Kang Joo-eun, after 23 years of living in Canada, falls for Korean ingredients: "Spinach is as sweet as sugar water"

As the spring energy of Namyangju is in full bloom, actress Kang Joo-eun visited a special restaurant in Namyangju. In this journey reported by TV CHOSUN JOY, the daily lives of Kang Joo-eun and Choi Min-soo, a couple who visits a restaurant serving grilled black pork in Namyangju, are captured.

"Korean ingredients are as sweet as sugar water" Kang Joo-eun speaks on the taste of Korea

Kang Joo-eun, who lived in Canada for 23 years before settling in South Korea 30 years ago, expressed unique sentiments regarding the flavor of Korean ingredients. Kang Joo-eun stated that Korean vegetables and fruits are very delicious, noting that when eating Korean spinach, it feels as sweet as if it were soaked in sugar water, making it incomparable to ingredients in Canada. She expressed her affection for Korean ingredients, saying that due to this difference in taste, she misses the taste of Korea whenever she returns to Canada.

Namyangju's grilled black pork started with her older sister's suggestion

The reason they can taste grilled black pork in Namyangju is that the menu began with a suggestion from her older sister. This menu, which started at the recommendation of her older sister who operated a black pork farm in Hongcheon, became the restaurant's main menu because they could not give up the unique umami of black pork that distinguishes it from regular improved breeds. The black pork neck meat, with its bright red flesh and white fat, was served thick-cut, grilled over charcoal.

Kang Joo-eun tasted the black pork neck meat paired with green onion salad and commented, "The savory taste spreads the more you chew." In particular, she pointed out that unlike regular neck meat, it has an appropriate amount of fat, making the texture soft and the savoriness strong. Regarding the clean taste with no gamey smell from the meat, Kang Joo-eun expressed satisfaction, saying, "There is no dish where you can eat such pure meat."

The harmony of a couple of 30 years, Choi Min-soo and Kang Joo-eun running a restaurant

The restaurant is being run together by the couple Choi Min-soo and Kang Joo-eun. Having celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, the two are operating by clearly dividing their roles. Choi Min-soo, who works as an actor, takes charge of physically demanding tasks such as grilling the meat, while Kang Joo-eun uses her experience as a homemaker to take care of the overall management of the restaurant. Kang Joo-eun mentioned her daily life of having to prepare meals from morning to evening to match her husband's acting schedule, showing the harmony the couple achieves while running the restaurant together.

On this day, shepherd's purse pancakes made with seasonal ingredients were served as a service, drawing attention. Kang Joo-eun savored the taste, noting that it was her first time trying pancakes made with shepherd's purse and that it was an idea worth trying at home.

Source: TVCHOSUN JOY (YouTube)