Kimchi Chronicles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kimchi Chronicles |
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| Genre | Food travelogue |
| Directed by | Charles Pinsky |
| Starring | Marja Vongerichten Jean-Georges Vongerichten |
| Opening theme | "Restart the Show" |
| Composer(s) | SOREA |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Frappé Inc. (Charles Pinsky) Eric Rhee Diana Kang Jung Sook Park Sara Park Marja Vongerichten |
| Producer(s) | Eric Rhee |
| Production location(s) | Korea US |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Distributor | American Public Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndicated to public television |
| Picture format | 1080p |
| Original release | July 2011 – September 2011 |
Kimchi Chronicles is an American TV show about food. It aired on PBS and is like a mix of a travel show, a cooking show, and a story about finding yourself. The host, Marja Vongerichten, is a Korean American who was adopted. She explores Korean food and culture. Her own life story is also shared throughout the series. This helps viewers see Korea through her unique eyes.
Each episode starts in Korea. Marja, her husband Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and special guests travel to different parts of Korea. They try local foods there. Then, they go back to New York. In New York, they cook Korean recipes. These recipes are made easy for a modern American kitchen. The episodes cover many types of food. This gives a full look at Korean cuisine.
The show features famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Also, actress Heather Graham appeared. Actor Hugh Jackman and his wife, actress Deborra-Lee Furness, were also on the show. They are neighbors with the Vongerichten family in New York City.
The show was supported by several groups. These included the Visit Korea Committee and the Korean Food Foundation. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also helped. So did the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Contents
Exploring Korean Food and Culture
Kimchi Chronicles helps viewers learn about Korean food. It also teaches about the country's rich culture. Marja Vongerichten shares her journey. She connects with her Korean heritage through food.
Marja's Culinary Journey
Marja Vongerichten guides viewers through Korea. She visits different cities and regions. In each place, she tries traditional dishes. She also meets local chefs and food experts. This shows how important food is to Korean life.
Cooking Korean Dishes at Home
After exploring Korea, Marja returns to her kitchen. She shows how to make Korean dishes. These recipes are made simpler for home cooks. This makes it easy for anyone to try Korean cooking. It helps people enjoy new flavors.
Guest Stars and Special Appearances
Many well-known people joined Marja on the show. These guests added to the fun. They also helped explore Korean food.
Famous Friends and Neighbors
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is Marja's husband. He is a famous chef himself. He often cooks with Marja. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are also on the show. They are friends and neighbors of the Vongerichten family. Actress Heather Graham also joined them. These guests made the show even more exciting.
Episode Guide: A Taste of Korea
The show has 13 episodes. Each one focuses on a different type of food or region. This gives viewers a wide look at Korean cuisine.
| Episode | Title | Main Locations | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | "The Kimchi Chronicles Begin" | Seoul, New York City | July 2, 2011 |
| 102 | "The Rice Chronicles" | Seoul, Busan | July 9, 2011 |
| 103 | "The Jeju Chronicles" | Jeju | July 16, 2011 |
| 104 | "The Seafood Chronicles" | Seoul, Sokcho | July 23, 2011 |
| 105 | "The Bean Chronicles" | Seoul, Chodang, Jeonju | July 30, 2011 |
| 106 | "The Beef Chronicles" | Seoul, Andong | August 6, 2011 |
| 107 | "The Fish Chronicles" | Seoul, Sokcho, Busan | July 7, 2011 |
| 108 | "The Seoul Food Chronicles" | Seoul | August 20, 2011 |
| 109 | "The Chicken Chronicles" | Chuncheon, Andong | July 17, 2011 |
| 110 | "The Noodle and Dumpling Chronicles" | Seoul | July 31, 2011 |
| 111 | "The Pork Chronicles" | Seoul | September 10, 2011 |
| 112 | "The Street Food Chronicles" | Seoul, Sokcho | September 17, 2011 |
| 113 | "The Kimchi Chronicles Conclude" | Seoul, Sokcho, Pyeongchang | September 24, 2011 |
Beyond the TV Show
The Kimchi Chronicles project also included other media. This helped share Korean food and culture even more widely.
The Companion Cookbook
In August 2011, a cookbook was released. It was called The Kimchi Chronicles: Korean Cooking for an American Kitchen. Marja Vongerichten wrote it with Julia Turshen. This book lets fans try the recipes from the show at home. The book's ISBN is ISBN: 978-1-60961-127-9.
DVD Release
The full 13-episode series was also released on DVD. This happened in October 2011. The DVD ISBN is ISBN: 978-0-615-54426-7. This allowed people to watch the show anytime they wanted.
Public Speaking Events
Marja Vongerichten also gave talks about the show. For example, on October 16, 2012, she spoke at George Washington University. She talked about Kimchi Chronicles, Korean culture, and her own background. The Korean Cultural Center helped organize this event.
