Kimchi Chronicles with Marja Vongerichten

Marja Vongerichten is the host of a new PBS television series about Korean food and culture titled Kimchi Chronicles. It is scheduled to debut Summer 2011 with 13 episodes.

According to the Kimchi Chronicles Facebook page, “Each episode will be a combination of eating extravaganza and picturesque travelogue with food serving as a vehicle to meet and celebrate the people, places and traditions of Korea.”

The show will feature guest celebrities such as actor Hugh Jackman and actress Heather Graham. Along with the show, Marja is also working on publishing a Korean cookbook.

Marja was born in Korea to a Korean mother and an American soldier. She was later adopted at the age of 3 by a Virginia family in 1979. Later in life, she reunited with her birth mother in New York. She was Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 1991 (as Marja Allen) and has worked as an actress and model.

An interesting side note is that Marja’s husband is world renown chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. He will have a small role in the show as well. The couple currently reside in New York.

As Kimchi Chronicles gets closer to being televised we hope to learn more about Marja and the show. We’ll be sure to keep you all posted.

Here is video from the Kimchi Chronicles press conference in Seoul, Korea:

Here is a short video from SBS with Marja and her birth mother:

Sources/Links:
Kimchi Chronicles
Kimchi Chronicles on Facebook
The New York Times – ‘The Kimchi Chronicles’ Video Preview
The New York Times – Kimchi Chronicles
Korea Times – “김치를 소개합니다”
The Chosun Ilbo – “Celebrity Chef’s Wife Returns to Ancestral Home”