Cuisines in East Asia

When you compare the three major East Asian countries’ cuisine, there are not only differences in what they eat, but there exists differences in their beliefs behind the cooking and eating methods. Both Korea and Japan like to present many small “sides” dishes along with rice and soup, whereas China likes to present “staple” dishes on the dining table. More meat on the table is generally better in Chinese cuisine, but Koreans generally prefer vegetables. Another tidbit is that the Chinese and the Japanese tend to pick up their bowls and use chopsticks when eating rice. However, the Koreans eat their rice with a spoon and leave the bowl on the table.

With all the yummy foods in front of you, it’s very tempting for the Koreans not to mix their dishes together. They believe that they want to taste all the good things at once. The most common Korean dish is the bibimbap. On the other hand, the Japanese and the Chinese, albeit having many dishes as well, prefer to keep everything separate so they can savor each dish at a time.

As for the presentation of the dishes, the common modern Korean society does not seem to be concerned with the decorations. They are more focused on the tastiness instead. However, the presentation of food is still very much of an art to Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Not only does taste and aromas matter, but they believe that the way it looks also plays a significant role to make the food more appealing to the senses. Of course, this is different when food is served in the royal courts where everything is the utmost beautiful.

I’ve also found a little anachrony: in one of the episodes (#52), Jang Geum talked about chili kimchi. However, in Feffer’s article, he mentioned that it took “over 150 years before Koreans added red pepper to pickled vegetables for the first time in 1766…and it was another thirty-four years before the most common kimchi …fermented along with red pepper powder–debuted in the Korean diet” (4). Dae Jan Geum itself took place in the late 1400s to early 1500s during the Chosen dynasty.

(My conclusions came from talking to my Korean friend and Japanese professor as well as my Chinese background.)