Youngest Korean Michelin Chef Hosts Gala with French Culinary Masters in Seoul
Creatrip Team
22 days ago
Chef Lee Chung-hoo, Korea’s youngest Michelin-starred chef and head of Festa by Chunghoo at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, will host a two-day gala dinner on Aug 27–28 with James Henry and Shaun Kelly from Le Doyenné (a restaurant‑farm guesthouse near Paris). The collaboration grew from a long-standing friendship and shared philosophy about seasonality and ingredient-first cooking. Lee, known for ‘from farm to dining’ events and herb-focused seasonal menus, aims to recreate the relaxed feeling of dining at a French country restaurant in the heart of Seoul overlooking Namsan. Le Doyenné, a Michelin Green Star recipient, emphasizes sustainable, low‑intervention farming—harvesting in the morning to shape the evening menu—and will bring some French ingredients while sourcing local Korean produce through Lee’s trusted farms. The chefs plan kitchen dialogue that highlights each side’s strengths rather than erasing differences, and hope to visit Korean traditional markets to explore wild greens, mushrooms, and fermented condiments. Lee says fine dining trends are returning to the essence of ingredients and the stories behind them, and sees Korea as a market with great produce, dining culture, and adventurous diners—making it an ideal place for such cross-cultural culinary exchanges.
