디시인사이드

Lotte Hotel Fine Dining, a once-a-year wedding anniversary treat.

While new memberships are no longer available, couples getting married at the Lotte Hotel receive a "Lotte Family Member" card.

There's no annual fee or maintenance requirements; it's a fantastic membership that includes two complimentary glasses of wine and a 50% discount on food during your anniversary meal.

Sometimes, I see online complaints like, "My husband forgot it was our anniversary and ordered tteokbokki for dinner."

That's why I visited the Lotte Hotel's Japanese restaurant, [MOMOYAMA].

In the past, they used to just serve two glasses of house wine (read: leftover wine that didn't sell), but these days, they let you choose from a wine-by-the-glass menu.

Befitting a special occasion, I ordered a glass of [Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut], and since the seafood is often served, I ordered a glass of [Cloudy Bay 2023].

After a sip of wine with some potato chips, the food starts to arrive.

Appetizer.

The top right corner is decorated with holly berries, a wintery touch. I wondered if they were edible, wondering if I was missing out on something so delicious, but the waiter skipped over them while explaining, so I knew they weren't food.

Clockwise, seasonal [oysters] drizzled with olive oil, [monkfish liver] canapés, spinach, spinach with shirako sauce, mushroom and carrot muchim:, and in the middle [stewed kumquat].

This time, I ordered the ['Momoyama'] course, made with the brand's name in mind, and the ['Momo'] course, which features seasonal specialties.

The [Momoyama] course starts with the [Tofu Ball Soup].

The soft tofu balls, filled with mushrooms and beans, pair perfectly with the bonito broth.

Cut the balls in half and try them. Then, gently scoop the remaining half with your chopsticks. It will dissolve completely into the soup, and slurp it down to warm your body.

[MOMO Course] begins with a dobingmushi (spicy rice cake soup).

Fish and ginkgo nuts are placed in a teapot and boiled in broth. The broth is then poured into a teacup and consumed, followed by the remaining fish.

Seasonal sashimi.

Tuna belly, sea bream, gwangeo, sweet shrimp

[MOMO] The seasonal sashimi course comes with cuttlefish and yellowtail added.

Grilled Korean beef tenderloin. Eat one piece plain, one piece with sauce, and the rest, coated in breadcrumbs and served with onions, like a gyukatsu.

[MOMO]  the main seafood course. Grilled lobster with cheese

It was tasty, but the lobster was so small that I thought, 'If I'm not careful, I might get hit by a [tiger shrimp].'

They gave me a special gift to celebrate our wedding anniversary. [Agwigan-Monaka].

Hakosushi topped with eel. It's sushi pressed into a square mold.

[MOMOYAMA] seems to be characterized by its [monaka] molds, which allow you to hold and eat the fillings like a sandwich.

The chirashi sushi served in the MOMO course is also served in a monaka like this.

[Domi] Kaburamushi.

A dish of lightly cooked egg white meringue on top of steamed sea bream.

The MOMO course includes beef. Beef shabu-shabu.

The solid fuel was blue, which was fascinating. I lit the fire and let the broth boil. I added various vegetables, mushrooms, and meat, then quickly removed them and ate.

The meat would become tough if boiled too long, so I blanched it briefly and ate it first.

I dipped the vegetables and mushrooms in the sauce, then took a sip of the broth..

Crab meat croquettes, a quick break before the meal.

This isn't included in the MOMO course, so my wife and I each shared one.

[Gulsotbap] appears immediately after eating the croquette.

This is [Gulsotbap], a fragrant bowl of rice with a hint of yuzu peel.

[kimchi], [Pickled Radish], and [Pickled Cucumber] are so delicious that eating them together makes a pretty good combination.

[Creme Brûlée] and [fruit] served for dessert.

[Bungeoppang] and [Jersey Milk Ice Cream] served as desserts in the MOMO course.

I wasn't expecting much since the celebratory menu was served midway through, but I'm so happy to be celebrating our anniversary with dessert again.

Of course, you have to light a candle on an anniversary.

Overall, it was a delicious meal, without any major flaws. While there were some slight shortcomings in the combination of dishes and the course layout, the service and food quality were absolutely spot-on.

Above all, it is an event you absolutely cannot miss because there is a magic that changes the bill from 760,000 won to 330,000 won when wine is included.