>Charm Lee, President of the Korea Tourism Organization

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Charm Lee, a German-born naturalized Korean, was recently appointed as the President of the Korea Tourism Organization. According to the Korean press, his appointment reflects the Korean Government’s willingness to open up a high level government public office to a foreign born individual who possesses professionalism which is also expected to bring a positive impact on attracting foreign investment to Korea.Since being naturalized in 1986, he has actively been involved in various fields in corporate management and major media- including TV, which has made him a well-known public figure and recently, he has hosted a TV programme regarding tourism and globalization of Korean food. He is known to be very passionate about his adopted home which is obvious through his words and actions. During the appointment press conference, President Lee said “With my extensive understanding and experiences of cross cultures, I will do my best to elevate the Korean tourism industry through strengthening overseas marketing and expansion of tourism infrastructures from the perspective of a consumer.”

I met Mr Charm Lee, on a typically British Autumnal day, at the Korean Cultural Centre in London. I was privileged to accompany him on his business trip between the 7th of November and the 9th of November during his Korean Tourism Campaign in London. At first glance, I must admit that I was overwhelmed by his features and of his elegant use of the Korean language. During his several interviews in London, he was confident about the future of Korean Tourism. Not surprisingly, he was able to share this confidence with a European audience. I believe that this should be the most valuable asset he possesses. Below is an excerpt of how he is trying to project the image of Korea as a special culture:

Why come to Korea?
I would simply reply that ‘to recharge your energy’ because there is more energy in Korea than anyplace else. Korea is a society that recharges and reinvents itself constantly. It’s very Oriental but a unique place where a multicultural society is emerging.It is a very sophisticated and world-class country—you can get anything here.

What is the genuine charm of Korea of Charm Lee?
1. Genuine Taste: Good Food is the Best Medicine
Korean food incorporates philosophy and science, which is well incarnated with the wisdom of our ancestors who always said that ‘good food is the best medicine’. The role of food is not only to provide us with nutrients but also to heal our bodies. This is exactly why Korean food attracts so much attention at a time when eating health food is becoming a global trend. Korean food reflects ‘Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements’, all fundamentals in Oriental philosophy. Take Kimchi for instance. No matter how much we eat Kimchi we do not get tired of it, and that’s because it is based on that perfect Oriental harmony. The ‘Globalization of Korean Food’ is well underway and therefore it is important to maintain excellence and develop Korean food into premium products. Makgeolli, for instance, is traditional liquor that was mostly consumed by older generations within Korea. Recently, it has been rediscovered amid the increasing preference for healthy food, as a delicious, healthy, high quality beverage.

2. Genuine Charm: Peering out from the Daecheonmaru
Hanok are traditional Korean houses that are built with science and philosophy in mind. Their locations are carefully calculated in accordance with Feng-Shui principles, focusing on both practical use and beauty. You can feel the natural energy of Korea in this eco-friendly structure that uses local, natural building materials such as rocks, soil, and wood. When I am in a very old Hanok or a traditional Hanok built by masters, I fall asleep without even noticing it and wake up feeling refreshed and quite happy. The best part is that Hanok has a spacious yet cozy open-air living room called Daecheongmaru which is great to relax in. I like to take in the scenery and even meditate and thinking deeply alone. The world is just so peaceful and beautiful as I lie down on Daecheongmaru gazing at clouds floating in the sky, and listening to the sound of wind.

3. Genuine Sound: ‘Sori’, Korean Music That Touches the Soul
Powerful energy hidden inside the virtue of moderation – the sound of Korea is quiet and calm, yet inside it hides powerful energy like an exploding volcano. Although Koreans are peace-loving people, being sandwiched between China and Japan, Korea has often suffered from invasion and war. The sorrow that comes from that sad history is known as ‘Han’. ‘Han’ is what one feels when not able to express feelings of oppression or exploitation because of and unequal power relationship. It is believed that ‘Han’ is the source of the power that is driving Korea to become a successful player in the international sphere, both politically and economically. That energy can be easily felt while listening to a ‘Sori’ performance (a general term for all traditional songs of Korea including Pansori and Minnyo or folk songs). I feel so touched and empathized with the melody as I listen to Sori, the sound of Korea based on ‘Han’ and nostalgia. It is a genuine heart touching sound.

