By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Michelin-starred chef Sang-hoon Degeimbre, a Korean adoptee to Belgium, has returned to Korea for the first time in 35 years.
Degeimbre was invited by the Korean Culture and Information Service to observe and learn about Korean cuisine and culture. He arrived Monday, and will be in Seoul through Aug. 20, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Degeimbre was born in Korea, but was orphaned. In 1975, a Belgian couple adopted the five-year-old and moved him to Belgium.
He began his career as a sommelier when he was only 17. He is largely a self-taught chef, and opened his own restaurant, L'Air du Temps, in 1997. His restaurant received much critical acclaim, earning one star from world gourmet guide Michelin only three years later.
In 2002, Degeimbre made a foray into molecular gastronomy, in which scientific methods are used in cooking. He trained under French scientist Herve This, who came up with the term molecular gastronomy.
Earlier this year, L'Air du Temps recently received two stars from the Michelin 2009 Guide in Belgium.
Even though Degeimbre was adopted at a young age, he does not forget his Korean roots. He used the Korean alphabet letter ``ㅅ'' (si-ot) on his restaurant's sign.
During his five-day stay in Korea, Degeimbre will meet Culture Minister Yu In-chon. He will also visit fine dining Korean restaurant Yongsusan, the Institute of Korean Food Research and Development in Suwon and various traditional Korean restaurants.
The Korean Culture and Information Service will also arrange Degeimbre's meeting with a Korean calligrapher, interior designer and other experts to discuss ideas for a new design and interiors for his restaurant.