The members of the group MONSTA X, Shownu and Jooheon, completed a perfect culinary trip to Turkey.
On the 23rd, Shownu and Jooheon appeared on the KBS 2TV entertainment program 'Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant' (hereafter 'Fun-Staurant'), where they showcased their final performance as 'chef guests.' In particular, their culinary trip to Turkey, which was undertaken earlier with Chef Lee Yeon-bok as part of 'Boksta X,' attracted attention by creating a collaborative dish between Korea and Turkey.
First, they were invited to visit a Michelin restaurant in Turkey. The owner chef, who is Istanbul's first female Michelin chef, suggested an 'exchange,' saying, "We will serve our dishes first, and I would like to taste Chef Lee Yeon-bok's dishes as well," and 'Boksta X' began to taste the dishes from the Michelin restaurant in turn.
Having tasted a variety of dishes, including Turkish dumplings, grilled short ribs, and pizza, the three quickly cleared their plates and began preparing for a Korean X Turkish collaborative dish. Lee Yeon-bok revealed, "The menu we decided to create during our culinary trip to Turkey utilizes tteokbokki," and the owner chef also noted, "These days, Turkish people are really into tteokbokki," shedding light on the 'tteokbokki craze' sweeping through Turkey.
At the end of the discussion, 'Boksta X' decided to create a dish combining tteokbokki and the Turkish-style grilled short ribs known as 'köfte,' and Jooheon proposed the idea to include Turkish dumplings called 'mantı,' which finalized the recipe. Shownu and Jooheon approached the making of mantı with serious attitudes and received compliments from the chefs and panelists for their delicate touch. Following that, Shownu earned applause by perfectly executing the process of placing mantı in the oven with exquisite control.
As soon as the tteokbokki with köfte and mantı was completed, the owner chef tasted it and was so impressed that she called in the restaurant staff to request a tasting. The staff members who tasted it collectively praised it, saying it tasted like something their families would enjoy and expressed the desire to keep making it, celebrating the birth of a perfect dish that captivated the palates of both Koreans and Turks. As the warm atmosphere continued, the owner chef inquired about how to make Korean jjajangmyeon, and Lee Yeon-bok, Shownu, and Jooheon introduced a recipe for jjajangmyeon made with lamb to cater to the Turkish people who do not consume pork, once again eliciting a passionate response.
The broadcast revealed that 'Boksta X' was featured in local media after returning from Turkey, which surprised many. Furthermore, it was reported that 'Boksta X' will showcase the 'mantı tteokbokki' and 'yangjjajang' recipes they created at an upcoming Turkey Food Festival, adding more significance to their visit.
After the culinary trip to Turkey concluded, Shownu and Jooheon appeared as 'chef guests' in the studio to introduce the dishes they prepared. The dish they prepared that day was 'Galbi Jjajang Kkukkukka,' inspired by Turkey's 'köfte,' which combined jjajangmyeon with sautéed kimchi and grilled short ribs. Jooheon disclosed that he added a little gochujang to the jjajangmyeon to enhance its spiciness, revealing the secret to its hidden flavor. The tasting panel praised it, saying it has 'a taste that anyone can enjoy,' and Chef Lee Yeon-bok humorously added, "The galbi jjajang flavor is really Kkukkukka," showcasing the perfect chemistry of 'Boksta X' until the end.
Since the 9th, Shownu and Jooheon have contributed to the Korean wave in local cuisine by introducing various cultures and foods from Turkey through their three-week appearance on 'Fun-Staurant,' providing viewer satisfaction. Given their natural sense of entertainment and their revealed passion and enthusiasm for food, there is much anticipation for their future endeavors.
MONSTA X, of which Shownu and Jooheon are members, is meeting fans through various activities in celebration of their 10th anniversary this year. They will hold a 10th-anniversary pop-up store called 'Monologue' from the 29th to June 11 and will present a full group performance titled '2025 MONSTA X CONNECT X' from July 18 to 20.
[Photo] KBS 2TV broadcast screen capture.
[OSEN]