Apart from the above mentioned 3 genuine beauties, Mr Lee, also proposed 3 attitudes (3관: Attention, Observation, Relationship / 관광객에 대한 관심, 관찰, 관계) and 5 Elements (5림: Excitement, Attraction, Harmonisation, Echo, Wave / 떨림, 끌림, 어울림, 울림, 몸부림) on the Tourism Campaign. I believe, not before long, Korean tourism will develop sensationally in the European tourism market and I have no doubt in saying that MR Lee will lead this supportive campaign successfully because he has discovered that the selling point about Korea does not only rely on visual or contemporary consumable factors but also on spiritual and philosophical essences, which the country has beautifully preserved for more than 5,000 years. It is in the immediate future that the World’s 11th largest economy should purposefully develop a strategy to promote its tourism industry.

(Written by Lee Hyung-wook, Editor in Chief)

>Younee, Cool and Red Hot

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Not many female performers have stopped me in my tracks upon listening to them for the first time-they include Peggy Lee, Keely Smith and Tina Turner. Another name to do so is YOUNEE.

I first heard her perform three tracks from her album “TRUE TO YOU”- “East West” “True to You” and “Home to You” at the Korean Cultural Centre in London on the 16th of October 2009. Younee was one of the Korean artists in the UK in the programme.

Although the acoustics weren’t suited to musical performances Younee overcame the difficulty and produced something special.

On the strength of her musicality and my interest her agent Anthony Steinberg invited me to The Pizza Express Jazz Club in Dean Street in London on the 27th of October 2009 for the launch of her “TRUE TO YOU” CD.

In this intimate venue she performed with the Richard Niles Quartet. I was completely taken by her performance. She played Bach, sang the Beatles, Rolling Stones, standards and of course her own compositions (co-written with Richard Niles) from the new CD.

My enthusiasm for her performance must have been noticed by Richard Niles and Anthony Steinberg because I was subsequently invited to visit Richard’s studio on the 6th of November 2009.

I went with the proprietor of THE EAST and spent a very pleasant few hours in the company of Younee, Richard and Anthony. Younee showed her skills with an impromptu performance. I was amazed at the talent Younee possesses for someone so young.

She comes from Seoul in South Korea and is not to seen as “A KOREAN SINGER” but “A SINGER FROM KOREA” who is a gifted musician and performer. Without doubt she will make inroads into the world of music in the West. She is affectionately known as “Key’s Piano” in Korea.

Younee does not follow any particular genre when it comes to music. She is creating her very own genre. Very few artists have this particular ability to do so but she is definitely one of them.

Younee is virtuoso pianist and a versatile artist with rare musical talent.
Her studies began at the age of three, majoring in classical piano over the next twenty years, culminating in being awarded a BA in Classical Piano at Yonsei University in Seoul-on of the top two universities in South Korea.

At very young age-about five years- she began to discover why certain melodies captured peoples’ imaginations whereas others didn’t. She also discovered the English language which led to enjoying music of Beatles, Rolling Stones and others-hence her including them at her gigs.

At this stage she couldn’t understand English but was struck with the important thought that “Melody” was a language, a communication tool and made a statement.

Younee is remarkable indeed becoming a Professor of Music at prestigious Seoul Culture and Art University during her twenties. She studied Classical Piano under the renowned teacher Soo Jung Shin, a judge at he 2009 Leeds International Piano Competition and won numerous awards such as Yu Jae Ha Singer Songwriting contest in Korea, the UK Songwriting competition and the VH1 international competition.

Such successes have led to two CDs being released in Korea and her first English language CD for the Western market.

Younee has given numerous classical concert performances with well known orchestras. Her many television appearances have presented her own music. Younee is uniquely placed as not only being a highly trained classical musician but is equally comfortable in rock, pop and jazz.

Rather than being restricted by the Korean music industry she has shown determination and foresight by not renewing her recording contract.

Younee became the first Korean artist to fully utilize Myspace and the internet to establish herself as an independent artist. Through a German fan she became a Myspace friend of Grammy Winning American pianist Bob James.

When James performed on a Korean TV show on EBS TV, he invited Younee to play his demanding piece for piano four-hands (video available on youtube, http://www.youneeversal.com/).

When she related her desire to become an international artist, James recommended London based producer Richard Niles (http://www.richardniles.com/).

Younee was already aware of Richard Niles’ impressive career and his work with Ray Charles, Paul McCartney and Pat Metheny.

Upon contacting Richard he was extremely encouraging. As he had worked in jazz, rock, pop and classical music, here was someone who could become an ideal musical collaborator and give her solid direction as a producer.

They began to write songs together using Skype with Niles in his London office and Younee in her bedroom studio in Seoul. The result is her first Western album, “True To You”. They formed a label, cheekily named ‘Youneeversal International’.

