Judy Joo

French trained Korean-American Londoner, Judy Joo’s culinary expertise spans the globe. As one of four UK Iron Chefs and the Executive Chef for JINJUU, she draws from her unique personal and professional experiences, melding tastes from Asia, America and Europe in her recipes. Ushering the robust flavors of her native Korean cuisine into home kitchens, Judy serves as the host of Cooking Channel’s series, Korean Food Made Simple.

Judy has always loved food and cooking. Her love began at home, where she often watched her mother cook authentic dishes from her native Korea. Judy went to Columbia University where in addition to earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in engineering, she explored New York’s diverse culinary offerings and whet her palate for gastronomic adventures. For several years, she embarked on a career on Morgan Stanley’s fixed income trading floor, but Judy still felt the lure of the kitchen and decided to pursue her true passion and enrolled at the French Culinary Institute. Her enthusiasm and dedication to her new trade was evident, and she graduated valedictorian.

After graduation, Judy embarked on her culinary journey with a position in Saveur magazine’s test kitchen, developing recipes, researching food traditions and writing. After a move to London in 2007, she jumped at a serendipitous chance to introduce herself to the notoriously bad-mouthed Chef Gordon Ramsay while dining at his eponymous restaurant. Before she knew it, Judy was working in his kitchen, and rotating extensively through other restaurants in the Gordon Ramsay Group, including Maze, Claridge’s, Petrus and Boxwood Café. During this time she also completed internships (stages) at The Fat Duck and Thomas Keller’s famed French Laundry.

After two years working in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant empire, Judy embarked on the opportunity to become one of the four Iron Chefs in the UK. The success of her first season spurred her TV career and she was offered a role as a resident judge on The Next Iron Chef, Iron Chef America, and competed in the epic Battle Iron Chef UK vs. Iron Chef America making Judy the only participant to serve as a chef, judge and challenger throughout the Iron Chef series. Making a name for herself as the only female Iron Chef UK, Judy was approached by The Playboy Club with an opportunity to become their Executive Chef. As Executive Chef for Playboy she developed a menu that stays true to the brand’s American roots, while echoing the dishes they served in the glamorous 1960s. Judy is the brand ambassador for Armand de Brignac Champagne “Ace of Spades,” and regularly appears on Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate, The Best Thing I Ever Made and Guy’s Grocery Games.

A regular on Food Network UK, Judy’s new U.S. show celebrates the Korean food wave sweeping the globe. She takes viewers on a journey to her homeland where she not only introduces them to the seasonal foods at the heart of Korean culture, but also shows them how to really enjoy it.

Judy will release her first book, Korean Food Made Simple, this May. The cookbook brings Korean food to the masses, proving that it’s fun and easy to prepare at home.