In its fourth year, Seoul Gourmet continues its efforts to spread the good news about Korean cuisine to world-renowned chefs through a five-day food fiesta.

Chefs are invited to learn about hansik and incorporate it into menus that will be showcased at restaurants throughout Seoul for gourmands to experience themselves (provided reservations can be made in time).

This fall’s culinary line-up is pretty stellar. A total of seven chefs are flying in for the festival, including D.O.M.’s Alex Atala, Faviken Magasinet’s Magnus Nilsson and la vie’s Thomas Buhner. 

Atala’s restaurant in Brazil ranked No. 4 on S. Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Nilsson’s Swedish establishment number 34 this year, while Buhner’s German restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars last year.

Baskets of key Korean ingredients were sent to the participating chefs in advance and starting Wednesday the seven culinary masters are attending an additional, intensive two-day course on hansik called “Savor Korea.”

Chefs are hitting Yangjae-dong’s Hanaro Mart, Unhyeon Palace and Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market to learn about everything from dessert to fermented sauces and pastes.

Starting Wednesday, chefs will be serving special dinners using Korean ingredients at Lotte Hotel Seoul, Westin Chosun, Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, the W Seoul-Walkerhill, the Shilla Seoul, and the Plaza Hotel through Nov. 2.

The seven will join together to prepare a Grand Gala feast at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Nov. 3. Each chef will be preparing a course for the 345,000 won meal.

Chefs will also be holding master classes from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 at Sejong University. Five modern Korean restaurants ― including Jungsikdang ― will also be participating in the festival, while 20 to 30 restaurants in Seorae Village will be taking part in a three-week event called Seoul Gourmet Avenue.

The multi-venue, multi-event festival runs from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, with an extended run from Nov. 5 through Nov. 30 for Seoul Gourmet Avenue.

Seoul Gourmet is hosted by the Seoul Gourmet Organizing Committee. Festival partners include the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Korean Food Foundation and the Korea Tourism Organization. For more information or to make reservations visit www.seoulgourmet.org

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldcorp.com)