Edward Lee is the acclaimed chef of several restaurants in Kentucky and the DC area, most notably Louisville’s 610 Magnolia, where he first made his mark on Southern cuisine almost 20 years ago using ingredients such as gochujang and soy sauce aged in whiskey barrels. He won a James Beard award for his 2018 book Buttermilk Graffiti and he was nominated for an Emmy for his work hosting the PBS series Mind of a Chef. Lee is also the co-founder of a remarkable nonprofit called The Lee Initiative, which during the pandemic has been supporting restaurant workers, struggling farms and other communities in need. Catherine and Juliana talk to Edward about how growing up in Carnarsie, Brooklyn—where there were very few Korean Americans—shaped his palate and his identity. He also shares stories about Clay, the hip Korean restaurant he opened in New York in the late ‘90s, his recent guest appearance on Top Chef: Portland, and his newfound mission in life to help others.
Follow Edward Lee on Instagram @chefedwardlee
For more information on Lee Initiative or to donate, go to Leeinitiative.org
Follow K-Pod on Instagram @kpodpod
Co-host, Producer, Photographer: Juliana Sohn @juliana_sohn
Co-host, Producer, Editor: Catherine Hong @catherinehong100
Production Manager: Jessica Park
Audio Engineer: AJ Valente
Executive Producer: HJ Lee