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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]