Hey everyone, if you are looking for some Korean Cooking Classes, there is one over at the Institute for Royal Court Cuisine next week. I'm going to try and make it. Here is an article written by Hwang Hye Jung about the classes. I took the photos.  This article is also over at the Seoul Tourism Website. If you can do me a favor, please leave a comment under their article at this link.  They sponsor me. Bossam Here is the Teacher Boiling Rice Cakes Turnip Kimchi Our finished Bossam Cooking Classes at the Institute for Royal Court Cuisine written by Hwang Hye Jung photographs by Daniel Gray Okay, be honest now: how many of you have fantasized about being a palace maid after watching the Korean Drama: Dae Jang Geum? I'll be the first to confess that I have--feel free to laugh. Now would you still snicker when I tell you there is actually a chance for this experience? First, relax- it's the experience minus the uniform and headdress. We all know it's th...

Here is the story that I wrote for Seoul Tourism. You can find it here. http://english.visitseoul.net/visit2007en/aboutseoul/whyseoul/whyseoul.jsp?cid=46&sid=2448 Do me a favor and leave a comment on the above link because they help me live my life of food. Also, if you hit the link, you'll find many great pictures. Dan Last week, Pierre Gagnaire, Massimo Bottura, Luke Dale Roberts and Corey Lee - all internationally renowned chefs - were invited to Korea to participate in the inaugural ‘Amazing Korean Table’, a gourmet food festival seeking to introduce global flavors to Koreans, and Korean flavors to the world. Local celebrity chefs such as Han Bok-ryo, Park Kyung-sik, Kim Min-ji and Jeong Chan-bu worked aside these international stars to create dishes that represented a perfect fusion of Eastern and Western influences. I was able to attend cooking classes held at the newly remodeled Korea House located near Chungmuro station. Han Bok-ryo, who is the top authorit...

Royal Feast in Downtown Seoul by  Hwang Hye Jung Photographs courtesy of Jihwaja Restaurant Since the airing of history drama “ Dae Jang Geum ” all over Asia in 2005, “Palace Cuisine”( Gung Jung Yiori ) became the buzzword in many countries, especially Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Just the topic of Palace Cuisine alone has drawn flocks of tourists to Korea, particularly from Japan. Just what is “Palace Cuisine” and how does it actually taste? To find out, there are few higher authorities to turn to than the Jihwaja restaurant group, opened and run by the family of Hwang Hye Sung (1920-2006). Hwang Hye Sung, started her career as a culinary lecturer at Sook Myung Women’s University in the 1940’s. She learned her craft directly from Han Hui Soon, one of the last royal chefs of the Chosun Dynasty, and later facilitated the Korean government’s designation of Chosun Dynasty Royal Cuisine as “Intangible Cultural Asset of Korea #37.” In 1991 Hwang Hye Sung and ...

Han Bok-ryeo (pictures courtesy of Jihwaja) Since Hwang Hye Jung recently did a story on Korea's Intangible Human Cultural Heritage #38 earlier this week, I thought I should give you a bit of background on this woman and pictures. Bok-ryeo Han harkened the renaissance of Korea's Royal Court Cuisine through her work on the famous Korean drama, Daejanggum. It's her food that you see on the show. She is a selfless advocate of the tradition and she is the highest authority on royal court cuisine. Bok-Ryeo Han is the highest living authority on the Royal Court Cuisine Tradition. She was awarded the title of Korea’s Intangible Human Cultural Heritage #38, which means she is the only one who can certify court cuisine chefs and restaurants. Her mother learned from the last royal chef and passed the tradition to her. Sinsello: Royal Hot Pot(pictures courtesy of Jihwaja) MOTTO: “I revived the memory of royal court cuisine so the legacy will not be forgotten You can find he...