My family lives in Korea. Yet somehow, Christmas has passed year after year without all of us being together. Life gets busy, schedules don’t align, and before you know it, time slips by.
Photo credit: Author
This year was different. For the first time in over ten years, our family gathered together for Christmas. And this time, I decided to host.
Photo credit: Author
Preparing for Christmas, One Table at a Time
I brought back a set of beautiful Christmas dishes from the United States some time ago. They had been sitting quietly in the cabinet, saved for a “special occasion.”
This felt like the right moment.
I took them all out and used them generously, without holding back. There’s something about setting a Christmas table that instantly changes the mood it makes the day feel intentional, warm, and meaningful.
Photo credit: Author
A Simple Lunch Before a Festive Evening
We met earlier in the day for a simple lunch. Nothing fancy just kimchi stew and rice. Somehow, that kind of meal feels perfect for a family gathering.
After lunch, we stopped by Starbucks for coffee, chatted for a while, and took a leisurely walk through the streets. The city was already dressed for Christmas, and there was a quiet excitement in the air.
Photo credit: Author
Photo credit: Author
A Homemade Christmas Dinner
In the evening, it was time for the Christmas feast.
On the table:
Beef tenderloin steak
Lamb shoulder rack
Whole wheat campagne bread
Fresh salad
Butter mashed potatoes with bacon
And a rich chocolate cake
As each dish came together, I felt grateful. It didn’t need to be perfect. What mattered was that we were all sitting at the same table, sharing the same meal.
Photo credit: Author
Photo credit: Author
The Beauty of Gathering as a Family
Hosting isn’t always easy. There’s shopping, cooking, timing everything just right, and of course, cleaning up afterward. At moments, it can feel tiring and overwhelming.
But as the night went on, I found myself thinking, “I’m really glad I did this.”
Memories from years ago came back when the children were still babies, when life felt very different. Time has passed, but family somehow stays the same.
Photo credit: Author
Remembering the True Meaning of Christmas
This day wasn’t just about food or celebration. It was also a moment to pause and reflect.
Christmas reminded me of Jesus, who came to this world for us. In the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to forget the deeper meaning of this season. That evening, gratitude came naturally.
It wasn’t a flashy or extravagant Christmas. But it was filled with warmth, love, and thankfulness.
Photo credit: Author
Looking Back
Hosting a Christmas gathering takes effort. But the memories created are worth every bit of it.
A family reunited after ten years, a table filled with food and conversation, and a heart full of gratitude.
This Christmas will stay with me for a long time.
Photo credit: Author
Beef Tenderloin Steak (Ordered from Coupang)
Because I was short on time, I ordered the beef tenderloin from Coupang. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, and I chose one on the higher end of the price range, expecting good quality.
Each piece arrived vacuum sealed, neatly shaped, and portioned at 150 grams per steak, which looked promising at first. Unfortunately, the taste was very disappointing.
We eat tenderloin steak quite often at home and have tried many varieties Korean beef, U.S. beef, Australian beef, across different grades. Among them, the U.S. Prime beef from Costco has been consistently the best (shown in the photo above).
As for value for money, I’m still not completely sure. Since I haven’t been back in Korea for very long, it’s hard to tell what’s considered reasonably priced here.
Lamb Shoulder Rack (Ordered from Coupang)
The lamb shoulder rack was also ordered from Coupang. I chose an A++ grade, based on strong reviews, and ordered about 900 grams.
This one was very satisfying. While proper seasoning certainly helped, the quality of the meat itself was excellent tender, flavorful, and well worth the purchase.
Seasoning
Both the tenderloin and the lamb were seasoned the day before and left to rest in the refrigerator.
The order was: olive oil → salt → butter garlic herb seasoning → black pepper
Simple, but effective.
Cooking Method
About three hours before cooking, I took the meat out of the refrigerator to bring it to room temperature.
Both the tenderloin and the lamb were cooked in a well heated cast iron pan, seared for 1 minute and 30 seconds on each side over high heat. After searing, the meat was rested for 20 minutes.
