Built around the concept of food as memory, ritual, and sustenance, this beautifully produced book reflects the myriad ways Korean cuisine embraces care, connection, and belonging at the table.
Born in Korea before she was adopted by a Belgian family, author Ae Jin Huys brings to this project her own lived experience of displacement and reconnection, gathering twenty-six contributors from across regions, generations, and professions, each sharing the single dish that defines comfort in their life. From shiitake noodle soup made from family-grown mushrooms to kimchi rice porridge representing childhood remedies, the recipes unfold alongside the stories that shaped them. Over sixty recipes span home cooking and ceremonial dishes, offering a wide portrait of both continuity and change within Korean food culture. The narratives open into ancestral rites, seasonal customs, fermentation traditions, and the social meaning of everyday meals, tracing how memory and collective identity meet at the table. Pairing food photography with portraits, landscapes, and documentary detail, the volume creates a layered visual record of people and place. An accessible cookbook for home cooks and anyone interested in Korean cuisine, the book is richly visual, filled with photographs that showcase not only the dishes and ingredients but also the people and settings of Korea. With practical tips for sourcing ingredients, suggestions for complementary side dishes, and insights into where these foods are enjoyed in Korea, this book serves as both a culinary guide and a celebration of heritage and community.
Biography
Ae Jin Huys
AE JIN HUYS has dedicated her life to exploring and sharing Korean cuisine through her catering company Mokja. Her passion for food as a connection to her roots has led her to engage with culinary figures across Korea, making her a trusted voice in the region’s culinary storytelling. Her previous cookbooks are Kimchi and Taste Korea: Korean Recipes with Local Ingredients. She lives in Ghent, Belgium.
