Food Attack

This is what I like about my job, Hotels, resorts and fine dining. My job requires me to plan events. Ok, before I go on, I�m not an event organizer per se. Planning events is just 30% of what I do in our company. But this is the most taxing. Planning an event for 500-1000 pax is not easy. The only thing that excites me in doing this is the elegance.

Yesterday, I had a chance to dine at Hyatt Hotel and Casino. I set I d ate from our account officer to finalize our requirement for the banquet and room accommodations of our guests.

I've already lost count as to how many times I've done events in this hotel. But every event that I do is different from the other.

The upcoming event on March 8 is full of elegance. Red carpets, string orchestra, delectable banquet that the French and Australian executive chefs concocted are the highlights. The ballroom will be decorated only by flowers.

Anyway, I'll blog about the ballroom set up next. For now, I want to blog about the treat which my taste buds had yesterday. I've to choose the best food from the choice that the French, Australian and Malaysian chef prepared for March 8.

Yesterday�s lunch literally gave my palate pleasure.

For appetizer I had to choose between, Marinated Salmon and Mango Salsa Composition of Norwegian Salmon or, Chicken Galantine with Cumberland Sauce and Salad Leaves.



Which choice I got? It�s the 2nd one. I love the Cumberland Sauce just perfect for my taste buds. I would have wanted the Marinated Salmon, but the others may not like the raw salmon. If it had been smoked then I guess I would have gotten it.

The soup is next (hee, I'm soup person). I was served with 2 kinds.

The Blue Swimmer Crab, Ginger Crab and Coconut Soup which is quite good but too salty for my taste. The crabs made it too salty. My guess is that one would have his blood shoot up if he takes too much of it.

This one is mouth-watering. Pumpkin Froth with Parmesan Brittle. Love it! I could get 2 servings of this.

Before going to the main course, I was served with �wash�. Wash normally is a serving of sherbet to wash away the taste of the appetizer and soup before going to the main dish. Wash is normally sour.


The Malaysia chef, who heads the dessert, prepared 2 homemade sherbet. The Raspbery and Mango Sherbet. The Raspberry is too sour, the Mango would not look nice in the table after serving a yellow soup. So I talked to the chef and told him if he can recommend another one. He said he will make Lemon Grass Sherbet for our occasion which is neither too sour nor sweet.

Now comes the most exciting part, the main course. Who would have thought that rich flavor of dark chocolate would blend well with beef?

When this dish was placed in front of me, it surely made my mouth water.

This is Pot Roasted US Prime Beef with Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Puree and Annatto Seed Oil Roasted Onion. Btw, that onion is soooo sweet! I had a happy tummy after eating this palatable dish. Yummy�yummy�oh so yummy!

This one is Grain Fed Chicken Bread and Tiger Prawn Nantau Sauce. I didn�t choose this because it doesn�t have the appeal to me. Though I love tiger prawns. But one is not enough for me.

Ah, what a treat! *burp* [liezle : excuse me )

Much as I would want to stop eating and just leave the decision to the chef and account executive the dessert, I was told by them�No. Sigh�.

But you know what? When the dessert platters were placed in front of me [sorry i forgot to take picture of the desserts because i was so amazed with the presentation and probably i'm already too full to think] I can�t do anything but surrender to the temptation of the sweet delights. I got a bite from each of the devilish cakes which are sinfully delicious. [ argh, there goes my diet!]

Ah, what a meal! So much gusto for lunch!

Hee, for fear of indigestion, I finished the meal off with a cup of jasmine tea.

On Thursday, I�ll be again doing the same thing as the above. This time, I�ll be at Sofitel Philippine Plaza (formerly Westin Philippine Plaza) for our March 9 event.

Geez, after this, could I still fit in the gowns that I�ll be using ? Help!

I love Nami!

This is the day for most of us before our departure. Kinda sad thinking that this is our last day in Korea. If we could only extend our stay for a much longer period we would. But of course we could not, because we still have to earn in order to finance our next trip to Korea.

