welcome to MEOGJIA!
MEOGJIA 먹자 (“mok-ja”) means “let’s eat!” in Korean
Hello! I’m Chef Leo Chen and I am Taiwanese by birth, Korean at heart. I started cooking because I missed my ahma’s (grandma in Taiwanese) food. The most impactful culinary moment for me was that first bite into her zongzi filled with hong shao rou (braised pork belly) with shiitake mushrooms and xia mi (dried shrimp) when I was four. I still long for that taste, but my ahma no longer has the memory to teach me her recipe. I love cooking comfort foods and sharing stories about the local ingredients, local purveyors, and other fascinating details about the food. I love supporting local farms and purveyors who cultivate amazing ingredients.
I have worked in a few professional kitchens over the course of my life – Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Bouchon Bistro in Yountville, California. After working in those kitchens, I decided to get back to my roots – cooking Taiwanese and Korean cuisine as a way to connect with my culture and to those around me.
When I am not cooking, my wife, Kyunghee, and I love to hike, travel, and find local hidden gems for good eats. I enjoy reading cookbooks and watching Kdrama. I love eating as much as I love cooking. My favorite cuisine is Korean and I’m always in the mood for kimchi jiigae, especially during those chilly Michigan winters.
Thank you for being here!
“In the Korean culture, we have to wait until the elder at the table says Meogjia before we start eating as a sign of respect. Meogjia to me means slowing down and being present with those around the table, connection.”
share stories. highlight ingredients. build community.
intimate gatherings
MEOGJIA intimate gatherings is a special dining experience which includes a private dinner for a group of 2-8 people at the comfort of your home.
pop ups & events
We’ve had the pleasure of organizing and cooking for a fundraising dinner at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms and have been invited to be part of Frame Dinners at Frame. We’ve also held pop ups at York and HOMES brewery.
kimchi & more
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support local
We believe in supporting local. Here’s a general list of local suppliers we use for our dishes:
get in touch
If you’re interested in hiring us for your next intimate gathering or looking to partner/collaborate, email us or fill out the form. We will be in touch soon. Thank you for being here!
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MEOGJIA 