Seoul catches culinary spotlight in Asia

Ask international gourmands to name the food capitals of Asia, and chances are they'll rattle off no-brainers like Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai, cities with vibrant expatriate populations and a slew of upscale restaurants operated by acclaimed chefs.This year, Seoul joins these ranks, at least according to one regional restaurant guide. For the first time, one of Korea's restaurants, Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul, has been listed among Asia's Top 20 in The Miele Guide 2011-2012, a compilation of the continent's finest dining establishments that was released in November. Making its debut at No. 8, Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul was one of six new entries onto the Top 20 of The Miele Guide, named for its sponsor, the German cookware company Miele."The arrival of these restaurants onto the Top 20 list may indicate the Asian diner's changing tastes, and a willingness to venture beyond the regular favorites, showing that the face of dining in Asia is visibly changing," said the guide's publisher, Singapore-based Ate Media, in a release. Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul rose in the ranks through a 15-week-long process in which Ate Media collected nominations from food writers in each of the 17 countries featured, then invited the public and restaurant critics from all over Asia to cast their votes.