Since the day we arrived, this is the only day that we all woke up much early than usual. From the guesthouse where we were staying the bus station is about more than 10 stops. We even had to battle with the rush hour at the subway.

Btw,I had fun taking the public transportation during my whole stay in Korea. In my country, I only had the chance to take our MRT/LRT twice and I haven’t taken the bus for ages. So taking the public transport for 10 days was really adventure for me. ^^

It took us about an hour to arrive at the bus station. The bus ride was about 45 minutes. Then another 5-to 10 minutes taxi ride to the port.

When we arrived at the port, there were already lots of people and tourist buses. I’m amazed to see local and foreign tourists touring Nami Island. I thought all the while that mostly Japanese and foreign tourists visit the islet.

Since we left the guesthouse without taking any breakfast we decided to eat first buying food along the port. Then we realized that we should not have eaten the food we bought there. But instead we should have packed them and eat them at Nami, sort of a picnic. Anyway, probably next time we will do that. ^^

At the port

Our ferry arrived and we all got in. It was only a short ride, 5-10 minutes and we were already at Nami.

I instantly fell in love with Nami.

There is a kind of air that will make you fell so good about Nami. I’m not sure if it was only me who felt it, but I love the feeling and it’s different. Is because of Winter Love Song? Is it because I know that Yong Joon was here?

There were so many people around. Old, young, not so young nor old, lovers, family, schoolmates, Asians and Caucasians, everyone with a smile on their face.

Group of people having picnic were everywhere. School kids having fun with their teachers. High school in groups, studying, singing, playing, biking, taking photos or just walking.

What amazed me was when I saw a group of Japanese women (I’m assuming that they are married) riding a bike (in group). They were laughing so hard and really having so much fun. Their friends were pushing their bike up because they can’t bring their bike to go up the road.

Beautiful autumn color and it's just starting to change ^^

The best place for me at Nami is the tree line. Yes, that famous tree line from WLS. The place looks so festive with so many people coming and going and wanted to have their photos taken.

Second best place is the bench with the snowman. I love the ambiance. Just perfect for a date ^^
This kids were so funny. They were spanking Yu Jin all the time . They were probably jealous of here ^^. Anyway, one of them while i was riding the bike took a solo picture of me because according to her she likes my hair. [blushing]

Love this shot ^^

If you’re a nature lover, you will surely love Nami. For me, it’s a place to go if you want to feel young at heart again. It’s a very simple place with so many happy people.

I love Nami!

***

We left Nami at around 2pm and decided to do our last minute shopping. We went to Nandaemun and Insadong again. But Elle and Bambie instead of going with us they went to Youngstreet. The radio station where 2 members of SS501 was having their radio program. These 2 ladies are very lucky to have seen the 2 members of SS501 and the car the 2 were riding even stopped in front of them and rolled down their window.

We we got back at the guesthouse, we started to pack our things.

Amongst us, i'm the one to leave Korea earliest. My flight was at 10. Elle, Rica, Anne and Nimfa still have the whole morning to stay at the guesthouse.

***

I woke up at 6 and left the guesthouse around 7 to take the airport bus at Anguk. I'm was really feeling sad going back to my country. I've been telling myself and my friends that i will definitely be missing Korea and promise to come back again.

***

When i left, my friends decided to buy a cake to celebrate October birthday celebrants. We were planning this since the day came, but always forget to buy the cake on our way home. Since they still have plenty of the time before their departure they bought a cake and shared with the staff and other guests at SeBP.

***

Every vacation has to come to an end. This vacation was definitely one of the best I had.

Who says I didn't left my heart in Seoul? I did, I did left my heart in Seoul. It's been more than a month now since i visited Korea and there was not a single day that I didn't think of my stay there. I even have dreams and I'm not exaggerating. ^^

If only i can fly tomorrow to Seoul...sigh...

Anyway for now i say ~

Kamsahamnida, Dae Han Min Guk!

and pretty soon [crossing my fingers] when i set my feet again in Korea ~

Annyeonhaseyo, Dae Han Min Guk!