#koreanfoodfestival

[bryanbelen29]

Thursday cravings is fun! #KPubBBQTiendesitas #KoreanFoodFestival #CheesePlease (at KPub BBQ Tiendesitas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B42A4nJh07l/?igshid=1plmo5a6mec6s

[thehungrykat1]

Marriott Cafe Features Korean Food Festival this July

Annyeong haseyo!! Welcome to the Korean Food Festival at Marriott Cafe! I have always wanted to wear one of these traditional Korean dresses called Hanbok ever since I got into the Korean craze. You might be thinking if I have found a new career as a Korean actress, but actually, I’m just borrowing this Hanbok while enjoying the authentic Korean specialties here at Marriott Hotel Manila.

There’s no need to get a visa because Marriott Manila is bringing the ultimate K-pop culinary experience to the Philippines. Marriott Cafe continues to be a favorite hotel buffet restaurant (read my previous blogs here) and there are now more reasons to come back this month as they have invited four Korean chefs to prepare authentic Korean dishes. The Hungry Kat was invited to the media launch of the Korean Food Festival last July 10, 2017 and it was nice to be back at the hotel where I have spent numerous staycations and celebrated many memorable occasions.

Manila Marriott and the Korean Cultural Center have partnered to bring us an exciting foodie event that will definitely delight Koreanovela lovers like me. The four Korean chefs come form one of the largest and famous resorts in Seoul, Elysian Gangchon, and they will be sharing their expertise from July 11 to July 31 at Marriott Cafe.

Ms. Michelle Garcia, the lovely Director of Marketing Communications at Marriott Manila who came in a K-pop inspired outfit, opened the festive launch and presented the four Korean chefs who flew in to Manila just to showcase their specialties at the Korean Food Festival. The Korean guest chefs are (from left to right) Lee Youn Chul, Byung Eok An, Lee Yong Taek, and Jeun Gi Nyeo.

An entertaining Korean cultural sword dance called Geommu was also performed at the Marriott Cafe, shortly before the buffet was opened to all the hungry guests. 

Together with me at Marriott Cafe was one of the pioneering food bloggers in the country, Ms. Fran of FrannyWanny.com who has recently moved back to Manila for the delivery of her expected twins! They also let us wear these traditional Hanbok so that we can feel like real Koreans even for just a few minutes.

The Korean dishes were spread throughout the buffet at Marriott Cafe. This is in addition to the regular stations serving salads, pasta, gambas, Filipino, Chinese, Indian, and Japanese cuisines. 

Let’s start with the unique Korean appetizers. We all know about kimchi, but Marriott Cafe offers a few other interesting appetizers like the Daeha Susam Nangche or Prawn Salad with Ginseng. They also had the Sogogi Buchu Salad, a green salad with rib eye beef and chives. The Bossam Kimchi is a different kimchi variant as it is wrapped with a variety of ingredients.

Have some Korean Pancakes which are made from a batter of eggs and flour then cooked with scallions and other seafood ingredients. 

Look for the dedicated Bibimbap Station where a Korean chef will be preparing your own personalized Korean rice bowl. Bibimbap is a signature Korean dish which is basically their version of fried rice. This is white rice topped with a combination of vegetables and raw egg with a soybean paste that you can mix together.

Break the egg and combine everything together for a flavorful rice bowl that can be a meal by itself. But it’s better to combine it with the next popular Korean dish.

Before the opening of the buffet, the media guests were invited to check out the Marriott Cafe kitchen and see how the Korean chefs were busy preparing our yummy dishes. The highlight of the Korean Food Festival for me is the Korean Barbecue grill offering Yangnyeom Salchisal Gui (Marinated and grilled beef) and Yangnyeom Dak Gui (Grilled chicken with spicy sauce).

You can usually order these premium meats and barbecues at Korean restaurants but diners can have all the beef and chicken barbecue they want at Marriott Cafe. These are freshly grilled by the Korean chefs and served straight to your plate.

There are several other Korean dishes that you can find at the buffet like the classic Japchae or Korean stir-fried glass noodles with meat and vegetables. I just love eating these silky smooth noodles.