After a trip to L.A. where Younee and Niles performed an acclaimed showcase, they released the single “Home To You” which reached the Top 20 of the US Independent Radio chart.

Younee toured England with the Richard Niles Quartet showing her musical diversity-pop, jazz and classical, a “Total Music Experience”. This concept gives Younee the opportunity of unifying all her musical elements under one roof.

They performed on the 24th of October at The Stables, Wavendon (the home of legendary jazz musicians Cleo Lane and John Dankworth) and the album “True To You” was officially launched at London’s Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street, Soho for three nights between the 27th and the 29th of October and the 30th of October at Pizza On the Park. Younee also performed a Solo Classical Recital at the Vortex on the 1st of November. Her last performance was on the 8th of October at The 606 Club.

Younee has achieved many firsts for an artist from Korea-a rejection of musical restrictions and has crossed the all important barrier into the Western musical market-more especially with the compositions in English.

Quotes on Younee

“True to you will be a smash! Great songs, great singing and playing, great arrangements, great production! What fun it must have to create this music.”
(Bob James – Grammy winning Jazz Pianist)

“Younee is certainly a talented young lady. The musician’s performances, as well as production work are of the highest calibre. All the best for the Younee’s album.”
(Richard Carpenter – of the Carpenters)

“Younee has a voice as sweet as it is passionate. Great musicianship and an honest approach to music and playing.”
(Liane Carrol – jazz singer – winner of the Ronnie Scott’s Award and twice winner of the BBC Jazz Award)

The CD itself has thirteen tracks all of which make good listening and are easy to pick up on particularly:
“True to You” is the title track, which is especially catchy and would make a good single release.
“East West” is a vibrant song, which demonstrates feelings when opposites attract.
“Home to You” brings emotions to the fore and quite revealing.
“Here I Go Again”, which has a gospel feel to it is Younee’s own personal favourite.

How rare it is nowadays to meet an artist who combines charm, genuine talent, ability, worth and value in performance and personality without pomposity. These characteristics do not detract from her aspiration to succeed in becoming a role model in music. There is no doubt that the multi talented Younee is a rising star, growing in stature musically, who with the right exposure will become one of Jazz’s stalwarts and a recognised international artist.

Younee doesn’t need “The X Factor” or “The Wow Factor” because she is youneeQue.

For more information please contact Youneeversal International
Anthony Steinberg
07901 668 263
anthony@youneeversal.com
www.youneeversal.com

www.myspace.com/youneelondon
www.twitter.com/youneelondon

>2009 Thames Festival: A Scoop of Korea

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I attended “A Scoop of Korea” on a sunny day on Saturday the 12th of September 2009 at THE SCOOP-next to City Hall in London-as part of the annual Thames Festival.

This was the third year the Korean Cultural Centre had participated in the Thames Festival-a celebration of London and its river.

Five different aspects of Korean culture were on display.

A selection of traditional dances was the first. They were colourful, aesthetically pleasing and performed beautifully with subtle movement. Groups of dancers in traditional Korean dress-Hanbok-were reminiscent of iridescent butterflies fluttering in a gentle breeze. When the tempo got faster the colours seemed to become more magnificent.

Another group in simple white costumes were as graceful and a marked contrast.

Elegant solo dancers showed their individual skills in their performances.

The FAN DANCE was choreographed with wonderful precision-the pink peony blossom decorated fans added to the charm and spectacle- and was without doubt the favourite of the audience. This whole programme of dance was well received.

The next display couldn’t have been more different. It was a demonstration of TAEKWONDO-Korea’s national sport-performed by the Korean National Sports University Taekwondo Team. Apart from being thoroughly entertaining it highlighted the skills of a group of superb athletes who at times seemed to have wings on their heels.

The performance consisted of board breaking and acrobatic manoeuvres. There was also a bout between two participants which demonstrated the reality of competition. The concentration level of the team was quite intense with precision and timing to the fore. A great deal of skill and technique was displayed. All this was accompanied by stirring music to accentuate the speed and skill of the athletes.

All the members of the display team were superbly fit-and had to be-to be able to take part in such a gruelling exercise.

This particular segment was also extremely well received with gasps of astonishment and spontaneous applause breaking out when particular acrobatic feats were performed. The audience was enthralled and rightly so.

Yet another change of pace followed. Han-sik a Master Class in Korean cooking took centre place. This was the preparation of a Korean dish by the gracious and elegant Professor Sookja YOON who is the Director of the Institute of Traditional Korean Food.

As an aside I must tell you that I have known Professor for a while and without doubt she and the Institute are leaders in the promotion of Korean cuisine in Korea and around the world.

