TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tapping into Taiwan’s drama-fueled passion for Korean culture and cuisine, the Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel has launched a Korean Food Festival at its popular buffet Kitchen 12.
The limited-time culinary event, running now through Nov. 30, showcases over 30 authentic Korean dishes, all meticulously crafted by the hotel’s new Executive Western Cuisine Chef, Kai Sun (孫榮).
Sun brings a powerful, global pedigree to the menu. His career has taken him across the world, from rigorous training at the Grand Hyatt in Japan to a prestigious three-year tenure at the 7-star Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
After years of traversing continents, Sun has chosen to anchor his international expertise in Taiwan. This festival marks his deep dive into authentic Korean flavors.
The chef’s dedication to tradition is evident in the preparation of the Korean staples: he personally produced 200 kilograms of napa cabbage kimchi and 50 kg of radish kimchi. He also oversaw all the steps, from vegetable dehydration to fermentation using glutinous rice water.
A dining highlight is the Korean BBQ station, where three signature cuts, including Korean spicy pork belly and charcoal-grilled beef flat iron, are marinated in pineapple, pear, apple, and beer. This fruity mixture naturally tenderizes the meat and adds a subtle sweetness, resulting in a clean, non-greasy flavor profile.
For weekend lunch and dinner, the station is upgraded to include pan-fried bone-in beef short ribs. The live-action cooking station features made-to-order abalone seafood ginseng chicken porridge. Sun slowly simmers spring chicken, stuffed with ginseng, sticky rice, and other health-boosting ingredients, using a house-made rice-water stock.
Reflecting the K-drama craze, the buffet features fan favorites like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), seafood pancake, and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls). Diners can also savor regional specialties such as Busan pork soup rice and the refreshing, Pyongyang-style cold beef noodles made with a 3:7 ratio of buckwheat to flour for a perfect, chewy texture.
Diners visiting Kitchen 12 on weekend lunch or dinner from Friday onwards can participate in a lottery, with prizes that include luxury hotel stays and dining vouchers. Buffet prices start from NT$1,490 (US$46) for lunch.
(Taiwan News, Lyla Liu video)
