Cycle 15 – Item 191
14 (Sun) July 2024
Grilled Lobster with Butter
3.0
at La Seine
(Lotte World Hotel)
-Jamsil, Songpa, Seoul, Republic of Korea-
with the Family
La Seine is a buffet restaurant. Despite the name, not much French (other than pastries), mostly Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
In celebration of DJ’s 17th birthday tomorrow, we had dinner at La Seine. No idea how the venue was chosen – whether it was DJ’s idea or W’s.
While living in Manila – where buffets were very popular, and very nicely done at high end hotels (see for example 9.110 Caesar Salad Burger) – we went to buffets quite often, no special occasion required.
In Korea, buffets used to be a big thing up through maybe the mid-1990s. All the major hotels had one – the better the hotel, the better the buffet. I seem to recall Shilla being the best, followed by Hyatt (but see 2.249 Smoked Salmon with Artichoke Hearts and Capers).
Hotels still have them (I think), but (I think) more for hotel guests, particularly at breakfast; I can’t recall the last time (before tonight) eating dinner at a buffet in a hotel when I wasn’t staying there.
These days, buffets are still standard for weddings (see most recently 15.043 Fancy Korean Vegetables) or lunch (see for example 11.253 Spicy Chicken Curry and Other Japaneseish (Not So) Goodies)
Similar to Manila, the general concept of the buffet was minimalist: specialized stations, each focusing on a few offerings, with high quality ingredients – as opposed to the buffets of yore, where volume and variety were key.
Good meal. With fewer yet nicer options, I felt that I’d gotten my money’s worth after just a few rounds, without having to stuff myself.
(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)
(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)