Acceptance Speech
YUNAH KIM

On behalf of all my Korean-American brothers and sisters who've weathered the mutations that spring from their mothers' kitchens, I accept my place as Drama Queen. My story is for those of us who grew up thinking that spaghetti always came with a side of daikon cubes and that Spam was acceptable sushi filler. We thought that a can of tuna fish was typically served with a bowl of sticky white rice. We spoke "Korenglish" around the house, gave half-nod bows to our parents' friends and ate what was set before us by our mothers. Ah, our mothers -- women who immigrated from Korea and studied Campbell Soup recipes and the Galloping Gourmet, then mutated what they learned by adding some garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce. Little did they know that they were providing the stuff of Drama!

In the spirit of all Drama Queens, I graciously accept my place as your Queen today (sniff). I pass on my perverse tale of culinary wonder to fellow Queens and Queens yet to be born, so that all may know and fear the seemingly ordinary kitchens of their Korean-American friends.

Thank you, thank you!

--Yunah Kim
Acknowledged Drama Queen
SALON | Oct. 20, 1998

Drama Queen for a Day + Yunah Kim + Leslie Goodman-Malamuth + Susan Guerrant