Jeong Kwan facts for kids
Jeong Kwan (born in 1957) is a special Seon Buddhist nun and a talented chef. She is known for her amazing Korean cuisine. Jeong Kwan lives at the Chunjinam Hermitage, which is part of the Baegyangsa temple in South Korea. There, she cooks delicious meals for other nuns and monks, and sometimes for visitors too. She doesn't own a restaurant and never went to a formal cooking school.
About Jeong Kwan
Jeong Kwan was born in Yeongju, a city in North Gyeongsang Province. She was the fifth of seven children and grew up on a farm. When she was just 7 years old, she learned how to make noodles by hand.
At 17, she left home. Two years later, she joined a group of Seon nuns. This is where she found her true calling: sharing the teachings of dharma through her cooking.
Her Unique Cooking Style
Jeong Kwan's recipes use fresh ingredients like aubergines (eggplants), tomatoes, plums, oranges, pumpkin, tofu, basil, and chili pepper. She grows many of these vegetables herself!
Her cooking is strictly vegan, meaning she doesn't use any animal products. Also, her recipes do not include garlic or onions. Some Buddhists believe these ingredients can make it harder to focus on spiritual practice.
Her Influence on Other Chefs
Jeong Kwan has inspired many famous chefs around the world. One of them is Mingoo Kang, who runs the Mingles restaurant in Seoul. Another is René Redzepi, from the famous Noma restaurant in Copenhagen.
She is also good friends with Éric Ripert, who is also a Buddhist and a well-known chef. He has invited her to New York City to cook for special guests at his restaurant, Le Bernadin. In 2017, Jeong Kwan became even more famous when she was featured on the Netflix TV show Chef's Table.
See also
In Spanish: Jeong Kwan para niños
