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By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The unbearably hot days of summer are here once again. As temperatures rise, everyone is scrambling to find ways to escape the heat and cool off. One of the easiest ways to forget about the weather and stay cool is trying out some of the summer's most popular and delicious food that Korea has to offer. Sizzling Hot What do you eat when you're trying to stay cool? In many countries, the obvious answer would be ice cream, frozen yogurt and other ice-cold treats. It's always a surprise for many foreigners to find out one of the most popular dishes during summer is a piping hot bowl of samgyetang or chicken ginseng soup. ``Fighting fire with fire'' may be the philosophy behind eating this hot soup during summer. Back in historical times, it was customary to eat samgyetang, a soup with chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng and jujubes, during the three hottest days of summer or ``sambok.'' Eating samgyetang, which is rich in protein and vitamins, is supposed to help keep one healthy to fight off fatigue in the hot summer. ``Consuming this spicy soup on a hot summer day caused one to perspire heavily, much like a sand sauna, but also served to bolster the bodily constitution and ward off illness,'' David E. Shaffer wrote in ``Seasonal Customs of Korea.''  To Sok Chon is one of the best-known samgyetang restaurants in Seoul. President Roh Moo-hyun himself is said to be a big fan of the restaurant, which is located in Cheboo-dong, near Cheong Wa Dae.Jung Sung-hoon, To Sok Chon's owner, said the restaurant has been operating for 25 years and is a favorite among politicians because of its proximity to Cheong Wa Dae. ``We serve thousands of bowls of samgyetang every day during summer. There are always twice as many customers during summer,'' Jung told The Korea Times. Due to its popularity, you might find yourself lining up under the sun for around 10 to 15 minutes before you can get a table during lunch and dinner times. However, most customers say it is well worth the wait. Jung said the samgyetang's distinctive taste comes from the combination of herbs, jujube dates, ginseng, glutinous rice, gingko, pumpkin seeds, grains and special secret ingredients. The chicken itself is tender and flavorful. It costs 12,000 won. To get to To Sok Chon, get off at Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3, Exit 2) and walk 120 meters, turn left at the GS 25 convenience store and you'll find the restaurant on the left. You won't miss the line of people waiting for a table at the restaurant.  Spicy Cold Noodles Another distinctly Korean summer dish is naengmyeon or cold noodles. Eating naengmyeon on a sultry humid day is always a refreshing treat. Naengmyeon originated in North Korea, hence the popular dishes Pyeongyang naengmyeon and Hamheung naengmyeon are named after two cities. Pyeongyang naengmyeon, also known as mul (water) naengmyeon, features an icy, watery broth and uses buckwheat flour for its noodles. Hamheung naengmyeon, or bibim naengmyeon, is not served with broth, but is spiced with red-pepper paste. It also uses noodles made of sweet potato starch. Both dishes are served with sliced beef, boiled egg, cucumbers and pears. While you can find naengmyeon almost anywhere in the city, Ojang-dong is known for its so-called naengmyeon street, with some of the oldest restaurants in the city.  Heungnam House is the oldest naengmyeon restaurant in the area, having opened in 1953 by Noh Yong-won, after she fled from her hometown Heungnam to South Korea during the Korean War.Heungnam House has a decidedly low-key and unpretentious atmosphere that has kept a steady stream of customers coming through its doors for more than 50 years. Its naengmyeon dishes use thin, soft noodles, and its bibim naengmyeon, 7,000 won, is not too spicy. Other well-known restaurants in Ojang-dong are Hamheung Naengmyeon, which opened in 1955; and Shingchang Myeonok, which opened in 1981. To find Ojang-dong naengmyeon Street, get off at Euljiro 4-ga (Subway Line 2, Exit 8) and go straight to the direction of the Jung-gu Office. At the intersection, turn left and go straight for 50 meters and you'll find the naengmyeon restaurants. If you go during lunchtime, just follow the people lining up at the restaurants. Ice-cold Sweets  Summer heat always seems to intensify a craving for something sweet and cold. In Korea, summer is almost synonymous with patbingsu, or shaved ice served with sweet red beans