The Smoking Korean The five tastes are salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami (meaty flavor from glutamates and other amino acids). The Smoking Korean has identified a 6th taste. Yes, The Smoking Korean went through a couple of chubby periods as a child. It’s her inner chubby kid that makes her food so delicious. It’s […]
Ambassador Shabazz, Malcolm X’s Daughter
Ambassador Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter, came to my restaurant, Revolutionario North African Tacos, in the West Adams part of South Central L.A. We spoke for over an hour. She told me to bear witness like James Baldwin and Yuri Kochiyama. She told me to keep doing what I already know is right. Bear witness.
Buddhism in South Korea and Korean-American Buddhists
The Buddhist population in South Korea is estimated to be between 15%-30%. About 20%- 30% are Christian, mostly Protestant. Others believe in various religions including shamanism and new religions. There is also a small minority of Muslims. South Korea has a plurality of religions that mostly co-exist in peace. It is not uncommon for Koreans to […]
Korean Temple Dinner with Jeong Kwan Seunim
These photos and any of the photos from my website cannot be reproduced or used without my written permission. Recently, I had the pleasure of eating a Korean temple dinner prepared by Jeong Kwan Seunim. The meal was followed by a tea ceremony and meditation. I cannot tell you where this dinner took place or […]
Meat Substitutes in Korean Buddhist Vegan Cooking
I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of meat substitutes in Korean Buddhist vegan cooking. First of all, meat consumption in the Korean diet was relatively low until modernization. Traditional Korean cuisine is vegetable and grain centric with meat more commonly used for flavoring. In the not too distant past, BBQ […]
Hayato Restaurant: Pick up Bento
What: Bento at Hayato Restaurant Price: $50 for a bento. Worth every penny. Where: 1320 East 7th Street, #126, 90021. Drive up Alameda and enter the parking lot on Bay just north of the produce market. What to order: The bento box. The restaurant is not open for dinner yet What makes them different? The […]
El Ranchon Restaurant and Pupuseria: The Best Pupusas in Los Angeles?
They’re certainly the best in South Los Angeles. They’re in my top 5 in all of Los Angeles. What: The pupusas and baleadas at El Ranchon Restaurant and Pupuseria Where: 3564 Normandie Ave, 90007, a couple of blocks south of Jefferson Blvd on the east side of the street. They have a tiny parking lot. […]
Aesthetics and Taste: The Role of Pickles and Fermented Foods in a Korean Meal
Read my article about Korean food history in Greenwood Food Cultures of The World Encyclopedia here. I discuss the importance of pickling and fermenting for food security. Pickles and fermented foods also contribute to the aesthetics of the Korean table and unique flavors of Korean dishes. The Korean Peninsula has four distinct seasons. The Korean table […]
Korean Buddhist Vegan Cuisine: Feminine Kitchen
About Korean Buddhist Cooking By Susan Park Please note that veganism or vegetarianism are not synonymous with Buddhism in general. There are different schools or sects of Buddhism; each with their own guidelines. Being a vegan or vegetarian doesn’t make you good. Eating meat doesn’t make you bad. Please refrain from imposing Judeo-Christian morality onto […]
Iconic Neighborhood Restaurants: Historic South-Central
I originally wrote this piece for KCET in 2015. In 2003, L.A. City Council voted to rechristen South-Central Los Angeles — a sprawling 16-square-mile area approximately bordered by the 10 freeway to the north, Inglewood and Culver City to the west, Gardena to the south, and Alameda Street to the east — as South Los […]
Golden Lake Eatery in Chinatown: Khmer Food
I originally wrote this piece for the LA WEEKLY in July, 2015. There were a few editorial changes made that I did not agree with. First of all, Golden Lake Eatery is not the only Khmer restaurant in Chinatown. At the time, there were at least two others. New Kamara is still open. The menu and […]
Iconic Neighborhood Restaurants: Koreatown
This article was first published on KCET. I plan on exploring all of L.A.’s neighborhood in depth, beginning with Koreatown, Chinatown, Boyle Heights, and South Central L.A. I have a special fondness for these neighborhoods. I’ve lived in L.A. since I was five years old. Although I’ve traveled extensively, L.A. is my favorite city in […]