The prestigious Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants has just announced chef Cho Hee-Sook, a Seoul-based authority on traditional Korean cuisine and the chef-owner of Hansikgonggan as Asia’s Best Female Chef 2020.

Chef Cho joins the elite club of ‘best female chefs’ which includes the likes of Garima Arora (2019), Bongkoch ‘Bee’ Satongun (2018), and Hong Kong’s own May Chow (2017) and Vicky Lau (2015).

“Cho Hee-sook epitomises the spirt of this award with her lifelong commitment to advancing Korean cuisine through training, education and mentorship,” said William Drew, Director of Content at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Known as the godmother of Korean cuisine, chef Cho raises the standard of modern Korean gastronomy at her Michelin-starred restaurant, Hansikgonggan in Seoul, where she takes inspiration from royal court cuisine to present centuries-old dishes dating all the way back to the Joseon dynasty. At an intimate tasting counter, she presents these age-old recipes updated with modern ingredients and artistic arrangement, simultaneously preserving Korea’s culinary heritage while driving it forward.

Chef Cho is also well-respected for her involvement in mentoring the next generation of chefs: she previously taught gastronomy students as a professor at Woosong University, and has spent much of her career sharing her in-depth knowledge and nurturing the next generation of young chefs. Cho said, “Having mentored many young chefs throughout my career, I hope this award serves as an inspiration for other Asian female chefs to follow their passions, be ambitious and share their knowledge with others.”

Chef Cho will accept her award at the ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020, set to take place on Tuesday 24th March in Saga Prefecture, Japan. Stay tuned here as we bring you the full results of this year’s top 50.

Main image credit: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants