Banchan: A Korean Staple (Food With Friends)
- Kristine Hyun
- May 1, 2022
- 2 min read
Produced by Kris Hyun
In this podcast episode of Food With Friends in Tasting Place, we discuss one of the most unique aspects of Korean food: banchan. Banchan, which translates to “side dish” in Korean, refers collectively to many small dishes that are often served with a main course meal. Banchan are more than just flavorful and colorful eats: they are physical pieces of history and are important to Korean identity. They are also comfort food and create a sense of family for many. With special guest speaker Courtney Lee, we discuss bachan's significance and how it has connected us with our own culture.
Hungry for more on banchan? Here is a visual that was referred to at timestamp 1:10. Shown are pickled vegetables, fish cakes, kimchi, sprouts, a salad, and Korean pancakes:
Photo of banchan taken by Kristine Hyun during lunchtime at Dong Bang Grill in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
This podcast remediation helped create a more intimate understanding of banchan. I was able to be more personal through using a podcast, all while creating more of a casual and entertaining media through using my voice and tone. I have good experience with editing video and audio, so I knew that this would be a good way for me to keep using these skills all while creating content that is informative and engaging. I also have interviewing and public speaking experience as I was a reporter and news anchor for a high school club: I will admit that I am pretty rusty, so I made sure to practice a bit to sound less awkward before recording my final take. I also knew this genre would be perfect as I had a specific person in mind to record it with: my friend Courtney. We usually have very personal and meaningful conversations with each other, and she always has something interesting to talk about: I knew she would be a perfect guest. This podcast felt great to record, as it felt like I was having any other normal conversation with her. Being able to connect with someone about a topic about connection to culture felt very fitting: this is why I knew that a podcast would be the perfect remediation. Without visuals, the listener can focus on what is being discussed in the recording, and will not get as bored as one may become while reading an essay. I ultimately enjoyed recording and writing this podcast and am happy with the way it conveys a sense that banchan can create a sense of family in Korean culture.
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