Edward Young-min Kwon (born February 10, 1972) [1] is a South Korean celebrity chef who has made a mission for himself to globalize Korean cuisine. Kwon has held many senior chef positions in luxury hotels in the United States, China, and the Middle East. [1]
Kwon was raised in Gangneung, a seaside town on the eastern coast of South Korea. Prior to his career as a culinary chef, he received an education at Gangneung Yeongdong College. [2] Kwon had started his career at the Ritz-Carlton in Seoul and in 2001, transferred to San Francisco to work at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. [3] At age 32, Kwon decided to move back to South Korea to assume the position of executive sous chef at the W Hotel in Seoul. [3] Soon after, Kwon went to China, and later became the hotel head chef at the Burj al-Arab Hotel in Dubai. [3] In 2009, Kwon returned to Seoul . [3] As of 2011, he hosted his own television show, Yes Chef. [4]
Kwon owns three restaurants in Seoul. Eddie's Café, located in the Seocho District, is a restaurant that offers European/Western style food at a mid-range price. [5] Located in Hannam-dong is a restaurant called "The Mixed One". The Mixed One is a California Multi cuisine bistro offering reasonable prices. [5] The third restaurant, Lab XXIV, located in Cheongdam-dong, features contemporary European styled cuisine. [6]
Georges Auguste Escoffier was a French chef, restaurateur and culinary writer who popularized and updated traditional French cooking methods. Much of Escoffier's technique was based on that of Marie-Antoine Carême, one of the codifiers of French haute cuisine; Escoffier's achievement was to simplify and modernize Carême's elaborate and ornate style. In particular, he codified the recipes for the five mother sauces. Referred to by the French press as roi des cuisiniers et cuisinier des rois, Escoffier was a preeminent figure in London and Paris during the 1890s and the early part of the 20th century.
Bibimbap, sometimes romanized as bi bim bap or bi bim bop, is a Korean rice dish. The term "bibim" means mixing rice, while the "bap" noun refers to rice. Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul or kimchi and gochujang, soy sauce, or doenjang. A raw or fried egg and sliced meat are common additions. The hot dish is stirred together thoroughly just before eating.
Wolfgang Johannes Puck is an Austrian chef and restaurateur.
Yongsan District is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Spago is chef Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant worldwide, known for serving California cuisine. Spago is Puck's first restaurant venture.
Itaewon is the area surrounding Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is served by Seoul Subway Line 6 via Itaewon, Noksapyeong and Hanganjin stations. About 22,000 people reside in the district and it is a popular area for residents of Seoul, tourists, expats and U.S. military personnel. It is known as Seoul's International District and is the home of many foreigners in South Korea.
Insa-dong is a dong, or neighborhood in the Jongno-gu district of Seoul. The main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a multitude of alleys that lead deeper into the district, with modern galleries and tea shops. Historically, it was the largest market for antiques and artwork in Korea.
Ron Siegel is an American chef who formerly worked in San Francisco. In August 2012, it was announced he was joining San Francisco restaurant, Michael Mina, as executive chef. He had been Chef of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, taking over for Chef Sylvain Portray in 2004. Siegel is perhaps best known for his 1998 appearance on Iron Chef, becoming the first ever U.S. citizen to win in Kitchen Stadium. His cooking style is known for blending haute French cuisine with subtle Japanese touches.
Skin Food (Korean: 스킨푸드) is South Korean skincare and cosmetics manufacturer and retailer, headquartered in Seoul.
Gangnam District is one of the 25 local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangnam literally means "South of the (Han) River". Gangnam District is the third largest district in Seoul, with an area of 39.5 km2 (15.3 sq mi). As of the 2017 census, Gangnam District had a population of 561,052. There is a high concentration of wealth in the district with prices for an apartment as of 2020 having risen by 83 times in 40 years compared to just 6 times in the rest of Seoul. Gangnam district is generally referred to as a part of Gangnam School District Eight(강남 8학군), along with Seocho District. This district shares half of Gangnam-daero Gangnam Station area with Seocho District, which is one of the most crowded places in Korea.
Apgujeong-dong is a ward of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is considered one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Korea. It was reported that housing price of Apgujeong-dong is approximately US$28,300 per one square meter by Korea Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2019. The dong originates from a pavilion with the same name founded by Han Myung-hoi, a high-ranking government official during the Joseon dynasty. It is an upmarket residential, fashion, shopping, and educational area. The Hanja name translates into "Seagull Pavilion," a reference to his nickname, which itself was a reference and a mark of peace when viewing a group of seagulls flying.
Éric Frank Ripert is a French chef, author and television personality specializing in modern French cuisine and noted for his work with seafood.
Seocho District (Korean: 서초구) is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seocho is generally referred to as a part of Greater Gangnam Area, along with Gangnam District. As of 2019, Seocho District ranks as the second richest neighborhood in South Korea and among the most expensive areas in Seoul with an average sales price of 47.75 million South Korean won per 3.3 square meters. South Korea's rich are concentrated in the three Gangnam districts including Seocho, known as Gangnam School District Eight(강남 8학군).
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is an American multinational company that operates the luxury hotel chain known as The Ritz-Carlton. The company has 108 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories with 29,158 rooms, in addition to 46 hotels with 8,755 rooms planned for the future.
William Dean Fearing is an American chef known as one of the earliest stars of Southwestern Cuisine."
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, is a Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company five-star hotel, located on the top floors of the International Commerce Centre, West Kowloon, Hong Kong, near Kowloon station.
Lotte Hotels and Resorts is a South Korean luxury hotel chain operated by Lotte Hotel Co., Ltd., the hospitality arm of Lotte Corporation. The company was founded in May 1973. Starting with the opening of Lotte Hotel Seoul in 1979, luxury chain hotels opened in Jamsil, Busan, Jeju, and Ulsan. The first business hotel, Lotte City Hotel Mapo, opened in April 2009, and the first overseas chain, Lotte Hotel Moscow, opened in June 2010. On December 8, 2011, the second business hotel, Lotte City Hotel Gimpo Airport opened within the Lotte Mall Gimpo Airport complex.
Louis Felix Diat was a French-American chef and culinary writer. It is also believed that he created vichyssoise soup during his time at the Ritz Paris.
Culinary diplomacy, gastrodiplomacy or food diplomacy is a type of cultural diplomacy, which itself is a subset of public diplomacy. Its basic premise is that "the easiest way to win hearts and minds is through the stomach". Official government-sponsored culinary diplomacy programs have been established in Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Peru, the United States, Cambodia, Japan, Scandinavia, Australia and Uzbekistan.
Pierre Sang Boyer is a South-Korean born French chef. In 2011, he became widely known by the audience as the finalist at the French version of the cooking contest Top Chef. He is the owner of three restaurants located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris : Pierre Sang in Oberkampf, Pierre Sang on Gambey and Pierre Sang Signature. He is also the founder of Pierre Sang Express, a delivery service of Korean specialties.