An interpreter and an assistant were on hand to explain the ingredients, their preparation, the history and the benefits of the particular dish. The audience then had the chance to sample what they had seen being prepared.

This demonstration was preceded by a mock procession of the Emperor of Korea.

A marquee of the Institute with other dishes was close at hand giving members of the public to taste different Korean food prepared.

The fourth event was a variety show. Monsters Theatres could be described as different, somewhat quirky and certainly entertaining. SOREA-recognised as the leading creative music group of Korea-showcased a performance that pioneers the new age of Korean music and performing arts with traditional Korean instruments being used with unique musical arrangements.

The performers-known as “Jammers” included in this show comedy (with audience participation) break dancing and Taekwondo. Together SOREA and the Jammers provided another aspect of Korean entertainment which the audience enjoyed.

Last but not least was the open air screening of “The Good, The Bad and The Weird” directed by KIM Ji-won. This film was inspired by Sergio Leone’s “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”. The wilderness in Manchuria was the venue of some of the breathtaking scenes.

The Korean Cultural Centre is to be complemented on the diversity of the programmes of the event. Certainly there was plenty to suit all tastes.

The Thames Festival 09 was over the weekend of the 12th and 13th of September with “A Scoop of Korea” on both days.

Korean culture and food was introduced for the first time to a great number of people not only with the performances but with meals available to be purchased.

I enjoyed the experience as it brought back memories of Korea.

>Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp signs MOU with Korea Foods Ltd to Penetrate the European Market

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On Thursday 9th July a historical MOU ceremony was held between Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation and Korea Foods Ltd in New Malden, England. This MOU was based on the vision of the aT’s 2009 Globalising Korean Food scheme which set out the following goals:

* A leader in the globalization of Korean agricultural and fishery products
* Increasing the farmer’s income by increasing agricultural & fishery products exportation
* Helping solve the problems in the export field
* Storing and supplying staple agriculture and fishery products for price stabilization

* Efficient management of state trading products under WTO policy
* Developing efficient physical distribution systems
* Providing comprehensive financial support, training, and marketing information services
* Customer-oriented business management
* Advocating the KMS-oriented enterprise culture

During the ceremony, Mr Youn Jang Bae, President & CEO of Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation commented that “the European market is comparatively conservative but it has huge potential for the Korean food industry. Therefore, once the Korea & EU FTA work is done, we must concentrate and corporate to penetrate our splendid Agro-Fisheries products into the European Market. I hope Korea Foods ltd can promote our products better after this agreement”.

Mr Bernard Suh, President from Korea Foods Ltd emphasised that “Our company is involved in a number of many different marketing activities. Our primary aim is to unveil Korean food as ‘Hidden Treasure….the next big thing’ in Europe. We will take the role of Korean food ambassador and do our best to promote Korean food to the European market.”

Suh Byung Il, the chairman of Korean residents society, also expressed his delight. “We are so pleased to be eye witnesses to this historic ceremony. The Korean residents society will be honoured to participate in the Globalising Korean Food campaign. I hope to see more English people enjoying our beautiful Agro-Fisheries products everywhere in the UK soon.”

After the morning MOU ceremony, the Korean food promotion was held through the Korea Foods stores and Wing Yip Croydon until 11th July. A customer who purchased Korean melon, grapes and some Samjin rice noodles made the following comment: “The colour of the Korean melon and grapes is so vivid and the taste is twice as sweet as what I normally have here in the UK. Also the packing for the noodle looks so attractive. I am going to have these for dinner tonight. I must come back to look for some other Korean food here again.”

Currently, Korea Foods is preparing for the Thames Festival in September. And according to Ms Heewon Jun, Marketing & PR Executive, it is expected that Korea Foods Ltd will take part of this festival and introduce many Korean food items during the festival.

About Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp
aT (Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp.) is a government-invested organization, responsible for agricultural marketing services and international trade since its incorporation in 1967. aT is an export promotion organization with nearly 40 years experience of not only supporting the development of first-rate Korean agricultural food products but also delivering them around the world.

Address: 232, aT Center, Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, 137-787, Korea
Tel: 02 6300 1000
Website: http://www.at.or.kr
Email: atwebmaster@kati.net

About Korea Foods Ltd
Established in 1999 Korea Foods has since grown to become the leading importer of Korean food in the UK. The company offers the widest range of Korean products in the UK and has an extensive range of Japanese, Chinese and Thai food. The main warehouse has been in New Malden since 1999. The retail division is called Seoul Plaza and has six shops in the UK, one shop in Slovakia and one shop in Germany -which has been an instant hit with the community there.

