What did you have for Christmas Eve dinner? Roast turkey? Glazed ham? Or perhaps a bucket of fried chicken (if you are in Korea)?
I had Korean Temple Food.
Last night, on Christmas Eve, I attended a very special dinner at Korea House in Seoul. It was hosted by two living legends of Korean gastronomy: Monk Jeong Kwan (whom you might know from Netflix’s Chef’s Table) and Chef Cho Hee-sook (known as the godmother of Korean cuisine).
As the courses arrived one by one, a particular plate made me gasp. It was a bed of deep green Tot (a type of sea vegetable), sprinkled with bright red pomegranate seeds and crushed chili flakes.
Looking at the vivid Red & Green contrast, I whispered to myself: “This is an edible Christmas Tree.” 🎄
(Marketing Note: To the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, are you seeing this? This is our chance to brand Korean seaweed as the next global holiday superfood! 📢)
The Taste of Harmony It was a moment of beautiful irony. Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. The chef who prepared this meal is a Buddhist monk who practices asceticism. And I, the guest enjoying it, am a Catholic.
Yet, on this plate, there were no boundaries. Just as the crunchy texture of the sea vegetable met the bursting sweetness of the pomegranate to create a perfect flavor, our different beliefs blended into a moment of pure harmony.
Perhaps this is what “Peace on Earth” truly tastes like.
Merry Christmas from Seoul. I hope your holidays are filled with delicious blessings.
Glossary for Global Readers
Jeong Kwan (정관 스님): A Seon Buddhist nun and chef of Baekyangsa Temple. She gained global fame after being featured in Netflix’s Chef’s Table (Season 3). She cooks to connect the body and mind.
Temple Food (사찰음식): The cuisine eaten by Buddhist monks and nuns. It is strictly vegan and avoids the “five pungent spices” (garlic, green onion, leek, chive, and onion) believed to distract from meditation.
Tot (톳): Also known as sea fusiforme. A brown sea vegetable popular in Korea and Japan. It has a unique, crunchy texture and is rich in calcium and iron.
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