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Kimchi Chronicles: The Pork Chronicles

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (right) prepares a delicious, fast stir-fry of sliced pork and colorful vegetables in "The Pork Chronicles."
Courtesy of American Public Television
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (right) prepares a delicious, fast stir-fry of sliced pork and colorful vegetables in "The Pork Chronicles."

Airs Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 3 p.m. on KPBS TV

Part travelogue, part food fantasy and part documentary of self-discovery, the public television series "Kimchi Chronicles" follows acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his Korean-born wife Marja as they explore and celebrate Korea's cuisine and culture in the company of chefs, home cooks and their good friend, actress Heather Graham.

In each episode, Marja and Jean-Georges step into restaurants and home kitchens to experience real, authentic Korean cooking. Going straight to the source to find the best of Korea, they visit every corner of the country — from the rolling hills of Jeju Island's green tea gardens to a sprawling market in Seoul pulsating with activity, all the way to the thriving seaport in Sokcho, just 10 miles from North Korea.

Then, Marja and Jean-Georges return to their country kitchen in Westchester, New York to re-create some of their favorite recipes alongside their neighbors, actor Hugh Jackman and his wife, Deb. Jean-Georges also demonstrates his command of simple, flavorful combinations by creating new dishes inspired by the Korean pantry.

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"The Pork Chronicles" - As opposed to the lean-is-better preference in the United States, Koreans love their pork full of fat — and flavor. In this episode, Marja, her dear friend, the actress Heather Graham, and an expert food blogger named Daniel eat classic pork barbeque at Heukdonga restaurant in Seoul. They also stop by Songgane Gamjatang, where Seoul’s taxi drivers convene for pork bone soup and the grand pork dish known as bo ssam.

At home in New York, Marja makes her own version of the cabbies’ favorites and Jean-Georges prepares a delicious, fast stir-fry of sliced pork and colorful vegetables, and improvises a simple, tasty barbeque sauce to coat ribs, chops and even pork feet. Marja and Heather conclude the episode with a visit to a Buddhist temple.

Visit the "Kimchi Chronicles" blog for the latest news about the show. "Kimchi Chronicles" is on Facebook, and you can follow @KimchiTV on Twitter.

Preview: Kimchi Chronicles: The Pork Chronicles
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