| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:53 am Post subject: Another one for the veggies. . |
 |
|
Just came across this in the JoongAng Ilbo:
| Quote: |
Vegetarian fare introduced to a new audience
March 23, 2005 �� Korean meals may contribute to a healthful diet adopted by modern diners, but that doesn't necessarily mean that restaurants cater to the needs of vegetarians. In Korea, serious vegetarians are often limited to steamed rice topped with assorted vegetables, or bibimbap �� but hold the beef please.
But when Ho Kyung Jeon, an upscale Chinese restaurant at the Westin Chosun Hotel, invited a Taiwanese chef, Chen-Kuen Chang, to showcase sophisticated vegetarian meals, it was an indication that the fast-evolving Korean dining scene is finally embracing a global movement.
"In Korea, a change in the trend usually starts with a small number of opinion leaders," Kim Yoon-jung, the hotel's assistant food and beverage manager, said.
Mr. Chang, 44, has worked at Kuan Shih Yin Vegetarian Restaurant in Taipei since he was 19, when he converted to vegetarianism. He has developed more than 300 dishes catering to non-meat eaters whose diet includes dairy products, such as eggs and milk.
When he came to Seoul last week to prepare his specialties, though, he had a hard time finding all the right ingredients in local markets. Spices were different, for example, and various ready-made meat substitutes were nowhere to be found. There were relatively few varieties of mushrooms, a primary ingredient used in vegetarian cooking to simulate a meat-like texture and flavor. He also found that the monkey's head mushroom (commonly called hedgehog fungus in English), one of the important delicacies in Chinese cooking, is considered a "grotesque" food here because of its appearance and thus is available only in cans.
Ethnic Chinese chefs working in the Ho Kyung Jeon kitchen say they learned a lot about vegetarian cooking. "The number of ingredients is definitely smaller than in regular cooking, but the preparation to make the dishes as delicious as non-vegetarian ones is quite complex," said Cheng-Kuo Chen, who worked closely with Mr. Chang.
The Taiwanese vegetarian food promotion prepared by Mr. Chang includes some of the best-selling dishes at the Taipei restaurant: vegetarian shark's fin soup, deep-fried golden needle mushrooms (popularly known as enokitake) and fried monkey's head mushrooms.
The shark's fin soup made with a starch substitute tastes rich and savory, just like the real thing. Both mushroom dishes coated in a sauce were bursting with delicate and delicious herbal flavors, and the taste and texture were more like those of marinated white meat.
Mr. Chang says he has enjoyed the healthy benefits of a vegetarian diet, especially a good balance of nutrients from dairy products and the calming effect of vegetables. "By offering delicious meals made with special recipes, I wanted to spread the vegetarian lifestyle in Korea," he said.
The Taiwanese Vegetarian Meal promotion will run until the end of this month. Ho Kyung Jeon is located on the 30th floor of the Westin Chosun Hotel in downtown Seoul. A la carte dishes start at 20,000 won ($20), plus 10 percent VAT and 10 percent service charge. A six-course lunch costs 70,000 won; a seven-course dinner 100,000 won. For reservations, call 02-317-0494. |
Anyone up for a rather posh veggie club dinner? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ladyandthetramp
Joined: 21 Nov 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I kind of like the fact that being vegetarian meals tend to be cheaper, so I'm not sure about the posh dinner idea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Saunagukin
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: Between Kyobo Tower & the Ritz
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I wanna go...it's until the end of March? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paperbag princess
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| i want to go. 100,000 sounds tres cher though. the a la carte sounds good though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thorin
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Why eat fried monkey's head mushrooms when you could eat fried monkey's head? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I was thinking of the ala carte menu myself. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paperbag princess
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| maybe we could order a bunch of different a la carte and share things? my boyfriend wants to come too. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| works for me- now when? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paperbag princess
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| how about saturday afternoon? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paperbag princess
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| like late lunch/early dinner? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 6:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Sounds good. Anyone else? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thorin
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Do they have steaks? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paperbag princess
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| yes, yes they do... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
paperbag princess
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ok, i have two more friends who are interested. yay! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
