room.

I usually order the “Tobang” table d’hote, which costs 39,000 won per person because it has a nice range of food. The food comes out in several courses- the sheer number of plates have always impressed my guests. The meal starts with a couple of salads with light vinegarettes followed by bosam, which is served with pieces of raw fish. Then there is a nine-section crepe dish. This delicate assorted vegetable and meat dish is loved by because it is fun, beautiful, and delectable. It is the Korean fajita, in a way, but with quaint flavor. A stewed chicken dish that has been slowly cooked with rice and peas trails this dish. This entree I’m not a huge fan of because I feel it is a bit too bland, but it can be doctored up with some pepper sauce. Next is the braised beef flavored with soy and a bit of ginseng. Accompanying this is braised mackerel coated in a dark red sauce. Do not be afraid. The mackerel is not spicy and the piquant flavor of the dish pairs well with the slightly sweet turnips.

Keep in mind; all these dishes are prelude to the real meal. After this is complete, you’ll get a choice of juk (rice porridge) or ttang-jang chiggae (a soybean stew), which is joined by even more panchan (side dishes).

In general, this is a restaurant that is going to be a culinary awakening for those who have been in this country for more than a year. But I find it is good to have a couple restaurants in my repertoire that are safe bets for guests. Many visitors to Korea have notions of what Korea is and isn’t. Sometimes it is beneficial to take a step back and think of yourself as a newly arrived traveler to the land of the rising sun.

Location: Samsung-dong
Style: Traditional Korean
Hours 11-10pm
Phone: 562-5972 or 568-5972

Food: ***
Atmosphere: ***
Service: ***
Value: **

This is a really cool cafe that has a museum on the bottom floor and a cafe up top. Its sleek and modern styling and fashionable clientele make you feel like you are in Manhattan. They have decent wine prices (35-60,000) and bistro/cafe style food like paninis, salads, and cakes. I had the chicken salad there and it was fresh and flavorful for W12,000. They also have Hoegarden and Guinness on Tap. If you go to Bricxx in Hongdae, go down and make a left on the next road.

Dan

Why didn't anyone tell me these existed!

God Bless America!

I hate the dome top lids on coffee for take out because they are horrible for transport. If I order a coffee to go, it most likely means that I will not be drinking it on the move. I'd rather not scorch my tongue, and on more than one occasion, I've ruined my shirts with small spills.

The Coffee Bean in Korea has a solution. They insert a stirrer into the mouth of the dome lid in order to prevent accidently spillage.

Aza.

When you get away from the mad bustle of the club scene, there is a hipper, more tranquil side of Hongdae. There are a number of niche wine bars and restaurants.

Here are some pics.

Getting your Thai Fix
by Daniel Gray
photos by Jessica In

Good Thai food is like an acrobat walking on a tightrope. For example, take the basic Pad Thai. It needs to balance the sweetness of palm sugar with the slight bitterness of tamarind, the sour pungency of fish sauce, the tartness of lime juice, the crunchiness of peanuts, the egg, the tofu, bean sprouts, pepper and it needs to do all this while not making the rice noodles too soft, dry, or oily. Thai Orchid, which was located in the current location of Thai Garden, was renowned for its authentic Thai cuisine but its atmosphere was a bit outmoded. The owners decided to give the place a complete makeover and in the process changed the name. So the big question is: does the food live up to its predecessor's?

Kinda. Some of dishes remained the same as before, but I felt that the flavor has been changed a bit to please the Korean palate. The bright flavor of the Thai bird peppers were replaced with the Korean go-chu-jang, the Pad Thai had more tamarind then I previously recall, less lemon grass was used in many of the dishes, and my favorite Thai waiter is no longer there. (This maybe due to the availability of these ingredients in winter.) But the renovations have given he place a much needed facelift, so you have to take the good with the bad. Now even though it's not the same as before, the food will sate your appetite for green curry until you can take a vacation to Thailand.

To start, Thai Garden has excellent satay. The chicken is moist and pairs well with the peanut sauce. My group of friends and I had the Thai Basket and the shrimp and the spring rolls were simply lackluster in comparison. Oh, and a great appetizer is the Larb Gai- ground chicken with spices and lime juice. It's healthy and really fun to eat because you wrap the chicken in a lettuce leaf. The Yum Woon Sen- the spicy noodle salad was really spicy and had a nice zing from the cilantro and lime juice.

The soups are ample enough to be a meal and I really enjoyed the subtle, Tom Kha Goong-the prawn and coconut soup. The soup balanced the different flavors of shrimp, lime juice, galangal, and vegetables well; it was a nice contrast to all the spicy Korean food I normally eat. I would also recommend the curry dishes. I really liked the Paneng Gai- a spicy chicken dish with kaffir leaves and the green vegetable curry (Gaeng Keaw-wan Pak Ruam) which had a diverse mix of vegetables. The pad Thai wasn't too bad. And the desserts such as the Guey Buat Shee-bananas in coconut milk and the mangos with sticky rice were a big hit at our table.

The Poo Pad Pong Garee, sauteed crab with curry powder, used to be one of my favorite dishes at Thai Orchid. This current incarnation failed to impress. The yellow curry sauce seemed a bit like the packaged curry bricks so the normal pleasure of picking out the flavorful meat from the shells seemed a bit too much like work. Nor was l impressed with the beef and basil dish (Nua Pad Bai Kraprao). The dish simply lacked that sweet fragrant punch of Thai basil because they used Italian basil which was powerless against the garlic and chilies in the dish.

The service was friendly and there are a couple people that can speak English. The restaurant's renovations has made the restaurant brighter through it's clean lines and removal of extraneous ornamentation.

Overall, the new Thai Garden has excellent value with dishes that run from 8 to 22,000 won. It's a great place to grab a curry and a Singha beer after a long day at work; but if you're looking for authentic Thai, I recommend you make your vacation plans in advance.

Food **
Value****
Service ***
Atmosphere***

Location: Itaewon Dong
Style: Thai
Hours: 12:00-10pm
Phone: 792-8836