Once upon a time, a young Filipino soldier met a beautiful Korean woman in the heart of Pusan. And in typical fairytale fashion, they fell in love. On October 4, 1952, they tied the knot in Manila. This is where the story really begins. When Kim Chung Ae (baptized as Fideliza) left her hometown to follow her heart, she didn’t expect to take with her the flavors of her youth. But in the early ‘70s, she made her mark in the annals of Manila’s restaurant history by opening Korea Garden. Almost 40 years down the line, she is still capturing the Filipino heart and palate with authentic Korean cooking and homemade recipes. In between Fideliza’s whirlwind romance something promising sprouted: an affair with the kitchen. During her early years in Manila, she would delight her family with steaming dishes of chap chae (Korean noodles), bulgogi, and Korean barbecue. Even after her children had married and had had kids, she would host dinners that left an indelible memory of Grandma’s wonderful home cooking. Her enthusiasm, combined with the constant prodding of her loved ones,served as an impetus for her to put up her own restaurant. The enterprise was a huge success. People talked about Korea Garden’s highly recommended bibimbap, the unchallenged flavor of the Korean beef stew, and the addictive quality of the gujeolpan that kept them coming back for more. The gujeolpan is in fact, is one of the restaurant’s best sellers, and with good reason. It is a nine-sectioned plate consisting of different vegetables and meats served with thin pancakes. If you want to satisfy your taste buds with this special treat, you’ll have to go to Korea Garden, the only restaurant in Manila that serves this delicious dish. For Fideliza Flores, the pioneer of Korean food in the country, it’s all about passion. Besides the delectable food, the secrets behind the restaurant’s longevity reside in the outstanding service, warm atmosphere, and most importantly, the nurturing hand of a woman who treats each meal as if it were for her own family. Manila’s culinary scene, Fideliza’s story can only finish with the perfect fairy tale ending: “happily ever after.” -Isabel Garcia
