What are the challenges a chef faces when she decides to open a restaurant? How do you break the stereotype that “women make good cooks, but men make better chefs”? And how do you not only survive but thrive in the hyper-competitive restaurant kitchens and food scene in New York and London? And what do you cook when you have to stay home, due to the unprecedented world-wide pandemic?
Meet two inspirational chefs – who happen to be female Korean Americans – who are doing all that and more: Chef Esther Choi and Judy Joo, chef, television personality, and the author of Korean Soul Food.
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this program will be conducted virtually. This live session will be provided free of charge at the specified date and time. A limited number of viewing links will be provided to the people who sign up through the form below. Those unable to view the live session will have the opportunity to watch the recorded video or listen to the podcast soon after.
A Conversation Between Chefs
with
Esther Choi & Judy Joo
Friday, May 8, 2020 | 12 PM
The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Esther Choi
The owner and founder of New York City’s mŏkbar (with locations in Chelsea Market and in Brooklyn) and partner of Ms. Yoo, Esther Choi is an influential female chef driven by her Korean roots. With a personal passion for introducing New Yorker’s to the flavors of Korean culture, Chef Esther’s cooking combines traditional and modern influences with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Inspired by the old-aged techniques of her Korean grandmother’s cooking, Chef Esther believes that food is the ultimate expression of a country’s culture. From its history and social customs, to its language, geography and arts, Chef Esther seeks to offer guests and understanding and appreciation of Korean foods.
Chef Esther received formal training at New York’s institute of culinary education and has worked across the kitchens of ilili, La Esquina, and the Food Network. Esther has received numerous awards for her culinary pursuits and was named “New York City’s Culinary Rock star” in Zagat’s 30 under 30.
Judy Joo
Judy’s cooking is focused on the flavors of her childhood in a Korean-American family in New Jersey. Following an engineering degree at Columbia University and a career on Wall Street, Judy decided it was time for a change and enrolled at the French Culinary Institute. Her expertise in Korean cooking led to her own shows: Judy Joo’s Return to Korea and two seasons of Korean Food Made Simple. Judy also starred in Iron Chef UK and secured herself the title “Iron Chef UK”. In 2014, she opened the doors to her award winning modern Korean restaurant with 3 locations globally. In 2019, Judy left after five years in order to start a new chapter, which includes the recent launch of her new cookbook, Korean Soul Food, and Seoul Bird, a new venture in Westfield that will specialize in the Korean fried chicken that Judy is known for.
