Hanjeongshik and Bibimbap

Like everywhere else in the world, every country has a little bit of rivalry between towns or cities or states. The same in Korea, where inter-province rivalry centres around who cooks the best type of food. In Seoul, it’s the street food, in Jeju, it’s black pork, and in Jeonju, it is a couple of must-try dishes.

Jeonju is located the flattest part of the Korean Peninsula and is known as the rice basket, so naturally one of these signature dishes called bibimbap is rice based, delicious and so easy to make.

Bibimbap literally means ‘rice based’. It’s served as a bowl of warm white rice with namul – sautéed and seasonal vegetables plus a sauce. Jeonju’s version adds 30 different toppings which variety seasonally - either gochujang a chilli pepper paste or soy sauce. The crowning glory is a fried egg and sliced cooked meat. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. Bibimbap is a nutritionally balanced meal and great served hot.

There are a few theories as to bibimbap’s origins, the most plausible is that it originates from the traditional practice of mixing all the food offerings made at Jesa, a ceremony commonly practiced in Korea as a memorial to the ancestors of the participants usually held on the anniversary of the ancestor’s death.

Bibimbap reflects Korea’s philosophy of harmony, co-operation and coexistence and draws from its rich past, as does the next Jeonju signature meal and what a beauty this is.

Korean meals come with many condiments, and the most famous one is the kimchi. A fermented cabbage with chilli and garlic – it is deliciously spicy.

Jeonju Hanjeongshik is the region’s full course meal. It comes with 30 plus dishes distinct to this province. If you’re a foodie and love your food, then you must try Hanjeongshik.

These dishes are served in multiple courses and not only visually stunning, they taste superb. Hanjeongshik is about trying each dish rather than focusing on eating the lot, which is great if you’re hungry enough. Some of the dishes we tried: pumpkin broth, steamed clams, savoury pancake with 9 fillings dipped in mustard sauce, abalone sashimi with chilli sauce, grilled eel with sauce, octopus, tempura sea breach and, of course, kimchi…. just to name a few!

You definitely want to book into a Hanjeongshik restaurant when you come to Jeonju Province for another authentic taste of South Korea.

For more information, visit english.visitkorea.or.kr