Life changes in an instant, after just one TV show
Kim Soon-ki, Executive chef The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul
Kim did not set out to be a chef, but his life changed one day after he saw a television show.
“When I was majoring in advertising design in my early 20s, I happened to see a television drama in which two friends were dining together, all smiles,” he said. He says he was inspired to bring joy to others through food, and decided to switch gears and study the culinary arts.
In his work, he is motivated by his philosophy of good food.
“I think of good food as a ray of light and hope that shines upon the lives of modern-day people,” Kim said. “People today seem to be exhausted from the daily grind. Good food should work as a catalyst for bringing vitality to life.”
One of the restaurants that brings vitality to his life is Soban (02-561-0038), a Korean cuisine restaurant in Yeoksam-dong. The restaurant serves traditional Korean dishes using natural ingredients with a limited amount of salt and other spices. Although the dishes there are not exotic in terms of flavor, they are good for health, Kim says, especially the various types of seasonal herbs and vegetables served at the restaurant as side dishes. He also recommends the seafood salad and hanwoo tteokgalbi (beef ribs with rice cakes). The restaurant offers several prix fixe menu options, and prices range from 23,000 won to 85,000 won ($20 to $75).
In addition to his restaurant recommendation, Kim expressed his confidence about the prospects for the globalization of Korean food.
“It’s more than possible [to make Korean food known overseas],” he said. “But first, each one of us should have an affection for Korean food. Also, the different types of regional foods should be standardized and simplified into recipes.”
As part of these efforts, the Ritz-Carlton Seoul is promoting both traditional and modern Korean cuisine at its chains in Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and other parts of Asia.
By Lee Eun-joo [angie@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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