By Kim Do-yeun
The creator of this year’s “Greatest Burger in America” appears to be in for a long-term relationship with Korean cuisine.
Angelo Sosa, who first made his name on the reality TV show “Top Chef,” had found inspiration in a popular Korean dish when he conceived the Bibimbap Burger, which was awarded the title by Eater, a food blog following American dining trends.
It has since been one of the main attractions at his New York restaurant Social Eatz, and now the celebrity chef continues to profess his love for Korean gastronomy after a recent visit to the country.
Earlier this month, Sosa visited South Korea for an NBC feature program on the country’s fermented foods. His visits to regional farms and rice-winemaking facilities had revealed some of the secrets behind the Korean culinary traditions, which he said deeply inspired him.
At a Korean food festival on Nov. 18 hosted by Columbia University in New York, Sosa praised some of the key players in the Korean kitchen: Doenjang (soybean paste), Gochujang (hot pepper paste), and soy sauce. He added that his trip will greatly influence his career as a chef, and according to the Korean Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, he expressed his intention to revisit the country to study the art and science of fermentation in its cooking traditions.
Sosa also revealed that his new insights will be embellishing the menu at his next restaurant, due to open soon.
The event at Columbia University was also attended by the PBS “Kimchi Chronicles” host Marja Vongerichten and Edward Song, founder of the popular Korilla bulgogi taco truck that gained its fame from combining the Korean bulgogi and the Mexican taco.