ICHEON — Hwang Young-ok of Jeungpo-dong was named a master cook at the 17th Icheon Rice Cooking Master Competition, the city of Icheon said on the 23rd. The contest was organized to promote the quality of Icheon rice and the region's traditional rice-cooking culture.
Thirteen contestants representing each town, township and neighborhood in Icheon took part. They competed based on their everyday experience cooking rice and their understanding of the grain. The competition was held in a tournament format, with a panel of outside experts serving as judges.
The judges assessed the taste, stickiness, texture and sheen of the cooked rice. Hwang scored highly for her ability to adjust water and heat to the condition of the rice. She drew particular praise for bringing out the distinctive flavor of Icheon rice and for consistently producing glossy grains along with a nutty layer of scorched rice at the bottom of the pot.
"This was possible because of Icheon's good rice and the dedication of its farmers," Hwang said. "I will continue to work to spread the word about the excellence of Icheon rice through rice cooked with care."
Jung Hyun-sook, head of Icheon's agricultural promotion division, said the competition "is an event that promotes both excellent local rice and the traditional culture of cooking rice." She added, "We will continue our support to strengthen farmers' capabilities and improve the competitiveness of Icheon rice."