and fresh fruits. It is so popular that even fast-food chains like Lotteria and Burger King came with their version of patbingsu. One of the famous patbingsu restaurants is Mealtop, located at the fifth floor of Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong. While some may initially balk at paying 6,000 won for a bowl of shaved ice and red beans, its patbingsu has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best in the city. Mealtop's patbingsu features snowy shaved ice with milk and is topped with creamy, sweet red beans and fresh fruits. It also offers variations with strawberry ice, coffee ice and even one for dieters. With the well-being craze, there are several places serving healthier versions of patbingsu. O'Sulloc Tea House serves green tea patbingsu. It may seem like an odd combination _ shaved ice with red beans and green tea ice cream, but it is surprisingly tasty. Scream for Ice Cream  Ice cream is always everyone's favorite summer treat. Aside from the usual Korean popsicles available at every convenience store, foreign ice cream chains like Cold Stone Creamery and Baskin Robbins offer fresh, new flavors to suit everyone's taste.Cold Stone Creamery is relatively new to Korea, having opened only in June 2006, but it is rapidly expanding throughout Seoul. Here, you can choose your favorite ice cream flavor to be mixed with a variety of fruits, nuts, chocolate bits, brownies and candy on a frozen granite stone counter. This is one place where you can have your ice cream treat exactly the way you want it. The ice cream chain is fast becoming popular for its signature creations with enticing names such as Cheesecake Fantasy, Strawberry Shortcake Serenade and Strawberry Banana Rendezvous. Kwon Yu-mi, in charge of marketing and public relations at Cold Stone Creamery Korea, said the company makes sure the ice cream it serves in Korea is exactly the same in the U.S. All the ice cream bases, mix-ins and waffle mixes are imported from the U.S. However, Cold Stone Creamery is adapting to the tastes of Koreans by introducing "well-being" flavors such as Yogurt and Green Tea. Baskin Robbins is also popular, with branches almost everywhere in Seoul. Baskin Robbins introduced fruity flavors perfect for the summer, such as Aloe Pineapple Yogurt. Their ice cream fondue, featuring scoops of ice cream to be dipped in hot chocolate, is popular among groups of friends. Health buffs flock to Red Mango for its low-fat yogurt topped with an assortment of fruits and cereals, and fruity yogurt drinks. American chain Smoothie King also offers nutritious, creamy smoothies that combine fruits, natural juices and vitamins as a healthy alternative. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
Sunday, August 19, 2007
summer treats
pea please
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By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Superstar hip-hop group, the Black Eyed Peas promises to give an exciting and rambunctious concert for Korean fans on Wednesday evening. The Grammy Award-winning group, composed of will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie, have fond memories of performing at last year's Pentaport Rock Festival. ``At last year's concert, it was amazing that even in the worst weather, we had one of the best shows we have had. The people and the energy were amazing. Korea is by far one of our favorite places to perform,'' will.i.am said, during a press conference at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in southern Seoul on Monday. For Wednesday's concert at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, will.i.am said the group is preparing some surprises but jokingly assured fans that ``I know it won't rain, so it will be a dry show.'' Fergie, the group's lead singer and only female member, said each of the members will give solo performances during the concert. She said she is excited to perform songs from her first album ``The Dutchess.'' ``The energy of the show would be like as if kimchi is falling from the sky,'' Fergie said, eliciting laughter. The Peas arrived in Seoul on Monday, after having performed at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan over the weekend. ``We just came from Japan, where we had a show. It was kind of like a warm up show. We haven't performed together in a long time, so we were on stage working out the kinks. But we saved the best for last for Korea,'' will.i.am said The past year saw the Peas concentrate on their solo activities. Fergie released her solo album. Will.i.am