South Korean superstar chef chefs for troops at Camp Humphreys for up to date TV display
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Round 500 U.S. and South Korean troops had been handled lately to a meal of Korean meals specifically ready by means of a star chef at their eating facility.
Chef Baek Jong-won, who owns a number of eating places and cafes in South Korea, and 3 different Korean entertainers cooked on the Supplier Grill eating facility on June 28 for Baek’s TV display, “Backpacker.” Provider individuals waited in line out of doors the DFAC for greater than an hour to pattern the marquee chow.
Each and every episode of “Backpacker” facilities on a theme, similar to feeding loads of infantrymen at a South Korean army base the usage of a restricted provide of components or cooking foods for Buddhist priests at a temple.
Baek’s workforce and supporting solid are normally saved at the hours of darkness in regards to the location and components they’ll be cooking till the day of filming. On the other hand, Camp Humphreys’ safety necessities supposed Baek knew his vacation spot for the day.
“The manufacturing workforce at the beginning plan it,” Baek mentioned on June 28. “In truth, I haven’t any hand in the rest, even 0.1{09ec5e189e295255cf41ad3cf4b9553f29f116f623045a73133932ca9ffe3aaa}, on the subject of deciding on a capturing location for the following display.”
Cooking a meal for one of these numerous crew of American and South Korean palates proved difficult, he mentioned.
“Our [show] is one that might probably fail,” Baek mentioned. “We might be unsuccessful in meals distribution … or foods might be served past due.”
The cooking strategies in a U.S. army kitchen are “totally other” from a regular Korean kitchen, Baek mentioned. Many Korean dishes are historically boiled or stir-fried over top warmth for a longer duration in order that their flavors are infused.
Many foods on an American base, however, are ready by means of thawing frozen meals after which instantly frying or steaming it, Baek mentioned.
“In Korean recipes, we hardly use ovens,” he mentioned. “We had a troublesome time, certainly, as a result of it.”
The troops’ menu integrated a number of Korean dishes, together with braised rooster; highly spiced, stir-fried rice truffles; and braised kimchi.
The Humphreys episode was once the “largest problem,” Baek mentioned, but in addition the “largest pleasure” he’s skilled in making “Backpacker,” now in its first season.
Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Military Cpl. Cho Je Hyuk, who ate the braised rooster, described it as “implausible” and that the menu was once one “I’ve by no means observed sooner than.”
“The rooster was once certainly the spotlight,” Cho mentioned. “I am hoping there might be extra like this.”
U.S. Military Pfc. Brandon Phillips, who additionally ate the braised rooster, mentioned the meals was once well worth the wait in line.
“Normally our [dining facility] is a little bit dry on the subject of rooster, so that is certainly a pleasant alternate of tempo,” he mentioned.
Baek mentioned his group won “extraordinarily explosive responses” from the troops.
“We additionally noticed American citizens ready in line who loved our Korean meals along with South Korean infantrymen,” Baek mentioned. “It’s therapeutic for me to peer people taking part in themselves whilst consuming my dishes, particularly the ones from different international locations.”
The “Backpacker” episodes that includes Humphreys will air at 8:40 p.m. Thursday and July 21 on South Korean tv community tvN.
Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this record.