TITLE: Recognizing November 22, 2023, as Kimchee Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing November 22, 2023, as Kimchee Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Kimchee has long played a central role in Korean culture, and in recent decades, the beloved dish has gained increasing popularity around the globe, and especially in Texas; and WHEREAS, In ancient times, the people of the Korean peninsula began fermenting vegetables to preserve them for consumption during long, harsh winters; the healthy, flavorful, and pungent product of this process, kimchee, became a staple of the Korean diet, served at every meal and incorporated in myriad recipes, from soup to pancakes; in the autumn, family members, friends, and neighbors came together to help in the labor-intensive preparation, providing an opportunity to socialize and build community; this ritual, kimjang,has been acknowledged since 2013 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; and WHEREAS, Many ingredients can be used in kimchee, including scallions, ginger, garlic, sugar, salt, fish sauce, and fermented seafood; complex interactions among the elements during fermentation result in unique combinations of spicy, sour, sweet, carbonated, and umami flavors; although there are numerous kinds of kimchee, including regional and seasonal varieties, the most popular today is baechu kimchee, based on napa cabbage, salt, and gochugaru,a Korean red pepper powder; and WHEREAS, During the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, kimchee was promoted as one of the official foods of the Olympic Village, sparking an increase in exports; in recent years, Texas has seen its Korean American population grow, leading to wider availability of kimchee, whether commercially produced, artisanal, or homemade; it appears not only in its traditional culinary context, but also on everything from tacos to French fries; and WHEREAS, A mainstay of Korea's rich cuisine for centuries, kimchee is adding a distinctive zing to the vibrant diversity of the food scene across the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize November 22, 2023, as Kimchee Day and encourage all Texans to enjoy this savory treat. Jetton Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 72 was adopted by the House on November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House