Quo Vadis & Friends: Dongnae
24th September
For one night only in September, our stoves will be captained by Kyu Jeon and Duncan Robertson of the highly lauded and quietly revolutionary Dongnae for our first Korean (and Bristolian) instalment of QV & Friends.
After meeting in Paris, Kyu and Duncan helped to launch the Michelin-starred L’Envie at Chateau de Lacan, then moved to Seoul, Kyu’s hometown. Eight years later, with inspiration aplenty, the pair landed in Bristol to open their beloved casual eatery, Bokman, before launching Dongnae in Redland just last year.
For the Dongnae duo, traditional fermentation is as integral as fresh herbs are to Jeremy. Central to their cooking are the three jangs of Korean cuisine: ganjang, doenjang (miso) and gochujang, indeed Dongnae is thought to be the only UK restaurant which makes doenjang and gochujang in house. Our ears pricked particularly at the sound of a 5-year doenjang stew, which Tim Hayward recently described as having ‘fiendish brilliance’.
On the 24th we gather for what promises to be a four-course feast of the sophisticated, soulful, and ferment-filled kind. Tickets for the dinner are £65, including a bite, three courses and a welcome drink from Dream Sake.