President Lee Myung-bak is the Korean home brewer’s biggest proponent. How, you might ask? Well, by personally lobbying the U.S. Congress for the passage of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement ratified by the U.S. in mid-October.
Laine Ritter
Kyotofu Seoul is the place to eat delectably decadent food without the guilt. Its menu is centered on tofu, after all. Located in a chic setting with the look and feel of Manhattan, it is the first franchise of Kyotofu, the famed New York City bakery and dessert bar.
For an almost authentic alpine experience (sans the Alps), visit Chef Meili. As I stepped into the restaurant, I felt transported to one of the chalet restaurants ubiquitous in the Bavarian Alps. The smell, the simple homey styling, the plain square tables, the German spoken by the Chef and customers, the cowbell and the pictures of people in Lederhosen and Dirndls; all took me back to Bavaria.
Note: What’s Brewin’ is a new series, in which we will scour the Seoul area to find the best beer experiences in the city.
With the tranquil backdrop of Jara Island (Turtle Island), the Jarasum International Jazz Festival kicks off on Oct. 1 for a three-day musical delight. It will encompass the vibrant sounds of Latin, soul, afro-funk, hip hop, rhythm and blues (R&B), post bop, European jazz, as well as American jazz standards.
Returning for its 8th year, it has become one of the premier Jazz festivals in Asia attended by over 100,000 people. Over 90 percent of attendees are repeat visitors.
Walking down Itaewon’s main street, a word in a banner caught my eye: “Inasal.” It brought back memories of the dusty streets of Manila and chicken roasting over charcoal fire-pits. Curious, I walked in. The place, Pancho’s Restaurant, had a sports-bar-meets-Mexican-cantina ambiance – sombreros and serapes, televised sports, a pool table and nice window seating with an enclosed veranda.
What do you know about real pizza? I’m taking about the Italian kind, in particular the Neapolitan variety — thin crust, red sauce (unless you like it “blanco”), and cooked in a brick oven. Luckily, to get a taste of Napoli, you don’t have to travel far. Hidden in an Itaewon alley, you can find a pizzeria that blends the flavors of Italian-style pizza while capturing the cosmopolitanism of the city.
Summertime means longer days and warm weather – just the right time to break out the grill and cook some protein. The Latin American grill holds a special place in my heart, having eaten loads of lechon (roast pig), carne asada (grilled beef) and churrascaria (Brazilian steak house) meat on my travels. At home, I like to grill my version of Plato Todos Carnes, reminiscent of my favorite Mexican restaurant in America. If you don’t have time to cook, no need to worry. There are some good restaurant options in Seoul.
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