What happens when you blend Korean heritage with American upbringing and add a splash of Hawaiian influence? You get Soju, a restaurant that defies easy categorization while serving up some of Pittsburgh's most intriguing flavor combinations.

(00:37) Chef Simon Chough welcomes us into his Garfield restaurant for a candid conversation about cultural identity through food. "Soju is a direct reflection of myself and my experiences," he shares, explaining how dishes like kimchi nachos with wonton chips and nori-dusted French fries represent his personal journey rather than adherence to traditional Korean cuisine. Simon's culinary perspective was shaped by family meals prepared by his grandmother, who adapted Korean recipes using ingredients available at the local Giant Eagle.

(18:47) Simon recounts the restaurant's recent struggle with disaster. When pipes burst during a January cold spell, flooding the dining room while the restaurant was closed, the Pittsburgh community rallied with donations to support staff during the two-month closure. "Never underestimate the community around you," Simon reflects, noting how this challenging period actually renewed everyone's passion for the restaurant.

(30:11) Simon's path to restaurateur wasn't straightforward – from studying biochemistry in Hawaii to working unpaid in a prestigious kitchen, his story illustrates the winding journey many chefs experience. Now firmly established in Pittsburgh's culinary landscape, he pays it forward by offering pop-up opportunities to emerging chefs and promoting other local restaurants on his social media. Follow Simon's culinary adventures on Instagram and experience for yourself why his "Korean food is Japanese food's casual cousin" philosophy creates dishes that are impossible to resist.

(47:38) Later in the show we get a quick wine pick from Catherine Montest for pork barbecue and a day-off recipe from Third Space owner/baker Chloe Newman. Come hungry!

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