A Nation of Broth (2022)

A Feast for the Eyes

Netflix new food travelogue "A Nation of Broth" is a journey around South Korea savouring the rich varieties of broths, soups and stews. We get to learn a little about the history of these soups, the cultural practices that shaped and were shaped by these dishes and the labour involved in making them. The historical anecdotes are interwoven with the charming banter between the hosting trio making for a light and relaxing watch.

Guk, Tang, Jjigae, Jeongol, Suk, Po, with many different types of soups, they have one for every occasion, a cold winter's night? a hangover? just gave birth? celebrating the New Year? As one of the host said, Koreans have broth in their veins and that probably because it's very much the backbone of their cuisine. Many of the recipes have been passed down for generations and the cooks have perfected their art over decades. We get to see how history is preserved through the food traditions in the different locales, while also seeing how some have been adapted with a modern twist.

It was charming and informative. Have a packet of ramyeon on stand by as you're guaranteed to be craving for some Korean broth minutes into the show.

“A meal without soup is like a face without eyes.”
Early 20th century Korean culinary book, Joseon·mussang·sinsik·yorijebup, qtd. in Episode 2.

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