KOREAN COOK-OFF
CHEFS WILL SHOW THEIR CHOPS
Korean food is becoming a popular mainstay in Vancouver’s food scene—there is probably always someone in your friend circle who is craving tofu soup, bibimbap (hot-stone rice bowl with various toppings), or haemul pajeon (seafood pancake).
The love for this Asian cuisine is real, so it’s fitting that a Korean cooking face-off is returning to the city.
In its second year, the Korean Culinary Competition—hosted by both the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea and Vancouver Community College—will take place at VCC (250 West Pender Street) on June 14 at 2 p.m. The public will be invited to try the dishes and enjoy food-related activities from 3:30 p.m.
Amateur and professional chefs (separated into two groups) are invited to participate in the event. Each contestant will be allotted 90 minutes to whip up a tasty Korean food item, which will be judged for its taste and presentation.
Ingredients and essential kitchen equipment will be provided, but you can bring in your own rice cooker if need be. (We think rice is a pretty important accompaniment for Korean cuisine.)
First-, second-, and third-place winners in each group will be awarded a cash prize ($800, $300, and $100, respectively). The firstplace professional competitor will be invited on a weeklong trip to Korea to compete against other winners from around the world and will have the chance to travel to renowned restaurants around the Asian nation.
“The reason we do this competition is to promote Korean food to foreigners, not just Korean nationals living in Canada,” Consul Kangjun Lee told the Georgia Straight in an interview at a local Vancouver restaurant. “Cultural affairs, especially food, are the gateway and connector between Asian heritages with local communities. With food, we don’t have any language barriers.”
The judges for this year’s event haven’t been confirmed yet, but expect to see Consul General Gunn Kim, Peter Nunoda (president of VCC), chef Collin Gill (VCC culinary arts department head), and perhaps a local Korean restaurant owner/chef decide on the winning dishes.
If you’re not confident enough to join this year’s competition but still have a passion for Korean food, then check out the gimbap (Korean seaweed and rice roll)-making that will be happening from 3 to 4 p.m.
“We [Koreans] have a big presence in Asian communities, but we think [that] politically and socially, we are underrepresented,” Lee said. “There is still a long way to go to be proactively engaged with local communities.”
What better way to engage and interact with Vancouverites than with mouthwatering foods?
The cooking competition’s submission deadline is May 31 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and the online application, visit the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver website.