Kongjang, also called kongjaban, is a sweet and savory soybean side dish. On weekends, I try to make a few side dishes, banchan, to help make my weeknight meal preparations easier. During the week, I make a quick soup, stew, or meat dish and serve it with the pre-made side dishes. We call those side dishes that are made to last long and served with every meal over several days (or weeks) mitbanchan, meaning basic side dishes. Kongjang is one of the most common ones. Kongjang is typically made wi

CHICAGO ― Before the civil rights movement, dining while traveling by train was a challenge for black people. Although white train passengers were served in dining cars, Jim Crow laws barred black passengers. Thus, the shoe box lunch, a meal in a box packed before boarding, became common for traveling black families.Today, the shoe box lunch has evolved into something entirely different for one Chicago organization. Rather than a meal in a box, it’s an audiobook in a box ― complete with objects

Wine and beer fair at Sheraton Grande WalkerhillSheraton Grande Walkerhill is launching a promotional fair where guests will be able to experience more than 300 kinds of wines and 100 different beers from Asia and Europe at a reasonable price. Special events will be held throughout the fair, including wine tasting, wine and beer raffles, and more. The wine fair will run from Oct. 12-13, while the beer fair will happen on Oct. 19-20. Both fairs will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an entranc

Saengchae is a general term for salad-like dishes that are made with uncooked vegetables. Mu Saengchae is made with Korean radish (mu), which is a variety of white radish (commonly known as daikon). It has a firm, crisp flesh and tastes slightly sweet and peppery. For mu saengchae, I like to salt the radish first to draw out some water, which gives the radish an extra crunch. This spicy and crunchy radish salad has the flavor of fresh kimchi, so it can also be a quick substitute for kimchi. It’s

Celebrity chef Raymon Kim’s new spot dishes out hearty fare

Pintxos and sangria with a twist at Tapeo

Hyatt Regency Jeju offers autumn packageHyatt Regency Jeju is offering the Autumn Escape package for guests to enjoy the season from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. The package includes a night’s stay in a Mountain View guestroom, rental car service, breakfast buffet for two at Terrace Café, and complimentary use of the sauna. Guests can enjoy exploring areas of Jeju Island using the rental car with guidance from the Jeju Tourist Attraction Coupon Book and Jeju map. A trekking equipment rental service is al

Ganjang Gejang is a popular dish made by marinating raw crabs in a mild soy sauce-based brine. To make the brine, Korean cooks tend to use a wide variety of aromatic ingredients. The goal is to eliminate the raw, fishy taste while enhancing the flavor of the crabs at the same time. The brine should be flavorful, but not overpowering or too salty. Female crabs are preferred for making gejang, but you can also use male crabs, especially in the fall when they are fat and bountiful. As is the case w

Chuseok is right around the corner. A must-have Chuseok delicacy is songpyeon ― small half-moon shaped rice cakes (tteok) that are stuffed with sweet fillings and steamed on a bed of pine needles. The name songpyeon stems from the use of pine needles (“song” in “songpyeon” means pine tree).Traditionally, short grain rice was soaked overnight and drained before being ground into a fine powder in a gristmill. These days, you can easily find bags of wet rice powder that is specifically made for mak

Experience the ‘Taste of Walkerhill’Celebrating the hotel’s 50th anniversary, Sheraton Grande Walkerhill and W Seoul Walkerhill have planned special gourmet menus and events to appeal to food lovers. At restaurant CLOCK16, Michelin-star Italian chef Igor Macchia will organize an Italian menu prepared with locally grown ingredients paired with Luce & Frescobaldi wine for 200,000 won. A more affordable option available from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 will allow guests to enjoy fusion dishes of Korean and

The Barn takes the hand-held meal to sophisticated heights

Fall in HE:ON Packages at Lotte Jeju HotelLotte Jeju Hotel is offering packages to get the most out of autumn from Sept. 27 to Nov. 30. The Fall in HE:ON Package offers a night’s stay in the Deluxe Room, breakfast for two, and two complimentary wine-based cocktails. Rates start at 330,000 won per night. For 330,000 won, guests can enjoy the Fall in Wine Package, which features a night’s stay in the Deluxe room, breakfast for two, and two tickets to “Romantic Olle Winery Tour.” The Fall in HE:ON