This method locked in the juices beautifully, resulting in meat that was moist, tender, and perfectly cooked.
Campagne Bread
The campagne bread was also purchased from Coupang. If you look carefully, Coupang actually carries quite a good selection of quality bread.
한국에 나의 가족들이 있다. 하지만 크리스마스에 온 가족이 함께 모이는 일은 생각보다 쉽지 않다. 각자의 삶과 일정, 거리 때문에 어느새 시간이 흘렀고, 이번 크리스마스는 무려 10년 만에 가족들이 함께 모이는 자리가 되었다.
<출처:직접촬영>
이번에는 내가 호스팅을 하기로 했다. 조금 귀찮을 수도 있고, 준비할 것도 많았지만 마음 한편에서는 오래전부터 기다려온 순간 같았다.
<출처:직접촬영>
크리스마스를 위한 작은 준비들
미국에서 가져온 크리스마스 그릇들이 있었다. 그동안 아껴두기만 했던 그릇들인데, 이번만큼은 아낌없이, 원 없이 꺼내 쓰기로 했다.
크리스마스는 괜히 그릇 하나, 테이블 하나에도 의미를 담게 되는 날이다. 식탁에 그릇을 올려놓는 순간부터 “아, 오늘은 진짜 크리스마스구나” 하는 기분이 들었다.
<출처:직접촬영>
낮에는 소박하게, 저녁은 만찬으로
가족들은 점심에 먼저 만나기로 했다. 점심 메뉴는 간단하게 김치찜과 밥. 이런 메뉴가 오히려 가족 모임에는 더 잘 어울린다.
밥을 먹고 나서는 스타벅스에서 차를 마시며 이런저런 이야기를 나눴다. 특별한 계획 없이 거리도 천천히 걸었다. 크리스마스를 앞둔 거리에는 사람도 많았고, 괜히 마음이 들뜨는 분위기였다.
<출처:직접촬영>
<출처:직접촬영>
저녁, 크리스마스 만찬 테이블
저녁에는 본격적인 크리스마스 만찬을 준비했다.
안심 스테이크
양갈비 숄더렉
통밀 깜빠뉴
신선한 샐러드
베이컨이 들어간 버터 매쉬드 포테이토
그리고 달콤한 초콜릿 케이크
음식을 하나씩 테이블에 올릴 때마다 “이 정도면 꽤 근사하다”는 생각이 들었다.
<출처:직접촬영>
<출처:직접촬영>
완벽하지 않아도 괜찮았다. 가족들과 함께 먹는 음식이라는 사실만으로도 이미 충분했다.
가족이 모인다는 것의 의미
사실 준비 과정은 쉽지 않았다. 장도 봐야 하고, 요리도 해야 하고, 먹고 난 뒤의 뒷정리까지 생각하면 솔직히 귀찮은 마음이 드는 것도 사실이다.
그런데도 이 자리가 끝나갈 즈음에는 “그래도 하길 잘했다”는 생각이 들었다.
<출처:직접촬영>
10여 년 전, 아이들이 아기였던 시절의 기억도 자연스럽게 떠올랐다. 그때와 지금은 많이 달라졌지만, 가족이라는 이름은 그대로였다.
크리스마스의 진짜 의미를 다시 생각하다
이날은 단순히 잘 먹고, 잘 웃고, 즐거운 하루로 끝나지 않았다.
조용히 마음을 가다듬으며 우리를 위해 이 땅에 오신 예수님을 다시 생각했다. 바쁘게 지나가는 연말 속에서 그 의미를 온전히 생각할 수 있는 시간이 많지 않은데, 이날만큼은 감사한 마음이 자연스럽게 들었다.
화려하지 않아도, 완벽하지 않아도, 사랑과 감사가 있는 하루였다.
<출처:직접촬영>
정리하며
크리스마스 파티를 준비하는 일은 생각보다 손이 많이 간다. 하지만 그 수고로움 덕분에 오래 기억에 남을 하루가 만들어진다.
