My parents are from Jeolla Province in Korea, a place filled with lush hills, landscaped with rice paddies. It is a gastronomic gem that is still some what undiscovered by the rest of the world. I grew up with my Grandmother, she would show me how to make sauces, pastes, fermentations all by hand with nothing but time and patience, I can still remember the taste of her amazing kimchi, the banchan and on the special occasions the “table for kings (Surasang Bap Sang)” which was a banquet full of assorted sides and mains on one big table for everyone to divulge together.
It inspired me to know more, which lead me to many journeys travelling throughout Korea to experience, taste and see, to learn the endless and diversity of my motherland’s rich food culture. My curiosity for food broadened culturally and eventually landed me in Australia which gave me the opportunity to experience the dynamics of Japanese and to see sophistication of modern Australian.
Therefore, KOBO has no rules, I’ve created a space where episodes of my life can be put onto a menu from a traditional Jeolla dish for old times sake, to dishes influenced with Japanese ingredients or the modern touches of Australian, KOBO is the expression birthed from my experiences, my studies, my travels, my new home and my heart, all crafted together through my workshop, my bap sang.
KOBO is ME.
