Plant-based eating is emerging as a healthier and more sustainable alternative amid repeated global warnings about climate change. For most South Koreans, however, the concept is pretty familiar. Despite recent Western influences, for centuries Koreans have been a plant-loving people. “We are indeed a namul people,” said food and nutrition professor Jung Hye-kyung of Hoseo University, referring to edible wild plants and the important role they have played in the Korean diet throughout history.Th

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- For a foodie, enjoying fresh seafood is a must when lounging near the coast. A visit to the southern port city of Tongyeong, a four-hour drive from Seoul, is a chance to devour a wide range of seafood. Tongyeong is like no other port city here. It has many small islands nearby, and the surrounding waters are warm and shallow. Despite its abundance of fresh seafood, Tongyeong is perhaps best known for chungmu gimbap -- finger-sized rolls of cooked rice serv

Sweet treats at Park Hyatt BusanPark Hyatt Busan‘s modern French restaurant Living Room presents Ballerina in Paris dessert buffet.The buffet is filled with a variety of pink-colored desserts, themed under the concept of a ballerina in Paris. Unlimited amounts of sweets, including cupcakes, pear tart, baked cheesecake, macarons, seasonal fruit tarts and chocolate grissini, are offered. Living Room’s dessert buffet is available at lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or at dinner hours from 6 to 10

New spot serving caramel crumble madeleines and coconut orange scones

‘Under the Sea’ dining at JW Marriott DongdaemunJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s all-day dining restaurant Tavolo 24 presents the Seafood Market promotion. A buffet station will introduce various seafood dishes, including chili crab, butter-fried shrimp and sashimi of fresh abalone, sea squirt, sea pineapple, octopus and shellfish.The promotion runs until April 30. The buffet is priced at 98,000 won per person for weekend brunch and dinner. For more information, call Tavolo 24 at (02) 2276-

New fine casual dining pub specializes in charcoal-grilled and wood-fired fare

‘Under the Sea’ dining at JW Marriott DongdaemunJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul’s all-day dining restaurant Tavolo 24 presents the Seafood Market promotion. For the promotion, the buffet station will introduce various seafood dishes, including chili crab, butter-fried shrimp and sashimi of fresh abalone, sea squirt, sea pineapple, octopus and shellfish.The promotion will start Saturday and continue until April 30. The buffet is priced at 98,000 won per person for weekend brunch and dinner. F

Weekday dining at JW Marriott DongdaemunJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul offers benefits for diners who visit the hotel’s restaurants on weekdays. BLT Steak provides truffle-flavored french fries and a glass of rose wine to guests who order dry-aged steak during the week. All-day dining restaurant Tavolo 24 has corkage-free days from Monday through Wednesday, for up to one bottle of wine per table. For more information or reservations, call BLT Steak at (02) 2276-3330 or Tavolo 24 at (02) 227

Amid the growing trend toward drinking less but better, traditional Korean liquor makers are churning out trendier drinking options. Traditional booze, long overshadowed by soju and beer, is evolving to cater to a new group of alcohol consumers, who rather than binge drinking, savor each sip. Premium rice wine in the house The drinking less but better trend is reflected in the neologism “mak-pagne,” a compound word made up of makgeolli and champagne, referring to champagne-like traditional rice

Adrenaline-fueled chef practices ‘modern Japanese cuisine with Korean essence’

With Koreans diversifying their eating habits, rice sommeliers cater to quality seekers with high-end cultivars

Two chefs craft seasonal Japanese fare at new restaurant

Weekday dining at JW Marriott DongdaemunJW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul offers benefits for diners who visit the hotel’s restaurants on weekdays. BLT Steak provides truffle-flavored french fries and a glass of rose wine to guests who order dry-aged steak during the week. All-day dining restaurant Tavolo 24 has corkage-free days from Monday through Wednesday, for up to one bottle of wine per table. For more information or reservations, call BLT Steak at (02) 2276-3330 or Tavolo 24 at (02) 227

Welcoming spring at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul’s restaurant The Lounge is welcoming spring with a new set menu. The four-course meal features spring vegetables in every dish, starting with soup followed by steamed fish, grilled beef, bibimbap and dessert. 　It is available from March 6 to April 19 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. It costs 90,000 won per person and can be paired with two glasses of wine for an additional charge of 30,000 won.For more information, call The Lounge at (02) 2016-1205.Celebra

Baked goods, sandwiches and salads at Darling Kitchen offshoot