"Our rice is a jewel" – The sincere heart of an Icheon rice meal restaurant owner toward his family

A spread of 12 side dishes and a neat meal prepared at a specialized rice meal restaurant in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, has been revealed. The arrangement, which showcases the true value of Icheon rice through glossy rice, mackerel kimchi stew, grilled mackerel, and cheonggukjang made by a master, catches the eye.

"The grains of rice are like jewels" – The taste of glossy Icheon rice

In the meal scene within the video, the quality of the rice cooked with Icheon rice was focused upon. The rice, cooked immediately in a stone pot, had a gloss on every single grain, drawing admiration that "the grains of rice are like jewels." After taking a spoonful of rice, the cast members described the taste, noting the sweetness and nuttiness felt as they chewed, saying, "The rice grains are alive in the mouth" and "There is sweetness even in plain rice." Evaluations continued regarding the taste of the rice, stating, "It has a nutty taste, and then it becomes sweet once it goes down."

The meal here is served with 12 basic side dishes along with mackerel kimchi stew, grilled mackerel, soybean paste stew, and cheonggukjang made by his granddaughter, who has been designated as a young master. In particular, the mackerel kimchi stew is characterized by being cooked with consideration for the fact that the cooking times for kimchi and mackerel differ, as adjusting to the mackerel could cause the kimchi to become too soft. Additionally, the neat composition stood out, including a vegetable side dish made by finely shredding garlic scapes. The owner, who has kept the same spot for 40 years, showed his persistence in insisting only on Korean rice, saying the rice is as beautiful as a jewel.

The persistence of a businessman representing the sorrows of farmers and stories of export

The video also captured the image of a businessman who travels the field representing the hearts of farmers. He revealed a management philosophy of starting from entry-level employees and personally running through sites nationwide, while worrying about the damage farmers suffer due to natural disasters. In particular, he emphasized the importance of our agricultural products and encouraged the consumption of rice.

The excellence of Korean rice is being confirmed overseas as well. According to the video description and remarks, there is demand for Korean rice even in the Japanese market. There was a case in the past when rice exported to Japan sold out in just one week, and currently, export reservations of approximately 1,500 to 1,800 tons are made through the end of the year. This is a result reflecting the voluntary demand of Japanese consumers who prefer Korean rice.

"Family is my pride" – The family love hidden behind 40 years of persistence

The owner, who has kept the same spot for 40 years and insisted on Korean rice, expressed both apology and gratitude toward his family. He confessed that he "always feels sorry and apologetic" for not being able to give enough affection to his family because he devoted his life to work. However, he followed with sincere affection, saying, "I am so proud of and thankful for my family."

His spouse, who was present, also showed trust in her husband, saying, "Meeting someone like you is the luck of my life." The story of this family, who has operated the restaurant while insisting on agricultural products across generations, goes beyond a simple meal scene to show the persistence of trying to protect the taste of our land and their family love.