Words from the Chef
My interest and love of food stems (I think) from my multicultural background. I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea surrounded by an extended family full of excellent cooks! I remember family, friends and neighbors constantly stopping by during meal times to partake of our table. My grandmother and youngest aunt were very talented and meticulous in everything that they prepared. Food was very serious in our household. As we were consuming one meal, they were always planning for the next.
Although we grew up in Korea, we were exposed from an early age to a wide variety of international food.   

We ate not only Korean food, but also Japanese, Chinese, French and Italian food! My father, longing for western food, was constantly bringing home Western cookbooks and trying recipes. What my father lacked in talent, he made up in enthusiasm!  Thanks to Dad, my sister and I started cooking and experimenting with food at a very tender age.  Who knew that he had an insidious plan to train us to cook western food for him!  Laugh!
After attending Kenyon College, despite family pressure to pursue a more traditional career path (eg., insurance…go figure), I decided to attend the French Culinary Institute in New York City.  Thereafter, I apprenticed in many of the finest restaurants in the City with the hopes of opening my own place.  It was a grueling but enlightening process but I finally decided to branch out on my own (with Leslie and Françoise) to open The Perennial Chef in April of 2006! And here we are!!!