Lotte Hotel Introduces Immune-Boosting Menu Featuring Superfoods to Block Viruses

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Amid growing nationwide concerns over the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection), the hotel industry has also begun preparing countermeasures.

Lotte Hotel Seoul announced on the 19th that since the 6th, it has been offering a special menu cooked with superfoods known to help prevent coronavirus infection under the concept of "Eat More ACE."

At the buffet restaurant La Seine, they prepared three hot dishes and four cold dishes rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which are good for boosting stamina and immunity. These include young barley and cordyceps abalone porridge, deodeok shrimp meatballs with fish-flavored sauce, tomato gazpacho, bamboo shoot and bellflower root salad, and broccoli with mugwort dressing.

At the Korean restaurant Mugunghwa, they include gamtae bibimbap made with gamtae seaweed, which is harvested in small quantities from Korea’s West and South Seas, and five-colored namul vegetables in the course menu. The cineole component contained in gamtae is known to be excellent at inhibiting virus proliferation.

At the Japanese restaurant Momoyama, a special course includes vitamin-rich dishes such as salad, vegetable tempura made with 100% high-oleic acid oil, and soba served with yam juice and natto. Dorim, the only Chinese restaurant in Korea listed in the global restaurant guide "La Liste 2020 Top 1000," has also added Chengdu-style Chengdu Tangmyeon, which has antioxidant effects, to its special health course.

Pierre Gagnaire Seoul, which earned one star in the "Michelin Guide Seoul 2020," also introduced dishes such as octopus dove cooked with squid ink known for its antiviral effects, and oyster dishes rich in taurine and selenium, which are excellent for strengthening immunity and preventing virus infiltration. These offerings attracted the attention of gourmets who had been hesitant due to the spread of COVID-19.

Lotte Hotel World’s "Lounge & Brasserie" offers ginseng dishes containing saponins, which have long been famous for their excellent immune-boosting effects. Through the "All About 蔘 (Sam)" promotion, from the 1st of next month for two months, they will sell red ginseng and ginseng juice, ginseng tea, and sliced ginseng. For those who dislike the bitter taste unique to ginseng, fresh ginseng juice made by blending domestic fresh ginseng with milk and honey is an alternative.

Lotte Hotel also added a health tea benefit to its room packages. Until the 31st of next month, when using the "Bed and Breakfast" package, guests will receive two cups of health tea once per stay as a special benefit. The package includes a room and breakfast for two at La Seine, and guests can choose one health tea from bellflower root tea, cinnamon tea, red ginseng tea, or Ssanghwa tea.

Lotte Hotel Jeju offers warm health tea as a welcome drink benefit in the "Stay in Room" package prepared for those who want to refrain from outdoor activities and fully enjoy a staycation indoors. The package includes one night’s stay, breakfast for two in the room, a free upgrade to a Premier Ondol room (limited to the first 100 rooms), one free minibar service, and two cups per night of one of three teas: yuja tea, omija tea, or sweet lemongrass tea.

A Lotte Hotel official stated, "In addition to operating special menus to boost customers’ immunity, Lotte Hotel is making every effort to block the spread of COVID-19 by thoroughly managing hygiene through frequent disinfection, operating thermal imaging cameras, and providing hygiene products at all domestic chain hotels. We will continue to devise various measures to ensure the health of customers who visit our hotels."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.