Min Jin Lee’s New York Week: A Culinary Tour Through 'American Hagwon' and Anniversary Celebrations

Key points

• Lee is promoting her third novel, 'American Hagwon,' which follows a Korean family from Seoul to Sydney and Southern California after the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
• She celebrated her 33rd wedding anniversary with her husband, Christopher Duffy, and son, Sam, by visiting favorite restaurants across New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
• Her dining philosophy involves ordering every item on the menu, which she describes as the most fair action for a restaurant.
• The week included a CBS Sunday Morning profile taping in New Haven, where she revisited Yale and ate at Yorkside Pizza and Ashley’s Ice Cream.
• Lee’s daily routine includes gargling salt water, drinking coffee with pistachio milk, and eating bagels, often citing protein needs at age 57.
• She visited her parents in Bergen County, New Jersey, for a meal at Homung Nangmyun, a restaurant specializing in traditional North Korean cold noodles.

Background

This article is part of the 'Grub Street Diet' series, which features public figures detailing their weekly eating habits. Previous entries in the series have included playwright Jordan Tannahill, who discussed his recovery from pneumonia and his writing process. The current entry highlights Lee’s transition from her previous novel, 'Pachinko,' to 'American Hagwon,' marking a decade-long gap between her major publications.

How outlets are covering it

Grub Street provides a detailed, day-by-day account of Lee’s culinary experiences, emphasizing her personal routines and specific restaurant choices. TheSkimm offers a broader perspective on Lee’s life, focusing on her new book's plot and her general preferences, such as her love for sweet potatoes and coffee candy. While Grub Street highlights her local New York dining and family connections, TheSkimm focuses on her literary work and personal indulgences. Both sources agree on the release of 'American Hagwon' and Lee’s status as a prominent author, but Grub Street offers more granular detail on her daily habits and restaurant visits.

Why it matters

This story illustrates the intersection of literary promotion and personal lifestyle for high-profile authors. It provides insight into the Korean American dining scene in New York and New Jersey, highlighting both high-end establishments and traditional family restaurants. Lee’s approach to dining, characterized by generosity and thoroughness, reflects a broader cultural appreciation for food as a form of connection and support for local businesses.

What to watch

Lee is expected to continue promoting 'American Hagwon' with events and media appearances. Her new novel is set to be released next week, and she has indicated a desire to shorten the gap between her future publications, aiming to avoid another ten-year wait. The CBS Sunday Morning profile is also expected to air, further publicizing her work and personal story.