Articles

Browse Judy’s recent articles with internationally renowned publications.

A Warm Hug in a Bowl of Porridge

A Warm Hug in a Bowl of Porridge

Every day after school, my mom would feed me the same thing: juk—Korean rice porridge—with kimchi and Spam. It was my afternoon snack of choice, a simple bowl I often opted for even over a McDonald’s Happy meal.

Read more at The Epoch Times

How to create the perfect picnic

How to create the perfect picnic

Along with a bike ride or a dip in the sea, an alfresco feast in one of the great joys of summer. Three experts share their top tips with Tania Ballantine.

Read more at Waitrose Weekend Online

Simple hacks to improve BBQ skills

Simple hacks to improve BBQ skills and avoid cooking outdoor disasters

Serving burned food, dishing up meat products to vegetarians and being forced to call the fire brigade are among the nation's most frequent BBQ disasters.

Read more at Wales Online

Master the barbecue

Master the barbecue with celebrity chef Judy Joo’s top tips

As Britain comes in as one of the worst barbecuing nations in the world, the co-founder of Seoul Bird offers Sean Russell her expertise on how best to up our grill game.

Read more at the Independent

Judy Joo's Korean-Style Hanger Steak

Judy Joo's Korean-Style Hanger Steak with Scallions & Ginger

"I absolutely love hanger steak, and this marinade kicks the flavor up to the next level," says the celebrity chef and television host. "Even just 15 minutes in the marinade will do the trick!"

Read more from people.com

Memories of Mandu

Memories of Mandu

Growing up in a Korean family, making dumplings was a monthly ritual—with a crispy, golden-brown reward.

Read more at The Epoch Times

Judy Joo on the Women Who Inspire Her

Judy Joo on the Women Who Inspire Her

The Korean American chef, author and television personality tells V.F. London about the women who inspire her.

Read more at Vanity Fair

Judy Joo's Korean mac and cheese

Judy Joo's Korean mac and cheese is a game changer

The Korean-American chef Judy Joo combines her cultural roots and twin passions with these easy-to-make recipes.

Read more from GQ

The C&TH Guide To Korean Culture In London

The C&TH Guide To Korean Culture In London

Korean-American chef Judy Joo – renowned as the host of popular US show Korean Food Made Simple – shares her K-food favourites and exciting upcoming projects…

Read more from Country and Town House

Judy Joo explores Bali

Judy Joo explores all that the city of Ubud, Bali has to offer and brings you her Bali food guide

It's nearly 6am in Ubud, Bali, and I'm standing in a long queue of local women in front of a street cart teeming full of repurposed dented plastic water bottles, each boasting a different magical concoction.

Read more at Foodism

Try These Chef-Approved Dishes In Bali

Try These Chef-Approved Dishes In Bali

When chef Judy Joo agreed to be a speaker at the 2019 Ubud Food Festival, the Cooking Channel host of Korean Food Made Simple had an ulterior motive: it gave her the opportunity to eat her way through Bali.

Read more at forbes.com

A Recipe for Bold Decision-Making

A Recipe for Bold Decision-Making

Judy Joo recalls the day she made the biggest decision of her career. “It was on a weekend,” she says, while prepping her signature Korean chicken soup in her light-filled kitchen in central London.

Read more from the New York Times

Top image: Edmund Lowe / Alamy

Social media

@judyjoochef Instagram profile image🔥 The first-round battles continue on @foodnetwork’s Tournament of Champions VII.

@guyfieri returns with four more intense sudden-death matchups as @chefnininguyen faces off against @chef.joe.sasto, @chefkleeokc battles @chefadamgreenberg, and @chef_rescigno takes on Michelin-starred @cheftentori.

In the final showdown of the night, another mystery culinary icon is revealed to face qualifier winner @katsujitanabe.👀

Tune in Sunday, March 8 at 8pm ET.

Had so much fun judging alongside the amazing @chefantonia & @roccodispirito.

Thank you @rebeccavallance for my denim suit and @toryburch for my blouse. 🙏🙏❤️❤️

@FoodNetwork #TournamentOfChampions
@HBOMax @DiscoveryPlus2 days ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageMore from my South America adventure ✨ After Peru, we headed to Argentina and Brazil to finally see Iguazu Falls—a place I’ve been quietly (okay, obsessively) dreaming about for years. One of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, and the world’s largest waterfall system, Iguazu is made up of more than 275 cascades plunging up to 82 meters on the Argentina–Brazil border. And in rainy season? The water volume can swell to 7.5 times its usual flow—up to 3.4 million gallons every second. Translation: every other waterfall now feels like a kitchen tap.

Seeing Iguazu in person was jaw-dropping, humbling, and wildly emotional. Truly one of the most extraordinary natural sights I’ve ever experienced—and absolutely worthy of a prime spot on everyone’s bucket list. Do both sides if you can: Argentina immerses you inside the falls, while Brazil gives you sweeping panoramas—and private boat and helicopter tours you can’t do on the Argentine side.

