Prevue July/August 2013 - (Page 26)

Korea House To get a complete introduction to Korean cuisine, groups should sit down to enjoy Hanjeongsik—”a seasonal mantra, but with a Mediterranean influence. Its basic décor of hand-blow glass fixtures, a copper-topped bar and an exhibition kitchen give guests a chance to focus on the food. One of the menu’s standouts is the artichoke tortelloni, which is a creamy treat of goat cheese mixed with a hint of truffle oil. Semi-private capacity is 40 pax. Chef Troy Guard at TAG restaurant serves up local Colorado ingredients with a twist in a food fusion he dubs Continental Social Food, a combination of Hawaiian, Pan-Asian and Coloradan cuisines. Because of his innovative approach, Restaurant Hospitality named Guard one of the top 13 chefs to watch in 2013. Groups can experience his creations—taco sushi, grilled tender belly pork tenderloin and Szechuan-style Colorado rack of lamb, to name a few—in TAG Underground, a lower-level private dining room seating 55 diners. EDGE Restaurant & Bar is contemporary steakhouse featuring Colorado-ranched beef. Private dining rooms are available for groups of eight to 20. Attendees can also participate in Executive Chef Simon Purvis’ summer grilling classes available through September. Korean traditional set meal consisting of at least 25 SAN DIEGO delicious and nutritious foods with vibrant flavors,” s c In San Diego, BiCE Restaurant is a refined Tuscan-style restaurant that looks and feels like a NYC hot spot. The globetrotting restaurant chain operating from Tokyo to Abu Dhabi boasts a true sense of Italian excellence due to Italian Chef Mario Cassineri and his bold flavor choices. We dined in the private Miliano room seating 50 pax adjacent to the lobby bar. The space is warm, splashed with eggshell walls, sheer curtains and sprouting foliage, all dimmed by candle light. The novel-size wine list is super Italian, just like the staff. A must-do before the entrees arrive is an exploration of the cheese and salami bar, an expansive spread of delectable cheeses and dry cured meats. We mingled over the display of savory creations while sharing recommendations and favorites. Our favorite was the Burrata with roasted Chino’s Farm peppers. There’s also a large variety of artisan breads with honey, all made in-house, and Blue Cheese cotton candy, which is as delicious as it is weird. Chef Cassineri surprised us with a whopping 10 courses including beet risotto filled with gooey cheese sauce topped with scallops doused in squid ink and saffron. Dinner ended, thankfully, with a golden chocolate cake infused with espresso and paired with peanut butter, coated with a gold-dusted chocolate shell. says Christopher Mora, marketing coordinator for the Korea Tourism Organization in Los Angeles. Hanjeongsik originated from traditional banquets hosted at royal palaces, and according to Mora, Korea House in Seoul offers a similar experience to groups. The facility is housed in an ancient hanok (traditional Korean home) previously owned by a scholar. Meeting planners can organize a traditional outdoor banquet for groups of 130200 in the courtyard surrounded by the glow from cheongsachorong (traditional lanterns). Meanwhile, performers partake in a memorable O-go-mu (5-drum dance) and Korean fan dance. Korea House also offers cooking classes for groups up to 200. Kimchi is a cabbage-based side dish that is served at every Korean meal, and guests will learn how to make it and learn about its health benefits. While cooking, attendees wear traditional Korean clothes, and although classes are conducted only in Korean, the hands-on demonstrations make it easy to follow along. kangkoku.or.kr/eng AUSTIN Tacos in Austin are like pizza slices in New York. They’re everywhere. La Condesa is a buzzing restaurant in downtown Austin serving quintessential TexMex cuisine with a hip Latin style and over 80 types of tequila. 26 | prevue magazine 20-34_FOOD_COVER.indd 26 7/3/13 12:18 PM SLS12 http://kangkoku.or.kr/eng

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2013

Planner's Pick: New Zealand
Fresh Meets: Autograph Collection
Bureau Buzz: Monterey County
Good Business: South Africa
sea Shores: Small Ship cruising
The Local Kitchen
Special Section: Caribbean
Dominican Republic
On Location: Hilton/LXR, Puerto Rico
On Location: The Broadmoor
The South, Florida & Las Vegas
Singapore
On Location: Starwood Resorts, San Diego
On Location: Travaasa Austin
On Location: Moon Palace Cancun
On Location: IRF Cancun
Check Out: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

Prevue July/August 2013