From the journal.
Recipes, culture, hanbok, and the meaning behind Korean traditions. Written by Eric and Mrs. Lee Youngsook, posted as we cook and source.
Pajeon on a Rainy Afternoon
What pajeon is Pajeon (파전) is a Korean savory pancake made with a thin batter, green onions, and often seafood. The most common…
Korean CultureA Paebaek in San Mateo
What paebaek is Paebaek (폐백) is the post-wedding family ceremony of Korean tradition. It originated in Joseon-era weddings as the…
Hanbok GuidesChuseok, and What to Wear For It
Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in late September or early October. It is one of two major Korean…
Korean CultureHow a Korean Wedding Really Goes
The shape of a modern Korean wedding A typical Korean wedding today: a Western-style main ceremony (white dress, tuxedo, vows)…
Hanbok GuidesWhat the Colors Are Telling You
Korean traditional dress uses color the way Western suits use cut. The choice is read instantly by anyone who grew up around it…
RecipesThe Rice Every Korean Mother Knows
Why Korean rice is different Korean rice (specifically short-grain or medium-grain white rice, often called sushi rice in…
Korean CultureThe First Birthday, and What the Baby Picks
Where dol came from Dol (돌) literally means “one year.” The celebration originated centuries ago, in an era when…
Hanbok GuidesThe Four Measurements Eric Needs
Hanbok is meant to be fitted to the person wearing it. Off-the-rack hanbok looks costume-y precisely because it ignores fit. A…
Hanbok GuidesWhat Finishes the Hanbok
Accessories make the outfit, but restraint makes it good A chima jeogori is the main event. Accessories are the punctuation…
RecipesHow Many Banchan Is Enough?
What banchan is Banchan (반찬) is the Korean word for side dishes. Every Korean meal includes some, served in small bowls placed…
Hanbok GuidesTwo Garments, Two Different Purposes
People sometimes ask Eric whether modern hanbok is "real" hanbok. The answer is yes, but it helps to understand what each style…
Hanbok GuidesHanbok That Outlasts the Occasion
Know your fabric first The single most important question for hanbok care is fabric. Silk needs dry cleaning. Cotton and linen…
Hanbok GuidesHer First Birthday, Her First Hanbok
Dol is the celebration of a Korean baby's first birthday. Historically, when infant mortality was high, surviving the first year…
Hanbok GuidesThe First Time She Felt Korean
The mixed identity experience Most Korean-American women Eric works with carry the same quiet experience: they grew up Korean at…
Korean CultureSeollal and the Sebae Bow
What Seollal is Seollal (설날) falls on the first day of the lunar calendar, usually late January or early February. It is one of…
Hanbok GuidesDressing for Both Rooms of a Korean Wedding
Korean weddings have a particular shape. The main ceremony often looks Western, white dress, tuxedo, vows in front of the family…
Hanbok GuidesModern or Traditional. Which Day Is It?
They are different garments, not different price tiers The first thing to understand: modern hanbok is not “cheap…
RecipesSamgyeopsal at the Kitchen Table
What samgyeopsal is Samgyeopsal (삼겹살) is thick-cut pork belly grilled at the table, sliced into bite-size pieces, and eaten…
Korean-American LifeWhere Korean Culture Actually Begins
The Captivating Culture of Korea Korean culture is often discussed in two halves. The traditional half (Confucian family…
Korean-American LifeWhere to Go in Korea First
Every country in the world that we get the chance and opportunity to travel to is both a gift and a blessing. In every travel…
Hanbok GuidesPlanning the First Birthday
What dol is Dol (돌) is the celebration of a Korean baby’s first birthday. Historically, when infant mortality was high…
Korean-American LifeHow Korea Became the Wave
Surely you know of K-drama and K-pop, right? A lot of people, not just the Asians, craze on Korean dramas. When there is an…
Hanbok GuidesWedding Hanbok, Start to Finish
Two ceremonies, two looks Most modern Korean weddings include a Western-style main ceremony (white dress, tuxedo) and a paebaek…
RecipesTteokbokki and the Long Walk Home
What tteokbokki is Tteokbokki (떡볶이) is chewy cylindrical rice cakes simmered in a spicy red sauce made from gochujang (Korean red…
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