New Year’s party at J.J. Mahoney’sGrand Hyatt Seoul’s J.J. Mahoney’s is holding year-end party “6IX SNOW NIGHTS AT JJ’S” the last week of December. The party will invite guests to the club hall decorated with a winter theme to enjoy a variety of events, including live performances by J.J.’s house band Storm and a guest DJ, and a dance contest. A lucky draw will be held during the party, offering coupons to use facilities at Grand Hyatt Seoul. On Dec. 31, guests will get to countdown to 2014 on t

Variations of sesame crunch are eaten all over the world. Korean sesame crunch is called kkaegangjeong. It’s a sweet treat that’s served during traditional holidays in Korea. Kkaegangjeong also makes a great Christmas gift. Add some nuts to create different textures and flavors. You can use any of your favorite nuts (peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, etc.). I used a combination of pumpkin seeds and pine nuts in this recipe. You’ll be very surprised how quick and easy it is to make. It’s nutty, crunc

House-cured gravlax and other salmon-centric eats at Salmone Kitchen

Seolleongtang is a milky beef bone soup that’s made by boiling beef leg bones for several hours until the broth becomes rich and creamy white. Yes, it takes time, but most of it is stove time. You can do other things around the house while this is boiling away in the kitchen. The results are totally rewarding! A couple of kilograms of beef bones make lots of rich and nourishing soup. Legend has it that this soup was created because King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty wanted to feed a large numb

Eatery-coffeehouse serves up earnest tiramisu and ciabatta

Dinner concert at Ritz-Carlton Seoul The Ritz-Carlton Seoul will host a lively dinner concert featuring Latin music to celebrate the end of the year. “Viva 2014” on Dec. 31 will feature a performance from acclaimed countertenor Lee Dong-gyu. The dinner will begin with a six-course meal featuring dishes such as halibut with lemon balsamic dressing, herb ricotta cannelloni with beef steak, and much more. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. featuring popular remakes of Michael Buble, such as “Sway

If succulent Earl Grey and grapefruit cake and richly moist strawberry red velvet cake with plush cream cheese frosting spells heaven on earth, then the mouthwatering offerings of Oliversweet are truly a sweet tooth’s dream come true. Specializing in sophisticated yet cozy boutique-style pastries and catering, Oliversweet opened its doors in 2007 and since then the quaint dessert shop that boasts some of the city’s most inventive approaches to classic homemade treats has expanded to four locatio

Expert passes on know-how for new oyster bar in Seoul

Miyeok guk is a soup made with dried miyeok (also known as wakame), which is a sea vegetable. It is a mild and tasty soup typically made with beef or seafood (such as clams or mussels). Here, I made it with mussels. Soak the dried miyeok in water to soften it, cut it into bite-sized pieces and saute with sesame oil before adding the water and mussels. Sesame oil is a must for miyeok guk. It adds a nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness to the soup. More so than other Korean dishes, this soup has

Christmas Eve art package at InterContinental Seoul CoexInterContinental Seoul Coex is offering a one-day special Christmas Art Lounge Package for a romantic and meaningful Christmas Eve. The package includes two tickets to the Christmas Art Lounge, where guests will be able to enjoy champagne, wine and finger food while reading various Assouline Boutique art books. At 7 p.m. guests can enter the Maria Callas Hall to watch a performance featuring jazz quartet The Prelude. Complementary gifts suc

New Zealand cooking takes advantage of an abundance of fresh elements

Enjoy the European Christmas market with The Grand Hilton The Grand Hilton Seoul will be joining the European Christmas market held in Seongbukcheon Fountain Plaza on Nov. 29 and 30. Sponsored by the embassies of Germany, France, Italy, the U.K. and Switzerland, the European Christmas market is a festive event that celebrates the holiday season and the cultures of various countries. The Grand Hilton Seoul will represent Germany and sell decorative wrapped desserts including gingerbread houses, m

Cali-Asian meat-in-a-bun packs highbrow punch

Dakgaejang is a variation of yukgaejang that is made with chicken. Yukgaejang is a popular spicy soup made with shredded beef and lots of scallions and other vegetables. The chicken version is traditionally made with boiled chicken. However, I often make it with leftovers of a roasted whole chicken (store-bought or homemade) or turkey. Those leftover bones are perfect for making stock. So, here’s how to make a delicious, spicy soup with chicken or turkey leftovers. 4 servingsIngredients: ● 8 cu