Address: Unit 5 Wyvern Industrial Estate, Beverley Way, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4PH
Tel: 020 8949 2238
Fax: 020 8942 9882
Website: http://www.koreafoods.co.uk/
Email: info@koreafoods.co.uk

>A Celebration of Korea’s Finest Cuisine 2009

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Date: 8th July 2009
Venue: Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace

Understanding Korean culture begins by understanding Korean food. Korea is a nation of great depth and character with a people known for their tenderness, generosity, kindness and warmth. Hospitality is one of Korea’s oldest customs; where it is one of life’s simple pleasures to welcome friends, family and guests to share in and enjoy their food.
The celebration featured nine of Korea’s leading Chefs, each producing dishes that delighted the senses and offered an introduction to the culinary wonders of Korea. To accompany the creations of these Korean Chefs, the evening’s entertainment included a Hanbok fashion show displaying a selection of traditional national dress and a live cooking demonstration, revealing the secrets behind some of Korea’s favourite dishes.

Date: Friday 10th July; the first being held from 17:00-18:00 and the second from 19:00 – 20:00
Venue: Korean Cultural Centre, Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand, London WC2N 5BW
Admission: Free (Booking Necessary)

Korean Cultural Centre UK announces the forthcoming workshop revealing some of the key skills behind Korean cooking. The event will be led by popular, Korean television Chef, Un Sook Yoon.

The workshop will be split into two sessions and held in the Hall of The Korean Cultural Centre on Friday 10th July; the first being held from 17:00-18:00 and the second from 19:00 – 20:00.

Both sessions will feature:
1) A Master Class with Chef Un Sook Yoon on how to cook the legendary and most popular Korean dish, Bul-Goggi (Sweetly marinated BBQ Beef).
2) An Introduction to Kim-chi and how it can best compliment a meal.
3) Q + A session with Chef Un Sook Yoon

The master class will also be followed by a tasting session, with dishes including:
Royal Chap Chae: A noodle dish featuring Asia’s popular Glass Noodle. The noodles, sliced vegetables and beef are gently stir fried in sesame oil and served with a sweetened soy sauce. This now staple of the Korean diet was first created in the 17th century for the 15th King of the Joseon Dynasty, Gwanghaegun.

Jeon: In Korean, Jeon refers to a style of savoury pancake; Jeon as with western pancakes can include a range of ingredients according to one’s taste. Pajeon, a green onion with seafood pancake will be served along with a vegetarian alternative.

Deokbokki: Is a heated Korean rice cake and served in a hot spicy sauce, for the food tasting the dish Royal Deokbokki will be served where the spices are replaced with a sweet soy sauce.

For more information about the Introduction to Korean Cooking Workshop and to reserve your place, please contact: info@kccuk.org.uk or phone 020 7004 2600.

>TASTE OF ASIA 2009

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Britain’s love affair with Asian cuisine continued at Taste of Asia, Potters Fields London between 29th and 31st May. Taste of Asia is the part of the Celebrasian festival and for the last three years the Celebrasian festival has received significant media coverage to millions of people. Asian Woman and B4U continued their partnership in 2009 with increased coverage alongside. Other partners included Taste of Asia magazine, Food and Travel magazine and Taste London.
The organisors of Taste of Asia announced the event also gave back to the community and the Child in Need Institute (CINI) who were their chosen partners for 2009; CINI works to break down the cycle of poverty, malnutrition and ill health and provides basic educational services to some of India’s poorest communities.

Cherie Blair opened the show and Celebrity chef Ross Burden again hosted the Rangemaster cookery theatre with chefs demonstrating how to cook amazing Asian dishes. There were cultural performances on stage with an excellent range of companies exhibiting throughout the show.

Visitors could get the chance to learn from the chefs’ demonstrations how to make great Asian cuisine including what ingredients and spices were best, what were the ideal utensils to use, what wines / drinks matched different dishes. Furthermore, these gave visitors a real feel for Asia and encouraged them to make Asia their next overseas holiday destination.

There were exhibitors from the food & drink companies, travel and cultural products as well as tourism boards. Exhibitors could choose from their own individual marquee or within a country zone. They could also be within a market-style environment.

