[Spice Market] - Tantalizing Korean Buffet Dinner

we were treated to a sumptuous lunch buffet

Novotel Lombok is thoughtful and know how to pamper their guests. They make sure you don't need to eat the same boring menu everyday by arranging different theme buffet and show every night! 

Thematic Buffet Dinner @Novotel Lombok.

We're so thankful for the complimentary dinner at Spice Market. Actually, even if we need to pay for the dinner, we'll still choose to have it there as it's more convenient. We really want to rest after spent whole day outside.

Spice Market (left) and Breeze Bar (right).

Not only that, we've been warned by relatives and friends not to go out on our own at night. Even local tour agency or driver did tell us to skip some of the places for safety reason. Well, maybe it's not as safe as in Bali yet.

For those with weaker stomach or low immune system especially children, please be careful to select clean restaurant if you wish to dine outside. We don't want our holiday ruined by food poisoning because of poor standards of food hygiene. Yeah, it's better safe than sorry...

 Spice Market Restaurant facing Putri Nyale Beach.

Surprised as we didn't expect to taste Korean cuisine in Lombok. I guessed this Korean buffet must be Mr Choi's brainchild. Although Korean food seems simple, but the real preparation  is really no joke. I think he and his wife must have put a lot of efforts teaching the chefs how to cook these delicious, healthy and hearty meal.

Personally, I think it's a compelling buffet theme that it's hard to resist by tourists especially after Hallyu (한류 = Korean Wave) drew so much attention from all corners of the world with K-dramas and K-pop.

