ID :
189979
Tue, 06/21/2011 - 07:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/189979
The shortlink copeid
Renowned Hong Kong food critic still likes taste of home
SEOUL (Yonhap) - Chua Lam, a movie-producer-turned-food-critic from Hong Kong, travels around the world and tastes all sorts of dishes.
But his favorite isn't some gourmet food.
"It's home-cooked food, just like what my mother used to make," Chua told Yonhap News Agency through an interpreter on Monday, the first day of his visit to South Korea. Chua, who has written over 100 books on food and runs 14 restaurants under his name in Hong Kong, has been invited by the culture ministry to sample food from Korean restaurants and help them develop menus that best cater to foreign tourists.
Before the welcome reception hosted by Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug at a Korean restaurant in Seoul, Chua listed some of his favorite Korean dishes.
His top five ranged from predictable -- galbijjim, or steamed beef ribs, highly popular among foreigners -- to inspired -- samhap, literally meaning three combinations, which presents steamed pork with kimchi and fermented skate, whose pungent smell scares off even the most ardent of Korean food lovers.
But Chua, who was born in Singapore but now resides in Hong Kong, said nothing has come close to his mother's cooking yet.
"Every region offers different tastes, and I always long for the taste of home," Chua said, with a mischievous smile belying his 70 years. "I've traveled around the world, but I still haven't discovered the taste that matches home cooking."
Chua said he has been to South Korea "about 100 times." Choung invited Chua here after the two met in Hong Kong in March and talked about ways to better promote traditional Korean cuisine, known as "hansik." The culture minister has said he is especially keen on attracting Chinese tourists.
Before the reception, Choung said he hoped Chua would serve as "the best ambassador" for Korean food and culture.
"I hope these exchanges can tighten relations between South Korea and Hong Kong, and also between South Korea and China," Choung said. "I also hope Chinese tourists can come here and relish the true taste of Korea."
Chua is set to visit six traditional Korean restaurants on Tuesday, and three other places that often host Chinese tourists on Wednesday. He will offer his reviews and tips during a seminar scheduled for Thursday.
Chua has worked closely with South Korea, having served as an honorary ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization from 2007 to 2008. He also organized several culinary tours to South Korea, helping the country draw hundreds of foreign tourists
Chua has dozens of producing credits for films and TV shows, and has worked with action star Jackie Chan.
But his favorite isn't some gourmet food.
"It's home-cooked food, just like what my mother used to make," Chua told Yonhap News Agency through an interpreter on Monday, the first day of his visit to South Korea. Chua, who has written over 100 books on food and runs 14 restaurants under his name in Hong Kong, has been invited by the culture ministry to sample food from Korean restaurants and help them develop menus that best cater to foreign tourists.
Before the welcome reception hosted by Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug at a Korean restaurant in Seoul, Chua listed some of his favorite Korean dishes.
His top five ranged from predictable -- galbijjim, or steamed beef ribs, highly popular among foreigners -- to inspired -- samhap, literally meaning three combinations, which presents steamed pork with kimchi and fermented skate, whose pungent smell scares off even the most ardent of Korean food lovers.
But Chua, who was born in Singapore but now resides in Hong Kong, said nothing has come close to his mother's cooking yet.
"Every region offers different tastes, and I always long for the taste of home," Chua said, with a mischievous smile belying his 70 years. "I've traveled around the world, but I still haven't discovered the taste that matches home cooking."
Chua said he has been to South Korea "about 100 times." Choung invited Chua here after the two met in Hong Kong in March and talked about ways to better promote traditional Korean cuisine, known as "hansik." The culture minister has said he is especially keen on attracting Chinese tourists.
Before the reception, Choung said he hoped Chua would serve as "the best ambassador" for Korean food and culture.
"I hope these exchanges can tighten relations between South Korea and Hong Kong, and also between South Korea and China," Choung said. "I also hope Chinese tourists can come here and relish the true taste of Korea."
Chua is set to visit six traditional Korean restaurants on Tuesday, and three other places that often host Chinese tourists on Wednesday. He will offer his reviews and tips during a seminar scheduled for Thursday.
Chua has worked closely with South Korea, having served as an honorary ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization from 2007 to 2008. He also organized several culinary tours to South Korea, helping the country draw hundreds of foreign tourists
Chua has dozens of producing credits for films and TV shows, and has worked with action star Jackie Chan.