Amongst them the Korea Food section, Taste of Korea, showed a spectacular exhibition. Under the catchphrase of “Globalising Korean Food Campaign”, Korean Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp, Korea Tourism Organization UK, Korean Cultural Centre UK, Asiana Airlines, CJ Corporate, Nongshim, Chongga Kimchi, OKF Corp and THE EAST produced a very well organised cultural show under the organisation of Korea Foods Ltd, the biggest Korean food whole seller in the UK.
OKF’s Aloe Vera juice and Nongshim’s Onion snack were most welcomed by the visitors.
The Korean cooking demonstration by Ms Heewon Jun, Marketing & PR Executive of Korea foods and Ross Burden received the most appreciative responses from the thousands of visitors on that day. During the show, Ms Jun cooked BULGOGGI with CJ Sauce by demonstrating how healthy and scientific Korean food was.

“Since this year, the Korean government has been spending so much time and efforts to globalise Korean food abroad. We are very proud of introducing the national treasury food, such as Kimchi in the UK and we hope this exhibition will give more chance for westerners to experience how healthy Korean food is. With a continuous campaign and exhibitions, we strongly believe that Korean food will be recognised as the world’s most healthy and famous food within 5 years as the Korean government and company work very closely under this scheme,” said an official from Korean Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp.

>Restaurant Tour #8: NARU Korean Restaurant

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Having been open barely a month it seemed an opportune time to try the cuisine at the NARU restaurant.

It is located at: 230 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2 8EG (Takeaway service is available)
Tel. Numbers: 020 7379 7962 / 07877 850513
Website: www.narurestaurant.com
Opening times: Monday to Saturday (1200 hours to 1500 hours / 1730 hours to 2230 hours), Sunday (CLOSED)
How to get there: Tottenham Court Road ( Northern and Central Lines ) and Holborn ( Central Line ) Underground stations are a short walk away.
Numerous bus routes along New Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Bloomsbury Way and High Holborn also offer easy access.

The owner is Ms. YEONEE KIM, whose previous career was assisting in the making of documentaries, has a good command of the English language as has the Chef.
PHILIP LEE is the Chef. His previous experience includes working for a large hotel in Seoul and being a Public House landlord in Gloucester incorporating a Japanese/Korean restaurant.
Four other members of staff-all who speak good English- assist in the restaurant and kitchen areas.
There is seating for thirty eight patrons. The tables have wooden tops without built in BBQ facilities. The choice of alcoholic beverages is limited.
Clientele consists of approximately 80% of tourists/transient diners as numerous theatres and shops are in the vicinity. The remaining 20% are made up of office workers and Korean people.
Although this is a fledgling restaurant with a limited menu-a choice of thirteen starters, fifteen main dishes and five side dishes the quality of the food is surprisingly good. The Chef, PHILIP LEE emphasises that only fresh ingredients are used.

Kal Bi koo-yi
Roast of thinly sliced beef rib marinated in a Chef’s special sauce with a side plate of lettuce, chilli ( Very Hot), cucumber and carrot—-Tender meat cooked to individual tastes on a small portable BBQ.
Yook Hwe
Thinly sliced raw beef served with sliced Korean pear and egg yolk—-Again tender meat but not to my liking but the other person sharing this dish enjoyed it.
Kimchi ( pickled Chinese leaf lettuce)
One very lightly spiced—suitable for an introduction to this taste- but a bit salty for me. The second- spicier and much more to my taste
Dolsot Bib im Bap
Steamed rice and mixed vegetables and beef with special chilli sauce-served in a ceramic bowl-One of my favourite Korean dishes.
Na Mul
Three types of seasoned vegetables-cucumber, radish and carrot-I enjoyed these vegetables
Ke Sal Ssam
Pancakes with crab, sliced cucumber, sliced carrot, a mixed green salad and honey mustard sauce-Worth trying

The word NARU in Korean means a landing place for ferry passengers. Hence, it could apply to travellers using public transport in London who want a break going from one destination to another.

This restaurant fulfils the needs of people who want a satisfying meal. It provides a good introduction to traditional and well-known Korean cuisine.
With more experience and the introduction of further Korean dishes the owner YEONEE KIM should have no difficulty in establishing NARU as one of the more popular eateries in the area.

Photos courtesy of Naru Korean Restaurant

>Restaurant Tour #7: Ran Restaurant

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Another month gone by and another restaurant to visit so I found myself on the 19th March 2009 having lunch at the RAN FUSION RESTAURANT, 58-59 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JY (Takeaway Facilities available).
It is recommended that bookings be made especially over the weekends and in the evenings.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 1200 hours to 1500 hours and 1800 hours to 2300 hour, Sunday 1800 hours to 2300 hours.
Telephone Number: 020 7434 1650
Web: http://www.ranrestaurant.com/
Nearest Tube Stations: Oxford Circus on the Victoria and Central Lines, Tottenham Court Road on the Northern and Central Lines (Numerous bus routes along Oxford Street and Regent Street afford easy access).