prepared for his album ``Songs About Girls'' to be released in September. Apl.de.ap and Taboo are also preparing for their solo albums. ``The cool thing about being in the Black Eyed Peas is that we're kind of like solo artists in a group. Apl can sing a song in Tagalog by himself. Fergie's got her solo album. Taboo can rap in Spanish. … It's a good experience to be able to be in the Black Eyed Peas and still do side solo projects. Its good to have the support of friends, still go on tour and rock the stage. It's not strange at all. You actually benefit from it,'' will.i.am said. Will.i.am described his upcoming album as a mix of ``dance, electro, funk, and soul fusion music from a hip-hop perspective.'' Apl.de.ap, who is Filipino-American, said his solo album would contain more Tagalog language songs to show Philippine culture. As for the next Black Eyed Peas album, the group said they haven't decided on a title yet. Apl.de.ap said the tentative title ``From Roots to Fruits'' was a result of joking around, reminiscing about the group's evolution. ``We want to come back in 2008 with a new album, which will be a fulfillment of everything that everybody wants to express as an individual and as a group,'' Taboo said. During their stay in Seoul, the Peas said they are planning to visit Bongeunsa temple, Coex Mall, night clubs and even a recording studio. Will.i.am said he is composing music for the film ``Madagascar 2,'' and Fergie's song for a Japanese drama. Fergie is collaborating with J-pop singer Koda Kumi. Tickets for the Black Eyed Peas concert are priced between 121,000 won to 66,000 won. For more information, check out http://ticket.interpark.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
shopaholic's seoul
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Staff Reporter Shopaholics get ready, as well-known fashion brands are finally coming to Seoul. American retailing giant Gap and its more upscale sister company Banana Republic are opening shops in Seoul on Aug. 24. Shinsegae International, a unit of Shinsegae Co., is bringing in Gap and Banana Republic through a franchise agreement with Gap. Inc. The Gap brand is known for its classic designs and comfortable basics such as T-shirts and jeans, while Banana Republic is described as an ``accessible luxury brand offering high-quality apparel and accessories.'' As part of the agreement, Shinsegae will have exclusive rights to operate Gap and Banana Republic stores in Korea. Both brands will be available at the Shinsegae Main Department Store. Gap will have its flagship store in Myeong-dong and will also be available at the Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam, while Banana Republic will have its flagship store in Apgujeong-dong.
Gap and Banana Republic will be offering their fall collection at the stores. This fall, Gap's women's collection features men's wear inspired clothing with feminine details, such as striped shirtdresses, tailored blazers and cute vests. The spokesman also said the Banana Republic line features items, described as luxurious both in materials and design, which will cater to the discerning Korean customer. This includes sophisticated suits, quality leather bags and stylish shoes. The buzzword is ``urban elegance'' for Banana Republic's fall collection. Classic American sportswear is given a modern twist, with inspiration from 80's fashion. Key pieces include shimmering cocktail dresses, oversized hounds tooth jackets, as well as wide-leg trousers and cropped trapeze jackets.  Gap Inc. is a leading specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperlime brands. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores, of which 1, 199 stores are in the United States alone. In Asia, there are Gap stores in Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India. Meanwhile, Spanish clothing brand Zara is also reportedly planning to open its first store in Seoul. A spokesman for Lotte Group said there are on-going talks with Zara, but there is no confirmation yet. However, Industria de Diseno Textil SA (Inditex), parent company of Zara, announced in March 2006 that it had already signed a joint venture agreement with the Lotte Shopping Company Ltd. to launch Zara in the country. At that time, Inditex said the first Zara store will be opened in Seoul by the end of 2006.  The fashionable Spanish brand is known for its chic but affordable line of trendy clothes for women and men. It usually takes inspiration from the hottest runway looks and translates it to wearable items for a wider audience. Zara is Europe's largest fashion retailer, followed by Sweden's Hennes & Mauritz also known as H&M. Zara has already made inroads around Asia, opening stores in Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines in recent years. The Gap, Banana Republic and Zara would have to compete with homegrown brands, as well as other foreign retailers such as Spain's Mango, Hong Kong's Giordano and Japan's Uniqlo which have already established their presence in Korea. Fierce competition is expected among these retailers. Hopefully, the Korean consumers will benefit with better quality products and competitive prices. |
