The trademark whimsical and eye-catching visuals and supreme blending of Korean and European influences were much in evidence in the stunning courses served up by famed chef Choi Hyun-seok and his team at CHOI. in Seoul this spring.

The total of 49 guests from Korea sipped a welcome glass of champagne on arrival, a stylish entry to chef Choi’s equally sophisticated restaurant on the similarly up-market side of Gangnam. Before the BMW i Pure Impulse members sat down to enjoy the exquisitely crafted cuisine, they were welcomed by Wolfgang Hacker, Head of Brand Management at BMW Korea.

The next treat for the guests was the appearance of the chef himself, Choi Hyun-seok. Chef Choi personally took the time to also welcome the guests and introduce the evening’s menu. During the evening, he proceeded to make regular appearances to describe each dish to the members.

The real highlight of the evening was the incredible eight-course dinner. Consisting of aesthetically stunning and highly delicious dishes, the menu included a Crystal Salad Ball with amaebi, sesame leaf and gochujang sauce, as well as Korean beef, truffle, Mac doen-jang and port wine sauce along with Sam-Gye-Tang chicken, glutinous rice, ginseng and foie gras – with elements from Korean and European cuisine subtly and skillfully combined.

A special ending was in store: dessert was a Red BMW i8 that had been painstakingly created by the chef and his hard-working team, a culinary work of art that many guests would rather have taken home than consumed on the spot! At the end of an evening of gastronomic excellence, many photos were taken with the friendly chef before the guests headed into the night with their parting gift: a Dallmayr chocolate that also symbolised the meeting of Korea and Europe.