Apart from the Owner Ms. KANG EUN YOUNG and the Manager SHIN UNG CHEOK there are thirteen members of staff-six who are responsible for preparing the food.
The restaurant was established in 1987, refurbished and reopened earlier this month. Eight wooden tables, with BBQ facilities built in, are in this main dining area. Extractor fans are positioned directly above each BBQ facility. There is room for forty eight patrons with sufficient space between tables for conversations to be held in relative privacy. Mellifluous music can be heard in the background. A private dining room on a lower level can also seat a further dozen clientele. There is an adequate bar serving the dining areas.

The décor is simple and the ambience comfortable but not intimate. Karaoke facilities with a Sake bar will become available in April 2009 on the lower level and will accommodate up to forty people. A high percentage of diners are from the world of business. Others include people who want to enjoy meals in the company of their friends and families.

All nationalities are represented, with of course, a large number of Korean patrons.I did ask diners at two separate tables of their opinions of the venue and food. Their comments were positive and complementary. The menu is extensive with a detailed description of the meals offered including Table D’hôte, Korean grills and lunch boxes.

The dishes recommended and served were as follows:

Beef with Glass Noodles – Vegetables sautéed with marinated sliced beef and dang men noodles in a blend of Korean spices — a traditional Korean dish.

Mixed Chun Platter – Sauteed cod, seafood, tofu, courgette battered chun accompanied by fried dumplings — a little bit of everything I enjoy.

Korean Grill Platter – Beef bulgogi, short ribs, Jumulleok sirloin, beef tongue, spicy chicken and spicy pork bulgogi — as I don’t eat meat regularly I appreciated the various tastes apart from the Beef tongue , which I wouldn’t eat normally, but I did try it.

Seared Tuna – With avocado and bean sprout salad — a pleasant alternative to the meat dishes.

Dolsot Bibimbab – A bed of steamed rice garnished with shreds of namul vegetables, beef and a fried egg served in a heated stone dish — one of my favourite meals in Korea.

Raw minced beef – On a bed of lettuce

Special seafood Platter – A range of specially selected seafood including King prawns, squid and shellfish — another favourite of mine.

Mixed Kimchi selection of Traditional Cabbage, White Radish and Stuffed Cucumber – Classic Korean dishes of vegetables naturally preserved in a piquant blend of red chilli, anchovy paste, root ginger and crushed garlic — Good flavours without being too strong

Mixed Namul selection of Bean sprouts, Spinach and White Radish – Fresh vegetables blanched then tossed in sesame oil and rice vinegar and complemented with the delicate nutty flavour of toasted sesame seeds — the tastes of the respective vegetables were enhanced by the seasonings.

I didn’t have the Green Tea ice cream-as I normally do-but on the next occasion I certainly will as I have developed a taste for it in Korea. The food tasted as good as it looked. I can fully understand why this particular restaurant is well patronised.

>NONG SHIM Reveals Its Popular National Food Range at the International Food & Drink Event 2009

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The International Food & Drink Event 2009, the global food and drink event dedicated to innovation, was declared a triumphant success by the food and drink industry this week.

The success of the event has proved invaluable for all sectors of the food and drink industry as international decision makers dedicated to innovation converged upon ExCeL to source a diverse range of innovative and consumer driven products from around the world.

NONG SHIM, a food manufacturer specializing in Instant Noodle and snacks, topping the Korean food industry, received remarkable attention amongst them; the hit products that Nongshim has rolled out so far include, to name a few, Shin Ramyun, Ansung Tang Myun, Neoguri, Chapagetti, Bowl noodle hot taste, Big bowl noodle shrimp taste, Shin cup noodle, and Saeng Saeng bowl Udon taste; snacks such as Shrimp Crackers, Onion Rings, Sweet Potato Snack, Honey Twist Snack, Potato Chips have also been great successes.

“The most professional show we’ve ever had the privilege to exhibit at. We met an amazing range of buyers, and were lucky enough to be extremely popular, as our particular area is very up-and-coming. We were ready to make a step up to a larger, more international customer-base,” said sales representative from NONG SHIM Co., Ltd.