mflo is love
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Staff Reporter Japanese hip-hop superstars m-flo rocked the Seoul party scene with two sold-out concerts on Friday and Saturday, as part of the ``m-flo Tour 2007 Cosmicolor.'' This was the duo's first concert in Korea since their ``Beat Space Nine'' tour in 2005. The Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel's Kayagum Hall was packed with fans who were eager to see m-flo perform in Seoul. However, Saturday's concert was marred by a delay that caused fans to wait 2 hours and 45 minutes for m-flo's performance. At a press conference at the W Hotel on Saturday afternoon, m-flo's rapper Verbal and producer Taku Takahashi expressed excitement at performing before Korean fans once again. ``Korean fans are very enthusiastic. We're very pleased to see many Korean fans at our concerts, so we are always coming here. At our concert (on Friday), we saw some Japanese fans, and Korean fans clap their hands. We are pleased to see that Korean fans are welcoming Japanese fans. Through music, I think people can understand each other more deeply,'' Verbal said. When asked how they feel at the popularity of Japanese pop culture in Korea, Taku said he was happy to know that Koreans are appreciating their music. Verbal laughed, saying that he saw many fans at the airport but it turned out they were waiting for Japanese actor Tamaki Hiroshi. M-flo is known for their unique collaborations with top Japanese artists such as Koda Kumi, Amuro Namie and Crystal Kay, as well as Korean artists like Boa, Wheesung and Clazziquai. Taku said they liked working with these Korean singers because they have powerful voices, strong characters and good musical style. On Saturday evening, fans were dismayed at the delay in m-flo's performance. Tickets for the ``club event'' indicated the show would start at 10 p.m., but fans were lining up as early as 7:30 p.m. When the gates opened at 10 p.m., fans were surprised by the announcement that m-flo would perform at 12:45 a.m. This prompted dozens of fans to storm out of the concert to demand a refund from the organizers, 02 Productions and S.M. Entertainment. Fans complained that they had to stand while waiting for m-flo's performance, since guards refused to let them sit on the floor. Perhaps sensing the crowd's growing restlessness, Verbal came out at 12:15 a.m. to appease the fans. He asked the crowd to wait for a few more minutes and enjoy the music by the DJs. A representative from the concert organizers appeared before the crowd to apologize for the delay, attributing it to technical difficulties. When m-flo finally took the stage, fans forgot all about the long wait and greeted them with loud screams. M-flo made up for the delay with an energetic show, performing with Korean singers Wheesung and Alex of Clazziquai. Wheesung, who is recently making a comeback, sang ``I'm Da 1,'' from m-flo's ``Beat Space Nine album.'' Alex performed ``Love Me After 12 a.m.,'' which is included in the ``Cosmicolor'' album. In contrast, m-flo's concert on Friday went off without a hitch. M-flo opened the show with a performance of ``Summer Time Love,'' with J-pop singers Emi Hinouchi and Ryohei. Rapid fire rapping from Verbal, excellent mixing from Takahashi, as well as colorful visuals and thumping dance beats all combined to energize the concert crowd, who kept screaming and jumping throughout the nearly 3-hour show. Most of the songs were from their latest album ``Cosmicolor.'' Verbal, who is ethnically Korean but grew up in Japan, addressed the crowd in a mix of English, Japanese and Korean. M-flo also performed with J-pop singers Yoshika and Emyli, on songs such as ``Loop in my Heart,'' ``Love Song'' and ``Let Go.'' Former m-flo member Lisa also reunited with Verbal and Takahashi on stage, to perform songs from their earlier albums. |
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