By Honorary Reporter Dayviana Díaz from Cuba

Photos = Dayviana Díaz

Members of the Cuba Ama Korea Club on Jan. 28 celebrated Seollal (Lunar New Year) with students of a Korean-language school at a culinary festival hosted by the Korean Cultural Center and the school in Havana.

In Korea, Seollal this year was celebrated from Jan. 21-24. For the Havana event, the menu deviated slightly from traditional dishes served on the holiday due to lack of ingredients but the food was delicious and represented traditional Korean cuisine and culture.

The first dish was gujeolpan (platter of nine dishes), which used to be served to the royal court during the Joseon Dynasty. This food has eight vegetable and meat ingredients wrapped in flat wheat cakes and dipped in mustard or soy sauce with vinegar. This was the dish I anticipated eating the most since I had only seen it in K-dramas. It requires a lot of preparation since most of its ingredients must be cooked and sauteed but its exquisite and gratifying flavor makes it worth the trouble.

The second dish was bibimbap, a combination of rice, vegetables, meat, sesame oil and gochujang (red chili pepper paste). The sesame oil and paste have a flavor not usually found in traditional Cuban food.

Jung Myung-jae, a leader of the ethnic Korean community in Cuba, prepared jjajangmyeon, or noodles covered in thick sauce made from black bean paste and made with diced pork and vegetables, for those attending the Korean cuisine festival. The food's trademark dark color and slightly sweet flavor make the dish unique in Korean cuisine.

Next, the participants got the chance to make kimchi from scratch. The freshly made version was not as spicy, but gochugaru (chili powder), spring onions, garlic, and ginger created a unique flavor of the staple of Korean cuisine.

Cooking and tasting these dishes with friends who love Korean culture constituted the best way to celebrate Lunar New Year. Seollal is not a part of Cuban tradition but it does offer an opportunity to explore the best in Korean cuisine.

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.