Local social enterprise Quilombo UK is hosting a Korean cooking class for Kingston residents on Saturday November 14 as part of its Cooking Together Online series.
Led by chef Hyung Soo Yim, guests and viewers will learn how to make the traditional Korean dish kimchi as a celebration of New Malden’s Korean community, which is the largest in the UK.
“The cooking class has been an idea among our trustees since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Quilombo UK’s founder Marcus Vinicius Vallinari.
“We were discussing ‘how could Quilombo do something good in the pandemic’… and among many other ideas [was a] cooking class.”
Online cooking class
The class, which is funded by the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, will be streamed live on Quilombo’s YouTube Channel.
The group is encouraging people of all backgrounds to tune in.
Kimchi, the dish of choice, was selected because of its ease to make and its popularity in North and South Korea, and in Britain.
But it’s not just about food.
Encourage open discussions
One of Quilombo’s main aims is to encourage open discussions about stereotypes and prejudices, and the cooking class is designed to do just that.
“Food is a leveller for people,” said Vallinari.
“Food can get people together around the table… and have that as common ground for us to discuss the subject of equality and diversity.”
There will also be discussions about the Korean community and their culture, as a way of educating and encouraging cohesion of Kingston’s community.
As well as being open to Kingston’s residents, the event will also be attended by special guests such as the BBC world service journalist Je Seung Lee.
If you’re interested in attending, keep an eye on Quilombo’s social media channels or email info@quilombouk.com for details.
In the meantime, watch the video below to see what ingredients you will need.
