Media Contact: Catherine Kang, Director of Marketing Communications

Media Contact: Catherine Kang, Director of Marketing Communications +82-2-6282-6111 [email protected] Cloe Yoon, PR Supervisor +82-2-6282-6113, 010-6355-7482, cloe . yoon @marriott.com Sophia Lee, MarComm Officer +82-2-6282-6120, 010-3815-4070, hellofromsso @ gmail .com

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul announces biggest ever event: 'Culinary Art @ JW' to feature top global chefs at series of gourmet meals throughout June

[May 20, 2013] Throughout the month of June JW Marriott Hotel Seoul is to hold a remarkable series of gourmet dining experiences served by a gathering of top international chefs. Culinary Art @ JW sees the hotel play host to globally renowned chefs from Japan, France, Italy, China, India and Thailand, including one single Michelin star holder and one double Michelin star holder, presenting a spectacular array of international cuisine.

Leading chefs participating in Culinary Art @ JW include Takagi Kazuo, owner-chef of Kyoto cuisine TAKAGI and holder of two Michelin stars since 2010; and Christophe Gibert, head chef of The Ritz- Carlton, Osaka's French restaurant La Baie and holder of one Michelin star. They are joined by chef Andrea Spagoni of top Hong Kong Italian restaurant Domani, also partner and head chef at Michelin- starred restaurant Ristorante Pier Bussetti in Italy, who has cooked for global stars including Mick Jagger and Jennifer Lopez.

Culinary Art @ JW also stars top chefs from JW Marriott hotels in Hong Kong, Pune and Bangkok. Award-winning chef and master of Guangdong cuisine Herman Ip of JW Marriott Hong Kong will be serving his unique Guangdong-style dishes, while Dayal Singh, head chef of Paasha at JW Marriott Pune will be offering an exciting range of local dishes, principally from northern India. Thanatorn Krobsuay of JW Marriott Bangkok's all-day dining restaurant The Café, meanwhile, will be presenting Thai cuisine that has proved highly popular at various promotions around the world.

Each visiting chef will be in the kitchens of JW Marriott Seoul at some time this June, presenting a variety of à la carte dishes and special gala dinners in collaboration with the hotel's five restaurants: all- day dining restaurant The Café, Western-style JW's Grill, Italian Olivo, Chinese Man Ho and Japanese Mikado (see table overleaf for details).

The highlight of Culinary Art @ JW will be the Grand Gala dinner on June 20 in the hotel Grand Ballroom. All seven visiting chefs, together with JW Marriott Seoul's own star Executive Chef Andreas Krampl, will prepare a truly unforgettable feast. “This is the biggest gourmet event ever held at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul,” says General Manager Richard Saul. “Chefs from countries around the world, including Michelin star holders, will present a range of spectacular tastes. The event will help establish JW Marriott Hotel Seoul as a hub of the Seoul gourmet scene.”

Inquiries and reservations: JW Marriott Hotel Seoul 02-6282-6262 www.jw-marriott.co.kr

Culinary Art @ JW – visiting chefs

Takagi Kazuo Chef, Kyoto cuisine TAKAGI Chef Takagi runs his own restaurant named “Kyoto cuisine TAKAGI” in Ashiya, an exclusive neighborhood located between Osaka and Kobe. Kyoto cuisine TAKAGI has held two Michelin stars since 2010. Takagi's kaiseki cuisine, which uses unique methods to capture the changing seasons of Kyoto, is famous for its innovation in terms of both food itself and decoration. A native of Osaka, Takagi is familiar with Korean food to the extent where he often makes himself bibimbap to eat at home. He has been preparing meticulously for Culinary Art @ JW, visiting Seoul in late April in order to explore the city's markets in advance.