They also have Deep Fried Chicken cooked Korean-style. These extra crispy fried chicken have a sweet honey sauce similar to popular Korean fast food chains. Then there is the Beef Bulgogi which is another familiar Korean dish that is already quite common to the Filipino palate. 

Of course, the two most popular stations at Marriott Cafe are still present to complete this gastronomic dining experience. The Seafood Station lets diners get crabs, mussels and huge prawns which they can have prepared to their liking. I had mine cooked in butter garlic and they were just so delicious.

Plus there is the carving station where you can get unlimited slices of their US Choice Prime Rib Eye Steak. Have it seared over at the grill for a juicier and more flavorful steak.

The Dessert Station is still filled with sweets and goodies including Halo Halo, cookies, fruits, and the chocolate fountain. 

But there are also a few Korean specialty desserts that should give diners a different taste experience. Finally, to cap off the Korean Food Festival on a refreshing note, have some of Marriott Cafe’s homemade gelatos which include variants such as Palawan Walnut, Black Forest, Coconut, Bubble Gum, and many more. 

Guests can also swing by the Greatroom to unwind. The popular Korean liquor, Soju, takes over the bar that will get you into the K-Pop groove. Soju cocktails starts at P295 only during the Korean Food Festival. Marriott Manila is also holding a Korean cooking class facilitated by the Korean chefs on July 18 and July 19 from 10:00am to 2:30pm at Marriott’s The Hub. This is inclusive of a sumptuous lunch, chefs gear, equipment and ingredients for only P1,250 per person.

The Korean Food Festival at Marriott Hotel Manila is the best way to experience all the culinary highlights of South Korea without having to buy a plane ticket. Buffet rates for Marriott Cafe remain the same at P1,900 nett per person for Monday to Saturday lunch; P2,100 nett for Sunday to Thursday dinner; and P2,500 nett for Friday and Saturday dinner plus Sunday brunch. Gamsahamnida! 

Marriott Cafe

Ground Floor, Marriott Hotel Manila, Newport City, Pasay City

988-9999

www.rwmanila.com/hotels/marriott-hotel-manila

www.facebook.com/marriotthotelmanila

[babiebebbie]

ข้าวผัดกิมจิ #babiebebbiefoodie #ThanksGodItsMonday20th #koreanfoodfestival (at Cuisine Unplugged @ Pull Man)

[hburgdowntown]

Thanks for letting us take a group photo!#KoreanFoodFestival #getDowntown (at Korean Presbyterian Church Hattiesburg)

[anneexploresla]

Korean rappers at the #koreanfoodfestival #timessquare #nyc (at Times Square NYC)

[le-y]

Taekwondo exhibition at the K-Food Festival #taekwondo #ktigers #koreanfoodfestival #timessquare #nyc (at Red Stairs Times Square)

[wanghousekoreancafe]

Korean Festivals and Food in India: A Taste of Tradition

Korean culture is making waves in India, and its vibrant festivals like Chuseok, Seollal, and Hangeul Day are bringing people together to celebrate with delicious food and rich traditions. These festivals have become a gateway for Indians to experience the essence of Korea, with Korean restaurants across cities like Delhi, Gurugram, and Kochi offering authentic dishes.

Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival, is celebrated with treats like Songpyeon (rice cakes) and Jeon (savory pancakes), while Seollal, the Lunar New Year, features comforting dishes like Tteokguk (rice cake soup). These celebrations are often hosted at Korean restaurants, allowing diners to enjoy the warmth of Korean traditions.

Korean food is also a health-conscious choice, with dishes like Bibimbap and Kimchi offering a balance of flavor and nutrients. The fusion of Korean food and festivals has taken India by storm, providing a unique cultural experience.

Ready to dive deeper into Korean food festivals and traditions? Click here to read the full blog

[thehungrykat1]

Go Gangnam at Novotel Manila’s Korean Food Festival

Novotel Manila Araneta Center has just launched a Korean Food Festival called Go Gangnam! at Food Exchange Manila, its all-day dining restaurant. The Korean invasion has definitely made a big impact on the Philippines’ pop culture, with K-Pop music, Korean telenovelas, and Korean restaurants all sprouting around the city. Koreans make up the biggest segment of our tourism industry, so it is only fitting that Novotel is celebrating the rich culinary heritage of Korea and their contributions to our country. 