“This was the 3rd time we exhibited at IFE and the experience was worthwhile. The days were extremely advantageous to us as a company and gave us a beneficial platform for exhibiting, especially since a new Ethnic & Cultural Section was created for the show, generating targeted interest. I am really pleased with the launch platform that IFE09 provided for our product range (NONG SHIM, a world class food and lifestyle services creating company; Jinro, the world’s leading producer of Soju; OKF Corp, an all-natural drink producer and Korea Foods, the biggest Korean food UK wholesaler) and the subsequent amount of interest that we received. We met a diverse range of interested visitors from the retail, foodservice and manufacturing sectors and are busy converting leads from the event into orders. We were very pleased by the range of visitors, from small independents, the multiples and food service,” said Ms Heewon Jun, Marketing & PR Executive of Korea foods Ltd.

About NONG SHIM Co., Ltd.
NONG SHIM is a food manufacturer specializing in Instant Noodle and snacks, topping the Korean food industry since its establishment in September 18, 1965 Since the inception of the new millennium, NONG SHIM has spared no effort to leapfrog to a global company and help create a better life by providing end-to-end services for promoting health and lifestyle. NONG SHIM has significantly contributed to the development of the Korean food industry, led by its research institute that was established together with the firm, through its continued investments in research and development. .

Address: 370, Sindaebang 2-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Korea, 156-709

Tel: 82-2-820-7510(7470, 7490)

Fax: 82-2-820-7528~9
Website: http://www.nongshim.com/
Email: export@nongshim.com

About Korea Foods Ltd

Established in 1999 Korea Foods has since grown to become the leading importer of Korean food in the UK. The company offers the widest range of Korean products in the UK and has an extensive range of Japanese, Chinese and Thai food. The main warehouse has been in New Malden since 1999. The retail division is called Seoul Plaza and has six shops in the UK, one shop in Slovakia and one shop in Germany -which has been an instant hit with the community there.

Address: Unit 5 Wyvern Industrial Estate, Beverley Way, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4PH

Tel: 020 8949 2238

Fax: 020 8942 9882

Website: http://www.koreafoods.co.uk/

Email: info@koreafoods.co.uk

>Tiffin Boys School Visits Korea Foods to Experience Korean Culinary Culture

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On Tuesday 3rd March, 154 Students and around 10 teachers from Tiffin school visited Korea Foods Ltd (President: Bernard Suh) to experience Korean cuisine and culinary culture. The group met in Beverley way, the main site of Korea Foods, at 11am and started the tour after a short welcoming brief from Ms Heewon Jun, Marketing & PR Executive of Korea foods.

‘Our company is involved in a number of different activities. We are based in the heart of the Korean community of New Malden. Our main activity is in the wholesale of Korean, Japanese and Chinese foodstuffs. We deliver to over 400 customers all over the UK and continue to work hard to encourage the UK market to open up to Korean food,’ said Ms Jun.

‘Our primary aim is to make Korean food known as “Hidden Treasure” to “the next big thing” in Europe,’ she emphasized.

The Students and Teachers six different areas; ‘Warehouse’, ‘Retail Store’, ‘Tofu/Rice Cake section’, ‘Meat/Fish Section/Sushi Room’, ‘Food Tasting in Canteen’ and ‘Product Introduction in Showroom’.

‘The taste of Korean snacks is really good! I love Korean Snacks,’ the boys said ‘It is very nice to know how clever Korean people are in making healthy foods such as “Tofu” and “Rice Cake.”’

After an hour and a half’s tour all the groups were given gift packs sponsored by Nongshim, Daesang F&F Jongga Kimchi, OKF Corp and Korea Foods.
A Korean cake was also presented to celebrate one of the teachers birthday on that day.

About Korea Foods Ltd
Established in 1999 Korea Foods has since grown to become the leading importer of Korean food in the UK. The company offers the widest range of Korean products in the UK and has an extensive range of Japanese, Chinese and Thai food. The main warehouse has been in New Malden since 1999. The retail division is called Seoul Plaza and has six shops in the UK, one shop in Slovakia and one shop in Germany -which has been an instant hit with the community there.

Address: Unit 5 Wyvern Industrial Estate, Beverley Way, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4PH
Tel: 020 8949 2238
Fax: 020 8942 9882
Website: http://www.koreafoods.co.uk/
Email: info@koreafoods.co.uk

About Tiffin School
Founded in 1880 and supported by funds from the seventeenth century Tiffin Foundation, the school has long provided education for the local community. Today it is a state maintained grammar school for boys and a performing arts college with intakes at 11+ as well as entry into the Sixth Form.

Address: Queen Elizabeth Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 6RL
Tel: 020 8546 4638
Fax: 020 8546 6365
Website: http://www.tiffin.kingston.sch.uk/

Email: office@tiffin.kingston.sch.uk