When Jen Ren joined a five-course Korean dinner hosted by Sarah Ahn of Ahnest Kitchen and her mother Nam Soon Ahn, co-authors of Umma: A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom & 100 Family Recipes, she didn’t expect the meal to feel so personal.
The moment she smelled the sesame oil, soy, and sizzling bulgogi, childhood memories returned — a flood of warmth and familiarity.
As a Korean adoptee, Jen hadn’t tasted Korean food since she was eighteen. Growing up in a small town in Wisconsin, her family hadn’t known the culture or the food. That night’s dinner — shared with two women carrying the flavors of home — brought those missing pieces back.
The Power of Umma
To Jen, Umma isn’t just a cookbook. It’s a reminder that food connects us to memory, identity, and family — even across oceans and years.
“All the smells and tastes took me back to my roots,” she wrote. “This cookbook is amazing.” 🇰🇷❤️
Through each recipe, Umma shares the warmth of Korean motherhood and the strength of heritage that endures through food.
Gratitude and Reflection
Jen expressed heartfelt thanks to Sarah Ahn and Nam Soon Ahn for their kindness and hospitality.
The dinner reminded her that the word “Umma” — meaning Mom — can live not only in memory but in every lovingly shared bite.
Originally shared in the Korean Adoptees Search Facebook Group
Book: Umma – A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom & 100 Family Recipes
Authors: Sarah Ahn & Nam Soon Ahn
Publisher: America’s Test Kitchen