Korean Cuisine Festival 2011...

Salaam,

After the successful launch of the 'Korea Sparkling Night' cultural show about two years ago, yesterday evening (June 21st) we were once again invited to another evening of delightful showcase of Korean Cuisine precisely at the same venue, the Dasht-e Behesht Cultural Complex in Tehran.

Hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Tehran, the festival of Korean Food was jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries of Korea, Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation and the Korean Business Community. While the Korean Food and Cooking Exhibition was organised by the Korean Food Institute of the Sookmyung Women's University of Korea.

The evening began with a preview of Korean Food and a Cooking Exhibition of Korean Food. It was followed by dinner served with sumptuous selection of Korean cuisines. Salute to the Korean...a great way of promoting their already famous cuisine to the Iranian...and indeed helping to make Korean food ever more popular and well-known worldwide.

Wassalam.

Korean beauty...and tradition
a gift for every guests...

in their traditional attire...

Korean cooking exhibition...

among the aspiring korean cooks...

conducted by a Professor from the Korean Food Institute...

with the guests of honor of the evening...

welcome remark from the Ambassador...

and the guest of honor...

symbol of togetherness...

the all Korean-cuisine menu...

the appetizer...Daeha-Jatjeup-naengchae (cold shrimp salad with pine nut sauce)

Tarakjuk (Rice porridge with milk)

Modumjeon (pan-fried summer squash and fish)

Neobiani with Chaeso (grilled sliced beef with veg)

the happy diners...

the signature side dish...Baek-kimchi (white Chinese cabbage kimchi)

bibimbap (rice mixed with veg & beef)...

...optional hot red pepper paste and sesame oil

which can be consumed alone as a meal

Dessert...Hodu-gangjeong, Jat-baksan & Yuja-hwachae

Gotgamchapssal-gui (pan-fried dried persimmon with glutinous rice)

another highlight of the evening...

lucky draw...

khamsa hamida...anyeonghaseo...

Korean BBQ Chicken...

Salaam,

Finally had our lunch yesterday at the much talked-about BBQ Chicken, the first ever Korean franchise restaurant in town, with branches all over the world...Seoul, Singapore, New York, Malaysia, Sydney, London, Ulan Bator...to name but a few.

Although it was our first sitting-down lunch at it's Pol-e-Roumi Street, Shariati Avenue branch, actually we had already tried a few of its famed barbequed chicken such as its chicken steak in Korean traditional charbroiled 'Bulgogi' sauce, its trademark black pepper and mushroom sauces, as well as its Olive Speciality, Orange and Lemon sauced chicken, through its delivery service on several occasion earlier. I must confessed that we only learned and found out this new gourmet outlet from our colleagues who had been around much later than us but had been its regular diners.

Apart from chicken, the restaurant also serves wider and interesting choices of appetizing, mouthwatering and yummy looking starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza and pastas with exotic oriental and unique nicknames...Teri-O-Wings, Chicken Aglio Olio,Jerk BBQ...The best thing about this new outlet, opened since late January this year, is its reputation as the first in the world to use 100 per cent olive oil in its cooking and frying. It also serves choices of seafood selection, the best so far is its seafood platter consisting of breaded hamour fish, torpedo prawn and calamari rings. The olive rice is another interesting choice to choose from the side dishes, very aromatic and healthy.

A truly family outlet with choices of family meals menu and kids corner...

For those yearning for a real and authentic oriental taste, I would suggest, this is the right outlet to date, to savour and satisfy our taste buds...

Wassalam.

Cream of Mushroom
Fresh Garden Salad with Thousand Island dressing

Olive Speciality Restaurant...

Golden Fried Seafood Platter

and Chicken Steak in Mushroom sauce

Kae-Sa-Lak...

...a unique Thai art of fruit and vegetable carving

Salaam,

This morning, me and several of my ASEAN colleagues and Iranian friends, had an opportunity to learn and experience yet another delightful Thai's art and culture...the intricate and unique artistry of carved fruits and vegetables or "kae-sa-lak." An art heritage of Thailand.

Presented and demonstrated by an accomplished and skilled carver from Thailand, the event was graciously hosted by Madame Chiravattana, the esteemed spouse of the Thai ambassador, in her effort to share her experience and to exhibit the unique tradition of presenting delectable Thai food, specifically the art of carving fruits and vegetables into intricate flower shapes.

Accordingly, fruit and vegetable carving is a venerable tradition and an art passed down from ancient times to Thai women. It is considered as one of the ten traditional Thai crafts, originated during the Sukhotai kingdom of about 700 years ago. Hence a long tradition and an ancient art of preparing food offerings for the Royal palace, monks and other royal festivals and ordinations.

Today it has become an integral part of presenting delectable Thai food. Although in the old days it was the preserve of chefs and ladies of the Royal Court, today the art has spread among people of all classes and being passed and practised by foreigners all over the word. Today, this amazing and ancient royal art of fruit and vegetable carving can be found in the buffet displays of best hotels and restaurants not only in Thailand, but wherever the splendour of the delectable Thai cuisines are being served.

Needless to say, we were so greatly pleased to be honored with such a gracious welcome, hospitality and even more so with the artistic display of the beauty and delicacy of Thai's art and culture, at its best.

Wassalam.

carrot flowers
jumbpa carrot & tomato flower

with the gorgeous khun Tie...

a welcome note and intro from our host...

sawasdee kha...

ever gracious...

tools for the job

carrot n cucumber leaves...

flower shape from carrot

another carrot leaves

all it takes is concentration

by no means difficult...

our accomplished carver 'guru'...

with a touch of IT...

makes it more attractive...

more appetizing...

intricate...

and simply artistic

and the graduates...

beauty and uniqueness of Thailand...

Mabuhay Pilipinas...

Salaam,

Just came back from an evening reception @ the Embassy of the Philippines chancery on Vali Asr Street. Today Filipinos all over the world, rejoice in celebrating the 113th anniversary of their Independence Day.

In Tehran, the Philippines's CDA and his wife Madam Gloria Dumia were the gracious host to their fellow countrymen, ASEAN colleagues, diplomats and local Iranian friends and guests who were entertained to an evening of sparkling traditional Filipino songs and cultural performances, and an array of Filipino's rich and delectable cuisines.

Greetings, congratulations and best wishes to all our Filipino brothers and sisters, particularly to our wonderful host and hostess and indeed to all the staff of the Philippines Embassy in Tehran for the very pleasant and unforgettable evening....Salamat Pok.

Maligayang pagbati...Mabuhay Pilipinas....

Wassalam.

a welcome pose with the host/hostess...
ASEAN ladies...

Filipino traditional dance performance

led by the multi-talented Gloria...

a touch of Spanish salsa...

the soprano...

...mahal kita...

and the dance finale...

among the evening guests...

hubbies...

and their trailing spouses...

Mabuhay Pilipinas...