This is an interview series about friends of The Grocery. To revisit the last interview with Irene Yoo, click here.
Jamesy brims with sweetness and is a nurturing supporter of his loved ones. If I had to guess, his love language is gift-giving, especially when it comes to cooking—serving course after course, and then starting all over again an hour later.
Hi! My name is James Park, but people call me Jamesy! I'm a cookbook author and content creator specializing in Korean recipes.
What's been your favorite purchase so far this year? Why?
My favorite purchase this year has to be this cham-sauce. It's a seasoning sauce I use for everything from hot pot dipping sauce to egg rice. It has a more complex, balanced flavor than regular soy sauce, and I discovered it through Korean food YouTubers. Now, I can’t get enough of it!
What do you like to wear? Why?
Most of my clothes are either cat- or food-themed. I have a problem. I buy anything with a cat on it! Cat sweaters, cat t-shirts. If I see it, I buy it. People always assume I have a cat, but I don’t. I just love them and their spirit.
What is a current project you’re working on?
I’m working on a bunch of things, but right now, I’m developing recipes for the H-Mart cookbook with my dear friend Irene Yoo. It’s exciting to create recipes that remind me of home while adding my own Korean American twist!
What does your day look like?
It’s so cliché, but every day looks different. Some days, I feel like I’m running a chili crisp factory, packing orders for customers. Other days, I’m filming two or three recipes in my kitchen.
My day usually starts with the big question: What do I have to do today?! Then, I let my tasks shape the rest. I love that I’m not just staring at a laptop. I’m actively creating, whether it’s a new recipe or chili crisp orders.
What is the best thing about what you do?
The best part is building connections, whether through my recipe videos or my chili crisp. Everything I do comes back to one thing: sharing something personal and creating a connection. When that happens organically, it’s so special. Seeing comments from my online community about how my videos bring them joy makes me so happy.
Where can we find/follow you?
You can find me on Instagram at @jamesyworld and on YouTube at @ka.ka.studio, where I create with my friend Irene Yoo! You can also say hello at james@jamesyworld.com.