Taste of Korea, Healthy Taste of Nature - Indulge in Temple Food
SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 9, 2017 /CNW/ -- Korean Temple food has been developed to support Buddhism as it was handed down by monks over the 1,700 years of South Korea's history of Buddhism. In the temple, followers believe that cultivating food materials to making the meal is an essential part of practice. So, the rule is not to leave any food behind and simply to take in appropriate amount for the body and mind and to remember the efforts and devotion of those worked in making the food.
Korean temple food doesn't use any meat whatsoever. Also, it isn't overly pungent and doesn't use strongly scented ohsinchae (5 ingredients prohibited to eat in Buddhism). It makes for a wonderful diet containing enough high-quality protein sourced mainly from beans, unsaturated fatty acids from various vegetable oils, and an abundance of vitamins, minerals, fibers and medicinal ingredients from a range of vegetables.
With its four seasons prominently on display, Korean temples recommend seasonal foods. It's because the nutrients needed are different according to each season and components of food materials and benefits are different depending on when they are used. And so, temple cuisine along with seasonal cuisine have seen preserved food and fermented food become developed due to the need to prepare for long winter days.
Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism has been working on many projects since 2004 to introduce a 'Temple Stay' concept to help visitors to experience the daily life of a Buddhist via a Korean traditional culture experience program along with 'Temple food'. In particular, they had a big success this past September in introducing temple food and Templestay programs to as many as 950 people in New York in support of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Also, upon invitation from the Korean Cultural Center in Canada, they held a banquet for the press and media, and at the same time cooking experts conducted temple food lectures and live cooking demonstrations in front of students from Le Cordon Bleu, thus triggering praise from local citizens and the Canadian press in return.
If you get a chance to visit Korea, it would be wise to pay a visit to the 'Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Center' that's located in Seoul. Various Korean temple foods can be found for foreigners to see and it has programs where you can experience the healthy and delicious food. To the authentic taste of Korea temple food, visit Balwoo Gongyang. This restaurant is run by the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism and has received Michelin star in 2017 for its subtle and hearty flavors.
Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism introduces Korean temple food at world-famous cooking schools and AsiO Gusto, and is currently working on introducing Korean temple food as a form of Korea's traditional culture with the Korean Cultural Centers abroad. www.koreantemplefood.com
Balwoo Gongyang Restaurant Info: https://goo.gl/fxzpKK
SOURCE Templestay
Min Ji Hong, +82-2-2031-2041, [email protected], http://www.koreantemplefood.com
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