Hospitality Leader Summit 2023

Image: Hospitality Magazine

I didn't embark on the concept of CHAE with grand visions. Four years ago, I found myself lost while pursuing a career in fine dining, unsure of my direction. The idea of this intimate and exclusive dining concept, where I could solely focus on cooking, had been a long-held dream that lingered in the back of my mind for very long time. I finally decided to take a shot at it during the pandemic. To my surprise, this small idea evolved into what the industry recognizes as a sustainable business model.

Yoora and I had the honour of being invited to speak at the Hospitality Leaders Summit 2023, where we discussed our unique business model. It was our first time addressing an audience of this magnitude, and I must admit, we were a bit nervous. (Thanks to the delicious margarita served just before taking the stage, we were able to ease our tension!) Here's a brief summary of how our home-based restaurant introduced an innovative and sustainable approach to the food industry.

Image: Hospitality Magazine

Serving only six people per seating allows us to meticulously calculate the precise ingredients needed, resulting in minimal to zero food waste after each service. Our unique set up with an outdoor farm allows us to transform any food scraps into compost and recycle them to cultivate our own produce, which, in turn, we use in our future services.

Our home-based business model allows us to take sustainability even further. For example, we are exploring rainwater collection and utilization for cultivating our produce. This initiative will help us save energy and minimize carbon emissions released into the environment. Also, implementing solar heating and cooling systems is another avenue we are considering at CHAE to adopt a more environmentally friendly approach to our restaurant operations.

Image: Hospitality Magazine

Korean cuisine itself is inherently sustainable due to its heavy reliance on fermentation. Fermentation is a cornerstone of Korean cooking, providing a natural way to extend the shelf life of food without expiration dates. It not only intensifies flavours but also offers various stages of enjoyment. For instance, at CHAE, we often get asked about the shelf life of kimchi. The short answer is that kimchi doesn't really expire as long as it's stored correctly. It ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some prefer fresh kimchi, while others savor the tangy, sour notes that develop over time. As kimchi matures, it becomes an excellent base for creating dishes like kimchi stew, pancakes, fried rice, and more. Additionally, Korean cuisine is well known for its adept use of preserved ingredients. The common practice involves gathering seasonal produce at its nutritional peak to either dry, pickle or salt, offering an excellent means of preservation for future use.

Image: Hospitality Magazine

Image: Hospitality Magazine

Thank you once again, Hospitality Magazine, for inviting us to share our journey. It was truly an amazing experience to be in the company of industry leaders, hear their stories, and explore various captivating topics that provide insight into the exciting trends.