Go Gangnam! is a special week-long K-Food Festival happening at Novotel Manila from February 21 to February 27, 2017. During this event, the Food Exchange will transform into its own Korean buffet restaurant, with Korean Master Chef Jong-Man Kim preparing sumptuous Korean specialties such as Japchae, Bibimbap, kimchi-inspired dishes, and more importantly, Korean barbecues.

Novotel Manila General Manager Bernd Schneider and Korean Cultural Centre Director Oh Choong-suk led the launching of the Korean Food Festival yesterday at Food Exchange Manila. Guests from the media were treated to a traditional Korean fan dance before the buffet was officially opened. Novotel Manila is situated right at the heart of the busy Araneta Center in Quezon City. Novotel is the mid-scale brand of the Accor Hotels group which is the leading hotel operator in the world. Some of its sister brands include Sofitel, Mercure, Fairmont and Raffles Hotel. 

Food Exchange Manila is located at the ground floor of the hotel and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets for its guests. It radiates a bright and cheerful ambiance with natural light coming from its full-length windows and a colorful contemporary design for its interiors. The restaurant is spacious, with comfortable seats and sofas spread throughout its dining space.

The Korean Food Festival starts immediately when you enter as you are greeted by these servers wearing their Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress.

Food Exchange Manila’s buffets are priced at only P1,488 nett per person during Monday to Friday lunch and P1,588 nett for Monday to Thursday dinner. Friday dinners as well as weekend buffets are priced at P1,888 nett.

Korean Chef Kim Jong-Man of Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam flew all the way from South Korea to share his masterpieces and other authentic Korean dishes in Manila. 

A Korean feast always starts with Banchan appetizers and you can find many unique Korean starters at the Go Gangnam food festival.

Aside from the more common kimchi, you can find other interesting appetizers including the Fried Anchovies Kimchi, Marble Potato Kimchi, Cucumber Kimchi and Radish Kimchi. 

Beef Bulgogi is a popular Korean dish known all over the world and you can also find this here. This beef is cooked with soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seed and black pepper.

Korean cuisine is known for their barbecues and these are probably the best items you can find at the Korean Food Festival. Indulge in a barbecue feast with unlimited servings of Korean Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Fish Barbecues. Pork Bulgogi is also available with its sweet and spicy marinated stir-fried pork.

They also offer Kimchi Rice topped with fried quail eggs and decorated with cabbage kimchi all around. 

In addition to the authentic Korean dishes at the Go Gangnam food festival, Food Exchange Manila’s buffet also showcases other mouthwatering international dishes. Their brick-oven pizzas and signature pasta at the Italian Station are quite good.

The Japanese Station also has several sushi and sashimi on the table. For the K-Food Festival, their Sushi of the Day called Kimbap Futo Maki is a fusion of Korean and Japanese influences.

Indian specialties also include Beetroot Tikki, Tandori Squid, Chicken Malai Tikka, Chicken Curry and Shrimp Masala which are cooked with tomato gravy, onions and Indian spices.

Those who want meatier dishes should head over to the Grilling Station with plenty of carnivorous options like pork, beef, chicken and fish which are freshly grilled.  

The Roast Pork Loin is one of the popular items at the Carving Station which also offers a whole Steamed Fish.

The buffet also has plenty of seafood options at the Cold Seafood Station. Prawns, crabs, shells, and mussels are overflowing, but you can actually ask the servers at the grilling station to cook these for you over the grill on in yummy garlic butter.

Beverages and juices are included in the buffet, but you can also ask to upgrade your dining experience with a few shots of Korean Soju from the Gourmet Bar just beside the restaurant.

To end your bountiful buffet, a variety of sweets and desserts can be found here. Cakes, candies, cookies, freshly made puto bumbong, bibingka, churros and homemade ice cream are all a delightful way to cap of the Korean feast. 

Go Gangnam! K-Food Festival is a great way to try these authentic Korean dishes all in one place. You only have one week to savour these specialties before Chef Kim Jong-Man flies back to Gangnam in Seoul. So head over to Novotel Manila Araneta Center and dine Gangnam Style!

Food Exchange at Novotel Manila

General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Quezon City

990-7888

www.novotel.com

www.facebook.com/NovotelManilaAranetaCenter