Asian Masters 2013 Korean Special at Mezza9

“Annyeong Haseyo!” says Mezza9 of Grand Hyatt from 4 – 15 November, the only time you’ll be able to taste the sweet works of guest Chef Min-Ku Kang as part of the hotel’s collaboration with the coveted Asian Masters 2013. Literally bringing the true flavours of Korean cuisine to you, Chef Min-Ku hails from the kitchens of Park Hyatt Busan and apart from tasty ingredients and skills of a great chef, puts a definite amount of heart and Seoul into his dishes. So Korean food lovers, this is one menu special not to miss. This special menu will be available for both lunch and dinner every day. For lunch, two set meals are available for your choosing: Bulgogi set and the Sun du bu iji gae set. If we were to make a recommendation, go for the Bulgogi set just because it includes Chef Min-Ku’s special cinnamon punch, which we could not get enough of. The traditional drink is usually consumed during the festive holidays and more importantly, aids in digestion, a particularly thoughtful add on after a heavy meal.

If you like a bit of spice in your life

Start your meal with Nakji bokkeum – stir-fried octopus with a Korean chilli paste sauce – perfect to warm up those taste buds with that tinge of spiciness it brings. Pair this with a bowl of steamed white rice and you’ll be good to go! But of course, that would mean that you’ll be missing out on even greater options that Chef Min-Ku has for you, which isn’t the most polite thing to do now is it? If you like a little bit of fat on your meats

The action is held amongst the main dishes, starring Korean favourites such as Kalbi Gui, where the lightly marinated beef short rib is grilled to perfection and placed on a hot plate with farmed pine mushrooms. To those who appreciate that gorgeous layer of fat on top of their meats, this is what we will enthusiastically point you to. If you like soft and marbled beef

You might just melt into a wondrous stupor with the Bulgogi. Thinly sliced, the wagyu beef neck is most tastefully marinated in soya sauce, vegetable and bean paste sauce. What you’re greeted with, is a plate of sweet, juicy and tender meat slices garnished with spring onions and mushrooms as it sits and soaks in more flavourful gravy. If you like a hearty broth

You’ll love the Haemultang. The claypot of rich based soup is made of a generous medley of assorted seafood, crown daisy, turnip, tofu and chilli powder. Scour through the scallops, clams and prawns and you’ll even find a blue swimmer crab waiting to be discovered. As with the other main courses, this comes served with an assorted korean namul plate and rice. If you believe in healthy desserts

Even though Chef Min-ku wasn’t able to find the right green tea ingredient in Singapore for his Korean Green Tea Jelly dessert, he used a local favourite – red bean, as a substitute, which molded well into his creation.

Chef Min-Ku prepares a range of healthy yet delicious desserts that you should certainly not skip out on. In particular, we cast our picks upon the elegant O mija sherbet, made from schisandra berries, that sits atop juicy chunks of Asian pear. A contrast to the other dishes that carry much stronger flavours, this light and refreshing dessert is a good complement to the rest of the meal – and a perfect finish. Other highlights include Pat Juk - a starchy Korean red bean sweet porridge with sticky rice cake, Korean Green Tea Jelly and Half-Moon Rice Cake. -- Club at the Hyatt members are entitled to a 15% discount. For reservations, please call +65 6732 1234 or visit www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com for more information. See Also: What better way to experience a culture than through their food? Check out these Korean joints now! Find the best restaurants in Singapore