Solo Parisian escape during Chuseok holidays French-style boutique hotel L‘Escape invites guests who would like to escape the daily life by themselves. The Singles Holiday package is a single room package, targeting guests who want to vacation alone in a hotel. It offers one-night stay with an elegant afternoon tea set at the hotel’s tea salon, Le Salon by Maison M’O. For a Deluxe Room, there will be room upgrades to Atelier Rooms, on a first-come, first-served basis. The price starts at 250,000

Warning, this is not for the faint of heart.Walking into an average beef tartare eatery in Korea, you will see the word “liver” on the menu board. Here, the word refers to cow’s liver -- served raw.  Raw cow liver and omasum (Im Eun-byel/The Korea Herald)　The raw, chopped liver has a dark red hue. Though some may think fresh liver should have a scarlet or bright red shade, the dark red is a sign of freshness. The surface gleams with moisture, so much so it is almost reflective. It is hard to pic

A simple sandwich that originated from the cafeteria of broadcaster SBS has caused a stir among K-pop fans. K-pop stars have heaped praise on the “Inkigayo sandwich” made with salad and strawberry jam, and it has gone viral on social media. Inkigayo Sandwich (de la Serna`s YouTube Channel)The sandwich was first made by the owner of SBS’ cafeteria, where only singers and staff are allowed to enter. It earned the name Inkigayo sandwich as many K-pop singers have satisfied their hunger with it befo

South Korea will host a Korean food and beverage trade show in the United States to boost local firms' export opportunities in the major market, the government said Tuesday.About 40 Korean food exporters and 100 buyers from the US, Canada and Latin America will attend the "K-Food Fair" to be held in Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Kimchi (Yonhap)Exhibitors will showcase kimchi, ginseng, pears and citron tea, as well as healthy foods

After extensive yearlong renovations, Lotte Hotel Seoul is ready to reopen its Executive Tower -- and, with it, the Michelin-starred French restaurant Pierre Gagnaire. The famous chef Gagnaire was in Seoul for two days to supervise the reopening of the restaurant, which has modernized its service while maintaining its quality.  The Royal Suite in the Executive Tower (Lotte Hotels and Resorts)Service during lunch hours has been simplified so that guests can finish eating within an hour. The resta

Dosirak becoming a popular way to boast of culinary skills on social media

The word dosirak has a number of meanings in Korean. The word can mean any meal packed to be carried, the container specially designed for carrying packed lunches, or a Japanese style bento. However, in recent years the word has become almost synonymous with factory produced, ready-to-eat meals on offer at the convenience stores that occupy every nook and cranny of major Korean cities. “Young men seem to pick these up a lot more than young women. I think it might be because there are a lot of pe

From transporting meals in bamboo wicker baskets during the Joseon dynasty, packed lunches, or dosirak in Korean, have evolved with the times, and become a source of nostalgia for some, and a convenience and necessity for others. “Lunch was a big part of school life when I was young. It may sound cliched, but checking out friends’ dosirak and sharing the food was one of the more fun parts of going to school,” Lee Mi-sook, a 56-year old housewife, said, adding that her high-school-age nephews had

Autumn swim at Banyan Tree Club & Spa SeoulBanyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is offering the Oasis Cabana package for guests seeking a late staycation. The package includes a one-night stay at the hotel’s Banyan Room or Namsan Pool Room. A cabana for four people at the hotel’s iconic Oasis Pool is included as well. As the weather may not be warm enough for a late-night swim, the pool is maintained at a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. Each cabana has an individual Jacuzzi allowing the guests to enj

Ordering borigulbi at a restaurant, first-timers may expect barley aside the dried fish, as “bori” refers to that grain in Korean. But they will be disappointed, as not a single piece of barley will be served with the fish. Instead, a distinctive odor wafts from the table. It is a fishy smell, but not such a smell that would come from fresh fish. (Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)Borigulbi is made with yellow corvina. After the intestines are removed, the corvina is drie

Eating show creators take on nation’s hottest kimchi

Grand Hilton Seoul’s Bernhard Brender preps for Oktoberfest

Taste of France at Lotte Hotel Seoul After an extensive renovation, Lotte Hotel Seoul’s world-class restaurant Pierre Gagnaire is set to reopen on Sept. 1. The French fine dining restaurant will offer Allegro service for business guests during lunch, allowing guests to finish their meal in an hour. Southern French-style cuisine is offered for dinner. At Pierre’s Bar, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul at a private boutique space. Bar bites will be added to the menu. For more information

As the heat wave continues across the country, here are a few traditional drinks that Koreans typically turn to in summer.Misutgaru (Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)1. MisutgaruAt first glance, misutgaru, a Korean multigrain powder, just seems like a bland substance with a lifeless beige color. But contrary to its appearance, the mixture of roasted and ground grains is well-known for its nutritional benefits and addictive, nutty taste.Koreans often make misutgaru shakes at home by adding water