Kimchi Chronicles

An introduction to the basics of Korean cooking starting with, of course, kimchi. Jean-Georges and Marja are joined in the kitchen by their real-life neighbors, actors Hugh and Deb Jackman. Together they prepare two iconic Korean dishes-bibimbap and beef bulgogi and check out barbecue that can rival Texas.

Rice, the bread and butter of the Korean table is explored from Busan, Korea's second largest city, all the way to Seoul. Along the way, Marja and her dear friend, the actress Heather Graham, learn about instant rice, tteok (a pasta-like ingredient made of ground rice) and visit Bibigo, a new chain of contemporary restaurants serving fresh variations of bibimbap.

Jean-Georges teams of with the Julia Child of Jeju Island-the Hawaii of Korea and a veritable garden of Eden. They shop for ingredients at the sprawling 5-Day Market and bring it all back to an authentic folk village where they cook over open fires and speak through the universal language of good food.

Diving into one of the most amazing Korean traditions, Jean-Georges visits with the haenyos of Jeju Island, true mermaids who free-dive for seafood off the rocky coast. Jean-Georges feasts on fresher-than-fresh sea urchin, a dream breakfast for a world-renowned chef. Then he enjoys a fortifying seafood stew at Baekrok Haegwon restaurant.

The variety of bean-based dishes in Korean cuisine is a testament to Korea's ingenuity and resourcefulness. On The Bean Chronicles, Marja travels to Chodang to see artisanal tofu get made the old-fashioned way with fresh soybeans and ocean water and then enjoys a four course tofu meal with fresh tofu, each preparation completely distinct and delicious enough to convince any tofu nay-sayer.

Tracing the history of beef, The Beef Chronicles tap into Korea's religious, political and economic evolutions. Marja and her friends, food experts Diana and Jennifer, enjoy bulgogi in Seoul and then Marja eats it again in Andong, the spiritual capital of Korea, at a restaurant that produces thousands of ceramic jars of deonjang, a soybean paste that flavors much of Korean cooking.

A peninsula surrounded on three sides by water, Korea is just about heaven for fish lovers. Marja visits Sokcho, where most of her Korean family resides, to visit Dapeo port early in the morning to see the gigantic octopus come ashore and later eats a memorable meal of simply grilled shellfish in a seaside restaurant.

The best of South Korea's capital city, The Seoul Food Chronicles cover everything from royal court cuisine to late-night drinks and snacks consumed exclusively in pop-up tents. An energetic episode chock full of exciting footage, Marja and Jean-Georges also share their finds for historic temples and palaces, striking fashion, and even take a spin in an amusement park.

Beginning in Andong, the spiritual capital of Korea, Marja participates in the area's festive masked dance ritual and learns about the local salted mackerel before getting into jjimtak, Andong's real knockout speciality. Along Chicken Alley, Marja and her adopted cousin April sample tons of the spicy stir-fry made with chicken, noodles and vegetables.

Like an Italian with a bowl of spaghetti or tortellini, a Korean eating a heap of noodles or dumplings is a satisfied customer. In Korea, slurping is not only permitted, it's considered a compliment to the cook. This episode features a restaurant in Seoul known for its nenngymyun, an unusual dish of elastic buckwheat noodles served with ice-cold beef broth.

As opposed to the lean-is-better preference in America, Koreans love their pork full of fat and, incidentally, full of flavor. On this episode, Marja, her dear friend, the actress Heather Graham, and an expert food blogger named Daniel eat classic pork barbecue at Heukdonga restaurant in Seoul made with Jeju's famous black pigs.

Just like the entire continent of Asia, street food is hugely popular in Korea and many of the most beloved dishes in the country come from street carts and stands. On this episode, Marja and Jean-Georges eat street food all over the peninsula, including silkworm larvae, hoddeok, sweet pancakes filled with peanuts and sugar and Dragon's Beard, a candy made of stretched honey and nuts.

The Kimchi Chronicles Conclude is all about special occasions. The episode begins in the ethereal countryside where Marja spends a day with the Alice Waters of Korea and learns the authentic way to make kimchi as well as holiday dishes to celebrate the new year.