S. Korea: U.S. Food Guru Hails Korean Cooking (lecturer at CIA)

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 07/12/07

[TigerLikesRooster]

U.S. Food Guru Hails Korean Cooking

“The future of Korean food is bright; it’s healthy and the flavors are unique,” says Assoc. Prof. John Nihoff of one of the top culinary schools in the U.S. He was speaking at the 2007 New York Food Fair.

Prof. Nihoff, who has been lecturing in French cuisine and cultural history of food at the CIA - that’s the Culinary Institute of America -- for 20 years, has a special affection for Korean food thanks to his Korean wife. He is a judge on the popular TV show “America Iron Chef.”

“Korean dishes have unique taste and look good. And they’re good for our health,” he explains. “Japanese dishes are too focused on artistic packaging and Chinese food is so various that it is difficult to find a single identity. But Korean food is simple and has a unique identity.” Nihoff eats Korean food for breakfast and dinner. “I’ve lost 4 kg of weight over the last two or three years. I think Korean food helps me.”

He is particularly keen on sesame oil, which gives much of Korean food its distinct flavor. “American students splash sesame oil over dishes as if it was mayonnaise. But I tell them to smell the oil first, just like we enjoy scent of wine, and carefully put just two or three drops on the dishes.”

Korean Beef barbeque, kimchi and dishes made from fresh song-i mushrooms have a competitive edge on the world stage, he believes. Nihoff urges Koreans not to Westernize traditional recipes and serving styles. There is no need, he says, to change Korean serving style to produce several courses rather than an all-at-once feast: many Americans love the Korean custom of putting rice, soup and all the various side dishes on the same table.

But asked to choose the best Korean product, he answers with a smile, “My 10-month-old daughter Min-joo.”

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Last time I was in St. Paul, I stopped by Sawatdee across from the Farmers Market and found it had CLOSED. I made an emergency run down 94 to the other Sawatdee in dt Mpls.

[aft_lizard]

Why? Brunswick Stew has regular palatable ingredients, certainly nothing out of the ordinary or disgusting to the average American palette. Unless you get the rare version that contains Squirrel.

[mylife]

Yukkaejang "spicey beef soup"

No one can tell me what that green weed is in there L0L

[mylife]

Mmmmmm..... Kimbap

[TigerLikesRooster]

Are you from CIM (Culinary Institute of Mylife)? :-)

[mylife]

Yup! Yup! That about sums it up

[ReignOfError]

I like kimchi and Korean BBQ but for me the best Asian dishes are Thai and Vietnamese.

I've dabbled in a little Thai cooking, and cooked everything too long until a friend of mine explained everything in a way that made clear and perfect sense.

Southeast Asia is a hot place. I was sweating on New Year's Eve, and I grew in in Atlanta without AC. Lot of heat, lot of people, not much wood/fuel. They don't, as many European cuisines do, keep a stew/soup opt bubbling on the stove for hours on end.

There might be hours of prep time, but the cooking is fast, hot, done and out. Like stir-fry.

[mylife]

I made some bun thit nuong sunday from scratch with no recipe and it was my first try.
I took some to a viet coworker monday.
He say, not bad for a whiteboy. ;0)

[ReignOfError]

Why? Brunswick Stew has regular palatable ingredients, certainly nothing out of the ordinary or disgusting to the average American palette. Unless you get the rare version that contains Squirrel.

In a traditional Southern hog-killin' barbecue, no part of the hog goes to waste. The, erm, back end becomes chitlins. Brunswick stew starts with boiling the head.

That's tradition. in any modern BBQ joint, there is almost certainly no head-boiling involved. Less-than-prime meat boiled off the bone, sure. That's what the word "stew" means.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Eating kimchi turns on the waterworks for me. Its like stepping into a shower.

[LonePalm]

The chef is here. Good eats for everyone.

Iron Chef, New Jersey checking in.

'La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.' - Auguste Escoffier
(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness.)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[Tamar1973]

I like pretty much all Asian cuisines but Korean is #1 to me because it is easy to make it low carb and remain authentic.

[Tamar1973]

Looks like some kind of kelp to me.

[Tamar1973]

If you try Duk Bo Ki (spicy rice noodles), you’ll be eating the kimchee to cool your mouth off. LOL!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I confess to being a fan of all things Thai (food). My favorites are the Pla Rard Prig (spicy/crispy fish) and Kang Puk curry. My old Thai restaurant pal, Pak always liked to say, “After you have Kang Puk, you have Kang Puk Gut !”

[nw_arizona_granny]

Interesting thread.

[Rushmore Rocks]

Thanks, Ruth. I’ve been reading it.

When my brother-in-law first brought his new bride from So. Korea to meet us, I asked her if she would prepare a meal for us (we knew that she was a great cook and that her family had a restaurant in Seoul) She was honored to be asked and I took Song Sun to our local Safeway to shop for the meal. She was totally amazed to see so many products in one place and had a fun time selecting items. After filling her cart, she went up and down the aisles again and again looking for something. She spoke almost no English and was getting quite frustrated. I called my b-i-l (who spoke Korean), and put Song Sun on the phone. She explained to him what she needed. I got back on the phone and he told me she wanted “taste powder”. He didn’t know what it was, and after some thought, I finally figured out she wanted “Accent” (monosodium glutamate). Problem solved and we had a wonderful Korean meal that night.

Now, 25 years later, whe is still a great cook and looks as beautiful as she did when I first met her.

[Tamar1973]

After you have Kang Puk, you have Kang Puk Gut !

That's why Korean food is better. You can eat Korean BBQ with lettuce instead of rice. THe traditional way to eat most Korean BBQ is to wrap the meat in lettuce leaves and eat it like a fajita or burrito. That's what I meant by my comment about Korean food being low carb friendly.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There is a Thai specialty that uses lettuce roll ups. Can’t think of the name but it has chopped up little pieces of this and that.

[mylife]

I will have to try that.
It sounds right up my alley