Lola Hovanesian

I’m very excited to introduce another Korean food fan to you today: Lola Hovanesian!
You might be familiar with her name because recently she’s been sharing many of her stunning Korean food photos on my website.

In my interview with her she says that Korean cooking is her specialty, and I can confidently endorse her cooking skill! : )

What is your name and where do you live?
My name is Lola. I live in Clovis, California, but I’m originally from Los Angeles, California which is where I lived for most my life. Let me mention that I am SO in love with the Korean culture. I absolutely LOVE the food, the people, the language, the music, the Korean dramas, Taekwondo, everything~~~sooooo much! All my friends and family know that I am Korea’s number one fan. I may not look Korean on the outside, but inside I consider myself to be Korean. Everybody knows this about me.

Tell me about the first time you ever tasted Korean food. Where were you, and what did you eat?
The first time I ever tasted Korean food was when I was a little kid, maybe 8 or 9 years old. My dad had a lot of Korean co-workers and they had lunch together often and sometimes, when my dad had something good, he would pick up some on the way home so we could eat it too. One day he brought home a rice bowl with bulgogi and I fell in love with the dish.

How often do you cook Korean food following my recipes?
Every time I cook Korean food, I ALWAYS follow Maangchi’s recipes. I cook these recipes nearly everyday. The side dishes are so simple and the soups and main dishes are so delicious. Once in a while we’ll eat other food, but Korean food is my specialty.

What are your favorite Korean dishes? Choose 3, please!
My favorite Korean dishes are:
1) Bulgogi. The flavor is so good!! I just can’t get enough of it!
2) Gimbap. It’s easy to make and it’s a good snack packed with vegetables and wonderful flavor. I like the crunch and sweetness of the danmuji. I make mine with bulgogi seasoned ground beef. Everyone loves it when I make it.
3) Soondubu. I love this soup so much. Soft tofu and flavorful broth. I like to crack a raw egg in it and mix it up. It’s so delicious.

What’s your best Korean dish, the one that everybody compliments you on when you make it?
Everyone loves it when I cook bulgogi. I’m known among my friends as the “Korean lover” and every time there’s a potluck or occasion to bring food, I always bring bulgogi and proudly tell them it’s Korean food. It’s always the first dish to finish. Everyone asks me for the recipe and I email them the YouTube link from Maangchi.

Cute cute cute~! Amy is wearing Korean hanbok! Lola says, “She is my taste tester. She always gives me the seal of approval.”

My favorite food: bulgogi. I love to eat this with soju. I love soju also, lol. The taste of bulgogi makes me so happy. You can never be sad when you eat bulgogi. :)

Baechu Doenjang Guk

Baechu Doenjangguk (Doenjang and Cabbage soup)
This dish is so easy, healthy, and yummy. I like to add some rice and some kimchi in my bowl. This is one of those dishes I make very often. My kitchen smells so good when I cook this.