A make-at-home food kit of Korean favourites? Let's go!

CONSULATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND SATELLITES CREATE LIMITED EDITION FOOD-KIT TO CELEBRATE CHUSEOK (KOREAN THANKSGIVING)

A new cook-at-home food-kit is being created in Aotearoa to mark Chuseok (추석), or Korean Thanksgiving. Created by the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in collaboration with Satellites, 가자 / 과자! (Gaja / Gwaja), which translates as Let’s go / Snacks!, is a box of delicious ingredients and instructions to create three iconic Korean dishes at home.

Designed with chef Yutak Son, currently Head Chef at The Shed at Te Motu Vineyard and formerly Orphans Kitchen, Sidart and Black Estate, the box features Kimchi Fried Rice, Korean Fried Cauliflower, and Tofu and Shiitake Mandu.

Yutak Son

Forty of the limited-edition boxes will be created and up for grabs by Auckland recipients - free-of-charge - via a social media competition (T&Cs apply).

To enter, people need to:

·       Follow @aksatellites and @korea_festival_auckland on Instagram

·       Tag three friends they’d want to share the meal with

 While timed to celebrate Chuseok, 가자 / 과자! (Gaja / Gwaja) is part of a larger initiative to deepen awareness of Korean culture in Aotearoa.

Chuseok is one of the most important and festive holidays of the Korean calendar. In 2020, Chuseok falls on Thursday, 1 October, but the holiday traditionally lasts for three days, including the day before and after Chuseok. It’s a day in which Koreans unite with family and loved ones, offer gifts to both family members and business colleagues - as a sign of thanks and appreciation - and celebrate with traditional Korean food.

Chef Yutak Son says, “I’m excited to be able to share my culture and I hope to celebrate as we would in Korea for thanksgiving - by giving thanks, but also equally important, eating lots.

“Most of the dishes here I have chosen simply because they are delicious and easy to make. Some are more sentimental and comforting, and all are drawn from my memories growing up and preserving part of my Korean heritage in New Zealand through food,” he says.

The project has been created in partnership with the Consulate of the Republic of Korea and Satellites, innovative producers of creative, immersive and experiential Asian arts and culture experiences.

Director of Satellites Rosabel Tan says, “It’s really exciting to be able to work with the Consulate on this project. It’s a dream to be able to create such a joyful gift celebrating Korean culture, and to do so during a time when we have seen such an alarming increase in anti-Asian sentiment.”

Youngji Lee, Senior Executive Officer at the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Auckland, says, “This is an opportunity for people to enjoy cooking and sharing a Korean meal together. We hope it creates warm memories with their loved ones or their bubble.”

It also comes at a time when the popularity of Korean food is growing exponentially. It’s attributed to an increase in both traditional and contemporary Korean restaurants and dining experiences, and fusion dining, as well as more diverse at-home cooking.

“Korean food was nowhere near as popular as it is now,” says Yutak Son. “Personally, it was embarrassing to bring friends home, as our home smelt different to theirs! Nowadays, though, I’m delighted to see people enjoying Korean food more widely.”

The social media campaign begins on Monday 24 August, with the boxes delivered free-of-charge to the 40 lucky recipients on Thursday 24 September.

 For more information, images and interviews, please contact:

Siobhan Waterhouse | Mr Fahrenheit Publicity | e: siobhan@mrfahrenheit.nz