We stayed at the exceptional Awasi Iguazú @awasiexperience (a longtime favorite since Patagonia, and yes—another Relais & Châteaux gem). Awasi’s bespoke approach is next level: your own private guide and vehicle, daily excursions tailored exactly to what you want, plus private after-hours access to the park and train to Devil’s Throat—meaning we experienced the falls without the crowds. Absolute magic.

Evenings were spent dining outdoors on an open terrace, listening to the jungle’s nightly symphony—birds, frogs, cicadas all chiming in. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere unforgettable, and I even spotted my very first toucan in the wild. Pure joy.

Huge thank you to Cazenove+Lloyd @cazenove_and_loyd for seamlessly handling every detail of the journey—and special gratitude to @beckyfenn87 for saving the day when our flights were canceled and rerouted with calm, grace, and superhero efficiency.

The music for this reel is from The Mission, filmed on location at the falls and starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons. The score—by the legendary Ennio Morricone—has long been one of my favorites, and hearing it while standing before those falls felt perfectly, powerfully full-circle.
#judyjoo #travel #iguazu #bucketlisttravel2 weeks ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageMore from my Peru journey—and this chapter was pure magic. 

My trip was beautifully planned by Cazenove+Lloyd @cazenove_and_loyd, and I soaked up every moment exploring the Sacred Valley, set high at 9,200 feet and overflowing with jaw-dropping views, ancient history, and quiet moments of wonder.

We wandered through the remarkable Maras Salt Mines, carved directly into the valley—where mineral-rich mountain stones naturally yield salt prized for its purity, minerals, and superior taste. Nearby, ancient Incan ruins reveal that ingenious tiered agricultural engineering, both a necessity and a marvel to behold.

We stayed at the utterly divine Sol y Luna Hotel @solylunahotel—tucked into the valley and surrounded by lush gardens where hummingbirds and butterflies seem to appear on cue. The food was a true highlight (Relais & Châteaux always gets it right), with soulful local specialties (Cuy!) alongside a few comforting standbys—yes, a soy milk latte always finds me!

Visiting the Sol y Luna Foundation @solylunafoundation, which includes a school and “orphanage” (the kids are not technically orphans, but they have very challenging home situations), was incredibly moving. I fell in love with some of the children—especially those who simply wanted to be held. 

I also had the chance to indulge in a traditional Pachamanca lunch at @Las_Qolqas (a charming eco glamping haven)—one of the Andes’ most meaningful culinary rituals. Pachamanca, which means “earth pot” in Quechua, is both a dish and an ancient cooking method: marinated meats like lamb, pork, and chicken, along with potatoes, corn, and beans, are layered with aromatic herbs such as huacatay, wrapped in leaves, and slow-cooked underground over hot stones. The result is unforgettable—smoky, tender, and infused with deep, earthy flavors that truly reflect the land. 

Add long hikes, an adventurous off-road bike ride alongside a roaring river through the mud, and days filled with delicious meals, muddy shoes, and endless smiles, and I had a Sacred Valley experience I’ll never forget.
#travelgram #peru #judyjoo #cheflife 
@beckyfenn872 weeks ago via Instagram
@judyjoochef Instagram profile imageMy journey through Peru continued from the Amazon rainforest to Machu Picchu and Cusco—a chapter I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time. There is something deeply satisfying about finally ticking off a true bucket-list moment, and Machu Picchu delivers on *every* promise. It is absolutely worth the hype—and the effort it takes to get there.

The journey alone feels epic: a two-hour panoramic train ride, followed by a slightly harrowing 30-minute bus climb up the mountain, all switchbacks and hairpin turns. And then, of course, you hike. You climb. You work for it. And only then are you rewarded with a view of truly epic proportions. Standing there, it’s impossible not to marvel at the Incas—their advanced engineering, the precision, the mystery of how and why they built this breathtaking city in the clouds. With no written language, we’ll never fully know their story, but the beauty and ingenuity speak volumes.

In Cusco, we stayed at the exquisite Belmond Palacio Nazarenas @belmondpalacionazarenas @belmond —a converted convent filled with atmospheric corridors and tranquil courtyards. Our room blended old-world charm with thoughtful modern comforts—oxygen pumped in at night (Cusco sits at 11,000 feet), hot water bottles tucked into the bed, and food that was genuinely swoon-worthy. Breakfast was a daily joy: freshly baked breads and croissants that could rival Paris, paired with locally brewed Peruvian coffee—instant happiness. Dinner was equally memorable, with dishes by Pía León @pialeonkjolle, weaving local ingredients into refined, soul-warming plates. The spa was pure bliss and exactly what my feet and legs needed after long days of hiking.

Cusco ended up being one of my favorite cities of the entire journey—and this adventure is far from over. More to come. 

Thank you to @cazenove_and_loyd @beckyfenn87 for arranging the most luxe trip! 

#judyjoo #traveling #peru #machupicchu2 weeks ago via Instagram
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