Cheonnyeon Hanwoo and Flatfish Among Gyeongju Specialties Considered for the Menu
White House Chef Edward Lee to Oversee the Event; Menu to Be Revealed on October 31
With just one week left until the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, there is growing anticipation about what dishes will be served at the official summit dinner. As Korean cuisine continues to gain popularity around the world, some observers believe that this APEC event will further accelerate the global "K-Food craze."
This summit dinner is highly likely to be a "local food dinner" that highlights the unique flavors of the host region. Signature local ingredients such as Cheonnyeon Hanwoo (a premium Korean beef brand from Gyeongju), flatfish, and locally grown agricultural products are being considered as the main ingredients.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other sources on the 23rd, the summit dinner menu will be kept confidential and will only be released on October 31, the day of the event, for security reasons. However, since the event is being held in Gyeongju, it is highly likely that local ingredients will be featured.
The view of Gimhae Airport, decorated with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Welcome Zone. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Gyeongju is surrounded by both mountains and the sea, making it a producer of a wide variety of agricultural, livestock, and marine products. Among these, Cheonnyeon Hanwoo is a renowned local beef brand raised by more than 2,000 farms in the area and is known for its richer umami flavor compared to regular beef. In 2005, a beef dish called "Neobiani" was served at the Busan APEC dinner, so it is highly likely that Hanwoo will again be used as a main ingredient at this year's Gyeongju summit. In addition, flatfish and abalone caught off Korea's east coast are also being considered as possible dishes for the dinner table.
The alcoholic beverages to be served at the dinner are also drawing attention. At the farewell dinner for the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries held in August, traditional liquors from North Gyeongsang Province such as Gyodong Beopju, Andong Soju, Daemongjae 1770, and Crate Wine were introduced. Some of these may be selected as the official toast or after-dinner drinks for the summit dinner.
This dinner will be overseen by Korean-American chef Edward Lee, who appeared on the Netflix cooking competition program "The Chef Show." In 2023, he was invited as a guest chef for the Korea-U.S. state dinner at the White House, and for this event, he will collaborate with chefs from Lotte Hotel to create the menu.
In an interview with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' YouTube channel, Chef Lee said, "Through this dinner, I want to tell the story of Korean cuisine and ingredients," adding, "I hope to showcase the beauty of preserving tradition while also pursuing innovation."
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