Shiitake Mushrooms with Temple Chef Jeong Kwan

(upbeat music)

I am Eric Riprt, the chef of Le Bernadin

and I have the honor to have my dear friend Jeong Kwan

who is going to demonstrate one recipe

that represents Korean temple food.

(speaking in a foreign language)

The consistency of that.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Yes.

(speaking in a foreign language)

What do we have here?

(speaking in a foreign language)

Soy sauce. Soy sauce.

It's five years old, the soy sauce.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Fermented berry juice. Berry juice.

That's good, very powerful yeah.

It delicious, and then?

(speaking in a foreign language)

So you age the salt too?

(speaking in a foreign language)

Jeong Kwan why do you think it's important to age the salt?

(speaking in a foreign language)

And it goes inside so the flavor goes in.

Yes penetrates the shiitake.

I like because you use just enough ingredients

for what you need.

No extra, nothing, nothing left in the bowl.

This is water?

Water, okay.

Oh this is the rice, we did them together.

Together. Right I remember that.

(speaking in a foreign language)

You don't use sugar like the sugar that we buy in package.

And you have to dissolve it with the water.

(speaking in a foreign language)

You want fire, this one.

Strong or small?

Like this? Small, small.

So you pour the broth and the shiitake inside.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Yes chestnuts.

(speaking in a foreign language)

I try, a bit bitter are they, right yes?

(speaking in a foreign language)

Oh yeah I remember the tree.

It's still generous, it gives the seed still.

(speaking in a foreign language)

For me, okay, I have a job, eh?

(speaking in a foreign language)

Looks good.

(speaking in a foreign language)

So you become one with the act of cooking.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Did you bring that from Korea?

Yeah Korea.

The garden? Yeah.

Are you eating the leaf too?

(speaking in a foreign language)

You want a cover, maybe like that?

(speaking in a foreign language)

Never seen before, we invented a new instrument.

Beautiful. Beautiful.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Two minutes? Two minutes.

Let's see, yes.

(speaking in a foreign language)

Thank you, I receive it in my heart too.

It's like opening a gift, like that.

Unbelievable.

It's very meaty, it's very juicy.

It's not too sweet or too acidic,

it just becomes one with the dish.

It's so delicious, I'm gonna have to share with them.

I don't want to, but because you're here I'll share.

(speaking in a foreign language)

(upbeat music)

Unbelievable. (pot clanging)

(soft singing)