 Omo~! It's so romantic with lighted heart-shape on the hill.
~~~Love is in the air~~~

We're totally in love with the settings and the entire atmosphere. '아저씨 (Ajusshi)' was played on the background when we stepped in the restaurant. The selection of  Korean songs perfectly matched the theme and creating enjoyable and relaxing dining ambiance.

Tadaa~!!! Impressed with the sumptuous spread of All You Can Eat Korean Buffet:

 

You can find familiar Beef Bulgogi, Grilled eel,

Gyeran mari (Korean egg roll),

Sauteed vegetables and local sambal sotong.

 BBQ corner has lots of selection including Shrimp, Squid, Fishcake, 

Lamb Sate, Chicken Sate and Galbi (Beef Short Ribs).

The most busy station with two chefs helping guests to BBQ,

stocking sate, shrimp and sotong.

They smartly placed the grill far far away from the seating, so no need to worry that your body will stink with BBQ smoke. Btw, you don't even need to BBQ the food, the chefs will gladly help you and you only need to come back in few minutes.

 

Happy hubby collected his BBQ food hot from the grill.

Pungent smell of various types of fermented Kimchi: 

Seafood Kimchi Salad | Korean Beef Salad | Cabbage Kimchi |  

Salad Cucumber Kimchi | Kimchi Soup.

I tried most of the main dishes except for Bibimbap and Kimchi Fried Rice. I'd  these two dishes almost 2-3x per week when sending my daughter to her tuition. I also skipped those with beef. Overall, they were quite delicious and satisfy my taste buds. 정말 맛있어요~!^^

Actually, I was expecting to see typical Korean Fried Chicken, because it's easier to prepare and usually pair with beer. Chimaek (치맥  = Chicken + Maekju/Beer) is Cheon Song Yi's favorite snack in romantic K-drama 'My Love From the Star.'

Mouth-watering sweet treats at dessert counter.

Hotteok, Kiwi Tartlet, Rice Pudding, Orange Pancake, Mochi,Pumpkin Tart and 

Wedang Ronde (Javanese dessert similar to 'Tang Yuan' Glutinous Rice Balls).

 

 I got a real sweet tooth! Really couldn't resist those sweet desserts.

Completed my meal with three rounds of desserts, as I craving for Korean desserts and as you know  my tummy allocated larger space for  desserts. I couldn't stop eating the unique taste of rice pudding, sweet pancake and kiwi tartlet. Actually hotteok quite nice too if it's softer.

Drinks not included in Buffet.

Guests enjoying movie screening and relaxing on bean chairs on the beach.

It's our first time having Korean Buffet by the beach. We won't forget the feeling and the tantalizing meal. It's like we're dating and having candle light dinner. Thanks for the yummylicious dinner and romantic night! 

Spice Market occupied huge open space facing beach with tall thatched roof

which allowing adequate sunlight and good ventilation inside the restaurant.

Nice and clean restaurant to have a pleasant meals.

 

Spice market restaurant also serve breakfast and lunch.

Novotel Lombok - Spice Market Restaurant

Breakfast Buffet - Rp. 157,000

Korean Dinner Buffet - Rp. 240,000

[Seoul] - Mogyo Samgyetang (무교 삼계탕)

After arrived in Nambu Bus Terminal from Muju, we took taxi directly to CenterMark Hotel.
 

Happy to see there's buffet lunch with reasonable price. 

But when we called around 3pm, we're told that they're already closed for lunch ㅠㅠ

We found a restaurant selling Samgyetang near the hotel.

It's located just at the opposite building. 

On the billboard, it stated that 39 years of authentic tradition samgyetang, which must guarantee the taste wouldn't go wrong. Do you know that Samgyetang is good to rejuvenate and replenish energy?

 Without further do, we entered the restaurant and 

quickly ordered 2 bowls of Samgyetang.

Ups... I didn't snap any photo of the Samgyetang?! These photos were shown that they're created at 3pm. Maybe that's explained that we're like hungry ghost and quickly swallowed everything on the table :P

Oh... now I remember! We didn't take photo because 이모 was super passionate serving us. After she put our Samgyetang on table, she taught us how to eat Samgyetang. Maybe because she identified that we're foreigners and don't know how to eat it properly. 

So she asked us to take out a piece of meat and dip on the salt, and not to pour the salt inside the soup. Then, she somehow make sure that we followed the correct procedures before leaving us alone.

Hahaha... That's not our first time eating Samgyetang, We like Samgyetang a lot, and always eat it when we're in Korea and occasionally cooked it if my lazy mood is not turned on.

 

Oriental Ginseng Soup (KRW 14,000) @ 고봉삼계탕 (Gobong Samgyetang) 

Samgyetang with Ginseng (KRW 15,000) and Samgyetang with

Wild Mountain Ginseng (KRW 21,000) @ Tosokchon.

The price is considered cheap compared to Gobong and Tosokchon. It's hard to compare and very subjective as they have their own uniqueness. I simply love all types of Samgyetang~^^

Antique Wall Clock.

무교 삼계탕 (Mogyo Samgyetang)

Add: 서울 종로구 관훈동 198-17 

Gwanhundong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 198-17, Korea

Phone: 02-734-4635

Radish Water Kimchi (동치미 = Dongchimi)

Let me introduce this Dongchimi (동치미 = Radish Water Kimchi). dong (동; hanja: 冬 = winter) and chimi (치미 = an ancient term for kimchi).

My friend brought to us to eat K-BBQ and they served this dongchimi as side dish. Wow!!! love the colling effect and the taste... however, the ahjumma from the restaurant didn't reveal too much on the ingredients and how to make it... (not to blame her, as she's doing business).

I googled and so happy that I found the recipe from Maangchi. Here are some photos of my first attempt of making dongchimi in Aug 2012:

salting radish with some coriander & spring onion

 Aigoo... I just found out now that I forgot to put onion.

No wonder the taste was a bit bland (blame my eyes)

 the result after fermentated for 2 days... not bad, huh?

can you see bubbles rising on the brine (sign of active fermentation)

Like any other kimchi, Dongchimi is also a very healthy food.  During fermentation, healthy bacteria, acidity and sweetness develop, producing a tangy, amazing refreshing broth that you can eat it on its own or as a side dish. You can use the broth for cold noodle too.

 

1. learned how to cook Bibim Cold Noddle (비빔 냉면) conducted by KTO Singapore 



2. Bibim Cold Noddle + 2 weeks old Dongchimi => 물 비빔 냉면 ^^

I love to eat buffet, and my Korean friend told me to eat Dongchimi after heavy meal as it is good for stuffed tummy.

Radish is rich in digestive enzyme (diastase) that promotes digestion. And a recent study by a research team at Pusan National University, shows that garlic and ginger in white kimchi also produce fat-dissolving effects that are as strong as those generated by capsaicin... I think that's one of the reasons why Korea is the thinnest country in the developed world. 

  

I want to be healthy and have slim figure like Korean, so today is my second attempt to make this water kimchi. (say: Kimchi ^^)

Salted the radish and kept in the fridge for 1 night

ingredients:

 Radish, Korean pear, garlic, ginger, onion, green pepper, red pepper, spring onion & coriander

Dongchimi is now diving in this brine water aquarium ^^

Will post more photos on my Facebook 2 days later...

Annyeong~^^