On this week’s TKV Podcast Episode (EP 31: we tackle cultural appropriation in food. It’s a very tricky topic and I’ll admit, my opinions on it aren’t fully formed. I share my honest feelings, though, and try to provide a little context that is often missing from these discussions. Kimchi, in particular, is a helpful example when thinking bout this issue: while it’s pretty popular now, it wasn’t too ago when Korean Americans were made to feel ashamed of kimchi. This happens with the mass proliferation of all things—not just kimchi or food, in general. I understand there’s a cost to “normalizing” certain cultural cuisines, but that doesn’t mean we should also dismiss some of the loss that ensues when heritage is flattened by those who can’t be bothered with understanding the stories that underpin these recipes, those who are more concerned with maximizing traffic, virality, and profit over preserving the tender leaves of a kimchi heart.
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My full kimchi recipe is in The Korean Vegan Cookbook.
You can also find a step-by-step instructional video:
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Joanne Lee Molinaro is a Korean American trial lawyer, born and raised in Chicago. Molinaro adopted a plant-based diet in January 2016 and began The Korean Vegan as a passion project later that year. Since then, she has launched a podcast and released a cookbook. She has been featured in Salon, Healthyish by Bon Appétit, The Atlantic, The Kitchn, Thrive, and VegWorld, and on Food Network, CNN, BBC, and CNBC.
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Original Source Can Be Found Here