Korea’s destination bakeries
In the 21st century, Korea has a robust baking industry, with bread commonplace in most homes across the country. In fact, some large corporate brands have set up franchises globally. But there are a few time-honored baking companies that are still independent and family-operated. Each has become a famous and must-visit destination for domestic tourists and foreigners alike. Growing up in the western United States in a semi-rural town, every evening meal for my family included a loaf of bread and a tub of butter. My father, who had grown up on a farm, insisted that it wasn’t a proper meal without bread and butter. Here in Korea, the story of family meals is a bit different. Instead of wheat-based food, rice, of course, is the historical norm, as well as millet and barley. Wheat is a relative newcomer to the Korean diet. Baking is one of the world’s oldest professions. Since at least 12,000 years ago, evidence of baking has been discovered by archeologists in various parts of the world. In Egypt, almost 5,000 years ago, baking became a legally recognized occupation. Wheat was introdu