10년 만에 다시 모인 가족들, 따뜻한 식탁, 그리고 감사의 마음.
올해 크리스마스는 오래도록 기억에 남을 것 같다.
<출처:직접촬영>
마지막으로 준비한 재료에 대한 정보이다.
안심 스테이크 : 쿠팡, 시간이 없어서 쿠팡에서 주문했다. 후기가 엄청 좋았고 가격도 좀 있는걸로 주문했다. 150gram씩 모양이 잘 잡힌채로 진공포장 되어서 왔다. 너무 별로였다 ㅠㅠ 우리집은 안심스테이크를 자주 먹어서 한우, 미국산, 호주산 등 등급별로 사봤다. 코스트코에서 산 미국산 프라임등급이 제일 맛있었다(바로 위 사진). 가성비는 아직 한국에 온지 얼마 되지 않아 싼 건지 비싼건지 잘 모르겠다.
양갈비 숄더렉 : 쿠팡, A++등급으로 후기가 좋아서 900gram 주문했는데 아주 만족스러웠다. 물론 갈릭허브, 올리브유 등으로 시즈닝을 잘하긴 했지만 고기가 아주 좋았다.
시즈닝 : 안심과 양갈비 모두 올리브유> 소금 > 버터갈릭허브시즈닝 > 후추 로 전날 뿌려서 냉장고 숙성했다.
굽기 : 3시간 전에 미리 실온에 빼놓아서 온도를 높여줬다. 안심과 양갈비는 모두 잘 달궈진 무쇠팬에 올려 앞뒤로 1분30초씩 세게 굽고 레스팅을 20분 하는 방법으로 했다. 육즙이 잘 갇히고 촉촉하고 완벽하게 잘 구워졌다.
🎄 Weekend Holiday Visit to Seoul Finance Center (SFC), Map link
<Source: Official photos of Seoul Finance Center (SFC)>
On a weekend evening just before Christmas, I visited the Seoul Finance Center (SFC) to enjoy some fresh air and the holiday atmosphere. Located right next to Cheonggyecheon, SFC is a great place to enjoy both indoor comfort and outdoor scenery, especially during winter.
Photo credit: Author
✨ Christmas Decorations & Festive Mood
As soon as I arrived, I noticed the beautiful Christmas decorations throughout the building. The lights and ornaments created a warm, cozy atmosphere without feeling overwhelming.
It’s a great place to take photos and enjoy the holiday season with family or friends.
Photo credit: Author
☕ Restaurants & Cafes Underground
Most of the restaurants and cafes are located on B1 and B2 levels.
You can find a wide variety of options, including:
Steak houses
Premium Korean beef restaurants
Traditional rice pot (Sot Bap) places
Vietnamese and Thai restaurants
Dakgalbi and shabushabu
Cozy dessert and chocolate shops
We stopped by Coffee Bean, ordered our favorite drinks, and sat near the indoor terrace to enjoy the Christmas vibe while staying warm indoors.
Photo credit: Author
🚗 Convenient Parking
One big advantage is that many restaurants and cafes offer parking discounts. Even during the busy holiday season, this made our visit much more convenient.
Photo credit: Author
🌉 Cheonggyecheon Walk & Performances
From the first floor, you can walk directly to Cheonggyecheon Stream. During our visit, there was a musical performance featuring a man wearing traditional Korean clothing, along with festive lights, traditional style figures, and Christmas decorations.
With so many people around, the area truly felt like a holiday festival.
Photo credit: Author
💭 Nostalgic Memories
I also remembered visiting this place more than ten years ago when my children were babies. It felt like yesterday, bringing back warm and nostalgic memories.
Some places stay special no matter how much time passes.
✅ My Review
Seoul Finance Center is a wonderful place where you can:
Stay warm indoors
Take a short walk along Cheonggyecheon
Enjoy holiday decorations
Choose from many great restaurants and cafes
If you’re looking for a relaxed and festive weekend outing in Seoul, SFC is a place I’d happily recommend.