Seoul Food at Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival

One of Asia's more distinctive and popular cuisines known for its bold and vibrant fresh flavors, Korean food continues to grow in popularity all over the world. And for the month of July, you can enjoy the rich and authentic flavors from the Land of the Morning Calm at Marriott Cafe...

Manila Marriott Hotel highlights authentic Korean flavors at Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival starting July 11 to 31, 2017 with a team of Korean guests chefs. From Kimchi to Bibimbap, Korean-style Fried Chicken to Bulgogi and Korean Barbecue, it's Seoul Food and it's all here at Marriott Cafe...

At the recent launch of the Korean Food Festival at Marriott Cafe, Manila Marriott Hotel's top management and Korean guest chefs (R) welcomed guests, as the staff dressed in traditional Korean attire (L) led guests to their tables. Good vibes and a whole lot of fun... 

Adding to the celebratory vibe at the launch Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival, performers entertained guests with a traditional Korean dance (L) and guests were also encouraged to try on Korean costumes (R) for that mandatory selfie adding a cool touch to the festivities. 

Soju-based cocktails blended with fresh fruit juices were served for another unique and refreshing taste of Korea. Ever since my very first visit to Marriott Cafe, I've always looked forward to their next event, continuously offering something new (for more on Marriott Cafe, see my previous posts, The North Asian Showdown at Marriott Cafe, New Stations and Old Favorites at Marriott Cafe, The Freshest Catch at Marriott Cafe's Ocean's Harvest Buffet, Make It Brunch at Marriott Cafe, and A Christmas Feast at Marriott Cafe).

And it doesn't get more authentic than this. Manila Marriott Hotel's Executive Chef, Meik Brammer (L), invites the group to an exclusive peek inside Marriott Cafe's spacious kitchens to see their team of Korean guest chefs prepare classic Korean dishes... 

...and the kitchen's grills were fired up for the demonstration. From the refreshing seafood salad, the Daeha Susam Nengeha (R) to the savory Yang Nyeom Salchisal Gui and Yangnyeom Dak Gui (L), the Korean guest chefs prepared tasty samplers for the guests.

At the other end of the spacious kitchen, a team of chefs prepared another classic Korean favorite, Japchae, the popular glass noodle dish with beef and vegetables. Seeing it all prepared right there inside the kitchen was an experience in itself, and another cool touch to the launch.

After some tasty bites inside Marriott Cafe's kitchen, it was time to get serious and get into the Korean groove with a plate of fresh Korean style salads like the Sogogi Buchu Salad, a simple yet flavorful Korean salad with thin slices of ribeye and chives. The fork-tender ribeye beef adds a savory richness to the salad, perfectly tempered by the fresh and clean notes of the chives for balanced flavors.

Try kimchi with a refreshing twist. The Bossam Kimchi or wrapped kimchi with a variety of ingredients is another flavorful expression of the traditional kimchi. Freshness is key in delivering the signature rich flavors of Korean cuisine, and the garden-fresh vegetables add that distinctive crisp snap and mild sweetness with every bite to balance the sharp notes of the spices.

The Daeha Susam Nengeha, a fresh prawn salad with ginseng prepared earlier at the kitchen, is another must-try dish at Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival. The plump prawns add a briny sweetness to the creamy notes of the salad. The unique salad presents subtle plays on both texture and flavors, and this one's a personal favorite.

Nothing completes a Korean feast like Kimchi, the iconic Korean staple. Fresh and crisp vegetables with just the right level of soothing heat, kimchi pairs so well with just about anything. Perfect with bulgogi and Korean barbecue, even works well with dim sum from Marriott Cafe's Asian Station. A blogger friend even told me that day he had kimchi with pretty much everything from the buffet.

Fresh salads and starters for the first round, and there's more...

At the live Haemul Pajeon Station, diners can enjoy freshly prepared Korean seafood and vegetable pancakes hot off the grill. Prepared ala minute as you order, you get your savory Korean style pancakes fresh off the grill.

The dense and soft pancakes made with a blend of wheat and rice flour topped with fresh scallions are tasty and quite filling, and the seafood adds to the rich flavors. 

Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival also featured a live Bibimbap Station where diners can enjoy a bowl of this popular Korean dish with rice, meat and vegetables fresh and hot.

Top your Bibimbap with a sunny side-up for a complete meal.

Other Korean dishes featured at Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival included the Japchae, a popular glass noodle dish with vegetables and beef...

...and the Korean-style Deep-Fried Chicken, double-fried for that perfect crispness sprinkled with sesame seeds. Mildly sweet and salty, tender and juicy with a crunchy outer layer, it's the familiar flavor everyone loves and you can come back for seconds and thirds.

Not to be missed at Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival is the Beef Bulgogi, fork-tender and juicy beef with the mild nutty hints of sesame seeds, perfect with kimchi.

From the Korean Barbecue Grill Station, diners can enjoy Yang nyeom Salchisa Gui or Marinated and Grilled Beef and Yangnyeom dak gui or Grilled Chicken with Spicy Sauce, mildly seasoned yet rich with flavor. Made fresh with the finest ingredients by the Korean guest chefs, Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival offers authenticity with its wide selection of traditional Korean dishes. A quick walk around the different stations of Marriott Cafe also revealed some other tasty surprises...

...like the crispy Chicharon Bulaklak from the Filipino Station...

...and crunchy Deep-Fried Crablets. Why not go for a second round with local flavors?

At Marriott Cafe's Carving Station, you'll find US Choice Prime Ribeye, ready for carving...

...and savory Thai Roast Chicken, take your pick. Then, there's Marriott Cafe's fresh seafood too...

A long-time advocate of sustainable seafood, Marriott Cafe brings the day's freshest catch directly to your plate. From plump prawns and shrimps to succulent mussels, clams and crabs, get your fresh catch at the Marriott Cafe's Fresh Seafood Station and have it grilled, prepared Singaporean-style with chili sauce, baked with cheese or sauteed in butter, lemon and garlic.

For dessert, Marriott Cafe offers Korean-inspired sweet treats like the Red Bean Opera and Nokcha Creme Brulee along with their other favorites, from pastries and cakes to homemade ice cream.

Ready for authentic Korean flavors? Experience and rediscover Korea's rich culinary heritage at Marriott Cafe's Korean Food Festival from July 11 to 31, 2017 for only P 1,900 (Lunch Buffet Monday to Saturday), P 2,100 (Dinner Buffet Sunday to Thursday), and P 2,500 (Ocean's Harvest and Sunday Brunch). Seoul food, it's all here at Marriott Cafe...

Marriott Cafe is located at Manila Marriott Hotel, No. 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City or call 988-9999 for inquiries and reservations.

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