Chef Kim Sung-woon recently announced the opening of his new establishment, showcasing his love for good food and drinks.
We caught up with Chef Kim at Table Four Four in Hannam-dong, Seoul, where he participated in Netflix's reality show 'Black and White Chef 2'.
Chef Kim, who competed as a 'White Spoon' contestant, finished in a tie for 8th place. He runs the Italian restaurant 'Table Four Four' and the Korean pub 'Pocha Four Four', where he incorporates seasonal seafood and local ingredients from Taean, reflecting his identity as a 'Taean person'. On 'Black and White Chef 2', he focused on local ingredients and authentic flavors, bringing a genuine touch to the show's reality.
Following his fine dining venture in Hannam-dong, Chef Kim opened a casual pub, Pocha Four Four, in Oksu-dong last month. He enjoys the vibe of traditional pubs and street stalls, saying, "Commuting to Hannam-dong for about a year, I found it convenient being just 6-7 minutes from home. So, I thought it would be nice to open something nearby."
The concept of the pub also serves as Chef Kim's personal 'hideout'. He laughed, "It's my hideout," and added, "I love gathering with people. When there's delicious seasonal produce, it's a shame to eat it alone. We used to gather at my place every three months, but my wife started noticing. Even our dog couldn't sleep when we stayed up too late," he chuckled. "Many of my chef friends live nearby. During COVID, it was hard to go out, so I told them, 'Just bring the drinks,' and we had small gatherings. That led to the idea of opening a pub. It was a year in the making, and we recently opened." He continued, "Now, many chef friends visit late at night, which is great. It's close to home, so no worries about drunk driving, and I have many chef friends living nearby. Everything I envisioned is within my circle," he said with a smile.
'Black and White Chef' is a culinary battle where underdog 'Black Spoon' chefs challenge top 'White Spoon' star chefs in Korea. Season 1 was won by 'Napoli Mafia' Chef Kwon Sung-joon, and Season 2 by 'White Spoon' Chef Choi Kang-rok. Season 2 also highlighted chefs like Hoo Deok-juk, Lim Sung-geun, Son Jong-won, and Monk Sun-jae. Chef Lim Sung-geun gained attention for his confidence and directness but later faced controversy over past legal issues, including a DUI.
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr