NS Cookfest 2022 Returns After 3 Years Due to COVID-19, Held at Harim First Kitchen in Iksan, Jeonbuk
Over 2,000 Citizens and General Visitors Attend... A Festive Gathering Buzzing with Activity
Main Event 'Gourmet Competition' Features Fierce Contest Among 100 Teams for Total Prize of 115 Million KRW
Grand Prize Awarded to 'Beoljip Deodeok Chicken Wings with Beoljip Mayo Sauce'... 30 Million KRW and Minister of Agriculture Award Presented
Enjoy Programs Like Gourmet Tour and Gourmet Road, Plus a Tour Inside Harim First Kitchen Factory
Chefs participating in the 'NS Cookfest 2022' gourmet competition are showcasing their unique recipes and competing in the cooking contest (Photo by NS Home Shopping).
[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] "Compete for the best taste and enjoy!"
On the 20th, under the deep blue autumn sky, over 2,000 people gathered from all over the country at 'Harim First Kitchen' in Iksan, Jeonbuk. They came to enjoy 'NS Cookfest 2022,' the largest cooking festival in Korea hosted by NS Home Shopping. After three years since the COVID-19 pandemic, Cookfest was held again. Since its first event in 2008, it had been held annually at exhibition venues, but this year, in line with the theme of 'food industry development,' the stage was moved to a food production site.
The main event of the day, the gourmet competition, was held under the theme of 'the most delicious recipe using fresh natural ingredients.' One hundred teams, totaling 200 participants, competed fiercely for the grand prize of 30 million KRW and total prize money of 115 million KRW. Among 70 general teams, 20 high school teams, and 10 special gourmet restaurant teams, the honor of winning the grand prize of 30 million KRW and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award went to the team of Lim Young-gyun and Shim Young-mi for their dish 'Beolzip Deodeok Chicken Wings with Beolzip Mayo Sauce.' This dish incorporated the Korean ingredient deodeok to enhance texture and health benefits. To add healthiness to the typically high-calorie fried food, they paired it with a refreshing salad made from deodeok, ginseng, and pear. They received high marks for maintaining sweetness using honeycomb honey directly harvested from beekeeping farms instead of sugar, without adding chemical seasonings. NS Home Shopping plans to discuss with participants and consider commercializing recipes with market potential, including the award-winning dishes.
This year's Cookfest was held around Harim First Kitchen with various programs such as gourmet competitions, gourmet tours, and gourmet roads. In particular, the gourmet tour, where applicants toured the inside of the Harim First Kitchen factory and had the opportunity to explore future food culture and the food industry, received great response. Harim First Kitchen is a comprehensive food factory based on the shared kitchen concept, established by Harim on approximately 119,000 square meters (36,000 pyeong) of land in the Iksan 4th Industrial Complex, producing a variety of home-style meals such as rice, soups, stews, as well as natural seasonings and ramen.
During the gourmet tour, about 2,000 participants including competition contestants and general visitors toured the Harim First Kitchen and Harim Chicken Processing Center with guides composed of Harim employees. They learned how various Harim food products such as artisan ramen, gourmet rice, soups, and stews are produced. The gourmet road, where visitors could experience various products and food brands of the Harim Group, also captivated the eyes and palates of attendees with its rich attractions and entertainment.
Various public interest programs were also available on-site. Local foods led by Iksan City's agricultural specialty joint brand 'Topmaru' and 14 'Daemullim Matjip' (heritage restaurants) designated by Iksan City were introduced, with tastings attracting visitors' attention. There was also a product evaluation meeting for prototypes from the Youth Food Startup Lab, along with tastings and exhibitions of products from youth startup companies. The Cookfest opening ceremony was attended by Jeong Heon-yul, Mayor of Iksan; Choi Jong-o, Chairman of Iksan City Council; Kim Hong-guk, Chairman of Harim Group; and Jo Hang-mok, CEO of NS Home Shopping. CEO Jo emphasized, "We will further develop Cookfest to diversify food culture content and take the lead in revitalizing Korea's food industry."
On the 20th, over 2,000 people, including citizens and general visitors, gathered at 'NS Cookfest 2022' to enjoy various programs such as gourmet competitions, gourmet tours, and gourmet roads. (Photo by NS Home Shopping).
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