Seoul’s top chefs find new homes at hotels: Big names in the culinary world are trying out new styles in hot locations
The Plaza’s lounge area is open to guests visiting Joo Ok at the hotel in central Seoul. Diners will get to see an unobstructed view of Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza right in front of them. It also has a view of the green garden outside so that visitors can relax while they play a Korean board game called yutnori. [PARK SANG-MOON]
While some are asking star chefs to consult them on how to make their dining options more appealing, others are inviting the culinary bigwigs to relocate their own restaurants to their hotels.
Chef Shin Chang-ho of Joo Ok, left, runs the restaurant which displays the fermented vinegars he uses. [PARK SANG-MOON]
“We wanted our hotel to go beyond our own brand and help position Seoul as a gastronomic destination by having food by chefs that could represent the [culinary scene] in Korea,” said a representative from the hotel.
A lounge area where diners can sit down with a drink, a service widely available overseas yet rare in Korea, has been opened inside. An unobstructed view of Seoul City Hall and the Seoul Plaza, and the green garden outside the window creates a tranquil atmosphere in the middle of the hustle and bustle of city life.
Tabletops and shelves are decorated by Korean designers, including Ha Ji-hoon and more, and show how traditional Korean patterns and shapes can be used to make modern design. Small tables like soban, which was used to serve meals in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), are made in different colors, and candle holders with bubble-like designs are also on display.
“We hope this restaurant becomes a place not only where people get to experience modern Korean food, but also where local art and designs are discovered,” said Kim Hye-joon, who coordinated the restaurant’s move.
Joo Ok, which became popular for its use of different types of restaurant-fermented vinegars, has a refrigerator window that displays jars with vegetables and fruits inside to better show its diners how some of their ingredients are made.
Chef Lee Jun of Michelin-starred Soigne in Seocho District, southern Seoul, will soon open his third restaurant called Dear Wild, which will serve European-style food. After opening his contemporary Korean restaurant Soigne and Italian restaurant Doughroom in southern Seoul, chef Lee plans to make something different for diners in northern Seoul.
Chef Lee Young-ra of Le Cabaret Dosan, known for its champagne service and rooftop parties, has joined the hotel to open up the bar Le Cabaret Cite, and chef Park Joon-woo, the winner of cooking competition show “Master Chef Korea Season 1” will serve desserts in The Lounge. The official opening of all four new spots is tentatively scheduled for July 3.
Chef Kang Min-goo of Festa by Mingoo at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, right, introduces rustic European-style food. [BANYAN TREE CLUB AND SPA SEOUL]
Many fans of his analysis of traditional Korean into modern style plates have been following the news about his new take on more casual, Western-style food to see what more he can do outside of Mingles.
“What I do here is going to be completely different from what’s done at Mingles,” said Kang.
Chef Goo Min-sool of Millennium Seoul Hilton, right, offers a chef’s choice Japanese course meal. [MILLENNIUM SEOUL HILTON]
There has also been a rise in luxury hotels providing space to popular pastry shops and cafes. L’Escape Hotel in central Seoul, invited a bakery from Seocho District, southern Seoul, called Maison M’O, to make tea snacks at Le Salon de Maison. Hell Cafe also joined up with the hotel to provide their coffee.
Lotte Hotel Seoul has brought in chefs from France to run many of its food offerings, including chef Pierre Garnier of French restaurant Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul and chef Yannick Alleno, who runs Signiel Seoul’s restaurant Stay.
BY LEE SUN-MIN [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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