My name is Hyunjoo, or many non-Koreans call me Jo.
I was born and grew up in Korea but now live in San Francisco with my American husband. Growing up in Korean country side as the eldest daughter in the family means a lot of house work and cooking was what I most enjoyed. This childhood favorite house core has grown into a big part of my life.

After moving to US, I attended a culinary school and started my chef career at a local country club. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to work under an Austrian-born master chef Fritz Gitschner. I wanted to become a chef cooking the best western food and spent many many extra working hour horning french cooking technique. At the same time,chef Gitschner taught me about the importance of regional food and gave me many opportunities to develop Korean food and some of them were actually included on the menu.

I moved on to work at a renowned Michelin starred restaurant again with an intention to become a fabulous French food cooking chef. Usually,I was the only Korean chef in kitchens and those extremely intelligent American and French chefs kept asking me about Korean food cooking technique or ingredients..etc. This experience enlightened me to see food of where I came from on a totally different perspective.

In April 2007, I visited Korea for the first time since moving to US and took Korean royal cuisine cooking class. How ironic is it? When I lived in Korea, I took Korean food for granted like air. Now I live in US and finally learn to appreciate the food of my country. When cooking French, Italian, or Japanese,I feel happy about how my food tastes but it is when I cook Korean food bringing me beyond culinary spectrum, a sense of totally being myself.

Every single Korean food I cook has a special place in my memory.
Koreans believe that food is the most important medicine to your health.
I can only hope that my Korean food brings you happy and healthy life.

Geon bae!!!

My favorite Link
Korean Food Translated
Zen Kimchi