A Sit Down With a Sous Chef at Cafe Boulud

I have blogged about Cafe Boulud once before when I talked about the importance of food presentation. If you missed that post, you can read it here. This time, I asked their sous chef to answer a few questions I had regarding her experience working in the kitchen. Her name is Kiki, she is from Korea and this is what she said...

Q: What sparked your love of cooking? And why did you decide on French cuisine?

A: My love for French cuisine is based on the similarities it has with Korean cuisine. It is very simple, yet elegant. This is what I want my future restaurant to be based on. A mixture of French and Korean cuisine.

Q:How do you motivate your employees to work hard and care about the food that they are preparing?

A: It is sometimes very hard to do by yourself. Loving your job is important which shines through when you are working. Your employees mirror your own work ethic.

Q:What was the most stressful situation you have faced in the kitchen?
A: When unexpected things happen it gets stressful. For example, a cook not showing up for work or being short on ingredients to make the dishes.

Q:In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of your job?

A: Consistency. Having to be in the kitchen every day both mentally and physically. This is a mentally taxing job and subduing emotions from your personal life is very important.

Q:How do you feel about racial diversity in the kitchen?

A: My current kitchen is very diverse. Most chefs respect diversity within the kitchen. You can see this in our voyage menu because many cuisines from around the world are displayed. Having this voyage menu allows all of us to learn from each other's culture since there is such racial diversity in this kitchen. I even was able to do a Korean voyage dinner.

Q:Do you feel the role of women is different than the role of men within the kitchen?

A: Mentally there is no difference but yes, physically. My arm is currently injured after two and a half years of grueling hands on labor, so I cannot lift heavy things or do repetitive tasks which slows me down. Men have an easier time completing their daily tasks because of their physical strength.

Q:What is your favorite food to eat? What about to prepare?

A: Korean food is my favorite to both eat and prepare. I like to cook all Asian cuisines. Southeast Asian and Japanese are some of my other favorites.

Q:What individual has had the greatest impact on you?

A: Chef Aaron who is the head chef at Cafe Boulud has always given me opportunities to grow and has always pushed me beyond my limits to make me grow extremely fast. There is never nothing to do.

Q:How do you evaluate success?

A: I rely upon feedback from my coworkers. I make something good, it tastes good and I feel good.

Q:What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as a sous chef?

A: I am a very organized person and as a sous chef prioritizing and keeping the rest of the kitchen organized is extremely important. It makes delegating tasks faster and more efficient which keeps the machine going.

Q:What do you do to stay educated about new food trends?

A: I use the internet to look up current top restaurants and visit those restaurants. I do this because the top restaurants are basically the canon in which our industry relies upon for trends.

Q:Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: I want to start out small with my own restaurant with a unique style which is Korean food with French influence. I want it to be called Bottari which is a cloth that Korean's used during the war to carry all their belongings when traveling from place to place.

I want to thank Kiki so much for taking the time out of her busy schedule to complete this interview with me. I also recommend you check out Cafe Boulud next week during Restaurant Week to catch their $29 Prix Fixe Menu while you can!

5 Must Try K-Town Restaurants

Chances are if you live in New York City you have probably visited places such as Times Square, Central Park, Grand Central Station and Chinatown. However, there is a hidden street that is located in a lesser know area called Koreatown. It is 32nd Street between Broadway and 5th Ave. This street is jam packed with Korean restaurants and below I have listed a few of my favorites.

1.  Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong:  <baekjeongnyc.com> This was my favorite restaurant in Ktown and has remained so even after my trip to South Korea in May due to its authenticity. The entire experience is very traditional to any Korean Barbecue in Korea itself. My favorite item on the menu is the Beef Combo. For $130 (tax and tip included), you can feed 4 people and trust me, you will be full and it will be worth it.
2. Jongro: <www.jongrobbqny.com>  Jongro is another good choice for traditional Korean Barbecue. A less pricy option than Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong, but still a solid option for some delicious Korean food.
3. Five Senses:  <fivesensesnyc.com> Five Senses is not a Korean Barbecue like the above two options, therefore the food is not cooked in front of you. However, the food at Five Senses is nothing short of delicious. It is a bit pricey, but the portions are large and certainly worth it.
4. Izakaya Mew: <mewnyc.com>  Izakaya Mew is a Japanese restaurant located in Ktown, which means it is really a fusion of both cuisines. The food is very good and well priced so this is a solid option if you find yourself hungry in Ktown. However, the place is small so I suggest a reservation. 
5. Barn Joo 35: <places.singleplatform.com>  Barn Joo 35 is a Korean gastropub. The food is good, but to be honest, this place is known for its cocktails more than anything else.

So there you are. 5 delicious restaurants all located in one small (tourist free) area. Next time you are hungry for some Asian food, one of these 5 places is the way to go. Enjoy!!