Renowned chef An Yoo-seong, known as the 'Black and White Chef,' will serve as the conductor for a unique culinary event where 100 citizens will participate as orchestra members.
The event will take place on October 10 at the Yeongsan River Garden during the Naju Yeongsan River Festival.
Under Chef An's guidance, participants will create 'special' rice balls using local ingredients from Naju, culminating in a 'gourmet performance' shared by 500 attendees.
Naju City announced on September 29 that on the fourth day of the '2026 Naju Yeongsan River Festival,' the main stage at Yeongsan River Garden will feature the 'Food Orchestra,' themed 'Gourmet Orchestra from the Yeongsan River,' led by Chef An Yoo-seong.
The 'Food Orchestra' is a large-scale participatory culinary program that combines a cooking demonstration and storytelling by Chef An, the 16th Culinary Master of Korea and ambassador for '2026 Naju Visit Year,' with the involvement of 100 citizens making lunchbox rice balls and tasting them on-site.
Departing from the typical cooking show format where a professional chef cooks while the audience watches, Chef An will take on the role of conductor, with citizens from various generations actively participating in the 'orchestra' of cooking.
Chef An will demonstrate cooking techniques and share tips on selecting quality ingredients, balancing flavors, and creating sauces that enhance the taste of rice balls, all of which can be applied at home.
The dish will be 'Naju Rice Balls,' featuring rice produced in the Naju plains, along with local specialties such as Naju beef, pears, and water parsley, enhanced by Chef An's secret sauce recipe, allowing everyone to easily create and enjoy the unique flavors of Naju.
A total of 100 participants, including children, families, teenagers, middle-aged individuals, seniors, and professionals, will take part in making the rice balls.
Participants will share their cooking experiences and stories while preparing their own versions of 'Naju Rice Balls' using the same ingredients on stage, while 500 audience members will enjoy the rice balls and celebrate the festival.
Naju City plans to develop this Food Orchestra into a representative participatory culinary content that combines the ecological and garden scenery of the Yeongsan River with Naju's excellent agricultural products and the expertise of Korea's culinary masters.
Naju Mayor Yoon Byeong-tae stated, "The Food Orchestra is a culinary performance that harmonizes Chef An's cooking secrets, Naju's high-quality ingredients, and the participation of 100 citizens to create a unique flavor. I hope everyone can experience not only the taste of Naju but also the warmth of creating and sharing together."
The '2026 Naju Yeongsan River Festival' will be held from October 7 to 11 at the Yeongsan River Garden.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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