Christophe Gibert Chef, French restaurant La Baie at The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka After training in traditional French style cuisine, Gibert mastered his own original, contemporary style of French cooking. He gained experience working with world-class chefs such as Alain Senderens, Chef Vie, Alain Liorca, Christian and Philippe Conticini before joining La Baie at The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka, in 2002. La Baie was awarded one Michelin star in 2012, while Gibert received a “Rising Star of the Year” award in the same year. His customers have included celebrities such Jackie Chan, Rod Stewart and the prime minister of Japan. Gibert's Champagne Dinner is expected to be one of the most popular events of Culinary Art @ JW, offering the chance to experience the essence of French cuisine as prepared by a Michelin-starred chef and accompanied by Maison Louis Roedeur champagne.

Andrea Spagoni Chef, Italian restaurant Domani in Hong Kong Spagoni is the chef of Hong Kong’s Italian restaurant Domani and also partner and head chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Ristorante Pier Bussetti al Castello di Govone, Italy. After gaining extensive experience at internationally renowned restaurants including NOBU in New York and Rossini in Florence, he began running his own Michelin-starred restaurant. Spagoni has cooked for a variety of celebrities, including Mick Jagger and Jennifer Lopez. Herman Ip Chef, Man Ho at JW Marriott Hong Kong As a master of Guangdong (Cantonese) cuisine, Chef Ip won gold and silver medals in the Chinese cuisine category at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic 2011. His restaurant, Man Ho, as well received a “two forks-and-spoons” rating in Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau from 2009 to 2011. Chef Ip works by the motto, “All ingredients have their own innate powers when it comes to improving health and preventing illness. Carefully chosen ingredients can be as effective as medicine.” Accordingly, he uses only the finest ingredients to bring out the essence of Guangdong cuisine.

Dayal Singh Head chef, Paasha restaurant, JW Marriott Pune Currently head chef at multiple award-winning restaurant Paasha at the JW Marriott Pune, Dayal Singh will be serving authentic Indian cuisine with a focus on northern India. Singh, who followed in his father's steps to become a chef, has built a reputation for his contemporary recreations of traditional home-style recipes.

Thanatorn Krobsuay Jr. Chef, The Café, JW Marriott Bangkok Thanatorn Krobsuay has been with the Marriott Café Restaurant at JW Marriott Bangkok since 2002. Built as a next-generation star chef, he has showcased the tastes of Thailand at food various food promotions in countries including Turkey, China, Singapore and the Philippines.

David Pierre

After graduating from college as a pastry chef, Frenchman David Pierre embarked on his career at Michelin-starred Auberge Grand Maison in Brittany and La Palme d'Or in Cannes. He has since held the position of pastry chef at a variety of hotels and restaurants, including London French fine dining restaurant l'Oranger, Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul and Dubai's One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel.

Culinary Art @ JW schedule

Restaurant Period Promotion Price(won) The Café @ 6/1~30 Daily Buffet introducing Thai and Indian specialties Buffet price JW 6/10 3:00pm Cooking class including dinner buffet 95,000 Olivo 6/15 Castello Banfi Wine Dinner 160,000 6/16 - 19 Chef Andrea’s special set menu 130,000 Mikado 6/21 2 Michelin Star Chef Takagi’s Kaiseki dinner 220,000

JW’s Grill 6/22 1 Michelin Star Chef Christophe’s Cristal Champagne Dinner 220,000

110,000 / Man Ho 6/21~30 Award winning chef Herman Ip’s special set menus 140,000

Deli Shop 6/18~19 Pastry chef David Pierre’s Deli Shop specialties

Grand Gala Night Grand Gala 6/20 250,000 8 Master Chefs – 3 Stars - 8 Courses

Grand Gala This very special event, unprecedented in the history of JW Marriot Seoul, showcases the outstanding talents of eight star chefs. The seven visiting chefs, boasting a combined total of three Michelin stars, as well as JW Marriott Seoul's own Executive Chef, Andreas Krampl, will serve an unforgettable 8-course banquet including matching wines from Castello Banfi and Penfolds.

Place: Grand Ballroom, JW Marriott Hotel Seoul Date and time: June 20, 7:00~10:00pm Price: 250,000 won (tax and service charge inclusive) Inquiries: +82.2.6282.6262