By Liliek Soelistyo

I love cooking, but I'm not really a good cook, though. Recently, I've been falling in love with a Korean dish called bibimbap. What's so interesting about bibimbap? Well, when I see bibimbap, the colors of the vegetables, beef, eggs and other savory ingredients delight my eyes, and lure my appetite. So I think the harmonious colors and taste make bibimbap one of the most popular Korean dishes in Indonesia.

It seems that the colors of bibimbap play a very important role. I believe that the colors of Korean food, the traditional five colors, or obangsaek, make bibimbap to look very sensational. The obangsaek are the five cardinal colors that represent the traditional "five elements" of the universe. The colors white, black, green, red and yellow not only attract the eye, but also have a very deep philosophical meaning for all human beings. Only a few people in Indonesian realize the strength of the colors of Korean dishes, although in Indonesia they believe in mostly two colors: red and white. Somewhat different from the traditional Korean belief, these two colors are an expression of an "Indonesian spirit." Therefore, the Indonesian national flag is solely red and white. These colors also play an important role in many Indonesian dishes. Historically, the color red is similar to the color of Javanese sugar, while white is similar to the color of rice. In some traditional rituals that surround the birth of babies or housewarming ceremonies, people will prepare and serve guests with red and white porridge so that they can experience the harmony between red and white, reveling in the unity of body and soul.

Similar to the philosophy of harmony between the body and the soul, the five colors in bibimbap represent the importance of harmony between nature and mankind. The five colors capture the energy of the universe and absorb it through the food. This is particularly amazing because when people eat it, they consume the energy of the universe. This is another deep sensation that people might not be aware of when they eat bibimbap.

I think that because bibimbap uses rice, it becomes one of the reasons why the Indonesian people, who also eat rice every day, love bibimbap. They don't realize that the white of the rice represents purity and justice. However, what makes bibimbap more interesting is the name itself. It is a combination of the word “bibim,” which means to mix, and “bap,” which means rice. I see that literally it could be interpreted as "a mixture of rice," which it is not. It is a construction of rice, vegetables, meat and eggs, which is both nutritious and aesthetic.

What makes bibimbap so alluring is the nutrition and value behind its delicacy. The quality of the diversity of the ingredients presents nutritional benefits and their symbolic significance for the human body. The use of natural ingredients makes the food really healthy. Bibimbap never uses artificial ingredients. The green vegetables, lean meat and the seaweed or mushrooms provide generous amounts of nutrition. According to Korean philosophy, the colorful blend of different foods and ingredients brings balance to the body. This balance is very essential for the human body. Therefore, each of the five color-elements is incorporated into one single meal to manifest the balance. The color of "red" in the carrots symbolizes our heart, while the "black" of the mushroom represents our kidneys. The "green" of the vegetables represents our liver. The "yellow" of the yolk stands for our stomach, and the "white" rice is representative of our lungs. What else can match the nourishment and balance of bibimbap?

Bibimbap also never comes in small sizes. That means that it can be eaten by a number of people, which I think shows that the food represents togetherness. People eat bibimbap together. Togetherness is an important aspect of our life. It unites us and gives us a sense of belonging. It inspirits us to love one another. Further, this also symbolizes a warm fellowship among members of a family or between friends. Isn’t that beautiful? So when we eat bibimbap, the feeling of closeness and affection among people goes together with the warmth and pleasure of the taste and sight of bibimbap.

Talking about bibimbap, as well as eating it, allows us to not only visualize the elegance of the elements of the colorful ingredients, but also allows us to encounter the deep philosophical symbolization of its elements. The food does not offer sensation alone, yet it leads to a belief in "Korean values," especially the value of maintaining harmony between the human body and nature. Besides, the values of unity, friendship and love mingle in one dazzling food. So let’s experience the great taste and the rich value of bibimbap together!