Opening the small, pink-colored wooden door at the end of a narrow alley, I stepped into the house owned by Yubaka who came out of her studio to greet me in a white dress and a white apron.
“It must have been tiring to travel all the way here. Have you eaten yet? Shall we start after a bowl of noodles?”
After a brief greeting, she went back into the kitchen. It was a bowl of noodles with a spicy mixed sauce on the side she brought out soon enough.
“This kimchi was made by my next-door halmoni.”
Under a large persimmon tree, on the table which is a repurposed galvanized steel door, an unexpected meal was served. A cup of lukewarm cassia seed tea and a bowlful of noodles. Yubaka’s warm welcome blew away the fatigue and tension I had after driving over 2.5 hours from Seoul.

Yubaka’s yard has various plants growing organically, such as carrot flowers from the seeds that got drifted there by the wind, daisies and English lavenders that were gifts from her friend, and herbs like evening primrose, arugula, and dill. “There are no assigned sections. I just assume, ‘You wanted to be there.’ and accept it.” She has fostered a natural, beautiful garden. The best place to admire this little patch of paradise is from the table under the persimmon tree. The classical music from the radio in her studio, rustling sound of leaves at the passing of the wind, and bird calls echoing in the atmosphere all circle the yard once and move on. Anyone can become part of the garden. Sitting there you will feel like you are back in one of the warmest memories of your childhood, and that you’re in a very familiar haven.

Yubaka actually wants to provide comfort and consolation for those who visit her place. The guesthouse is called ‘The Little Prince Hotel.’ “To me, ‘the Little Prince’ seems so lonely and forlorn. I sympathize with him. So I thought I would build a hotel using < The Little Prince > as a theme.”  The interior space of Yubaka House is filled with copies of the classic novel translated in various languages that were sent by her friends across the world. “I want my guests to remember the warmth of a night’s stay and the taste and sincerity of a meal they have at my place.”

“I like the word ‘bap(meal).’ I think every food we consume is bap. Be it noodles or kimchi, the food we eat daily can all be categorized as bap.” Instead of being a food researcher, Yubaka wants to be called bap designer. She designs her daily meal based on a conversation with her customer. There is no written-down menu. When a man reserved a table for his mother who was having a hard time after her father’s death, Yubaka prepared a ‘table of consolation.’ When girl alumni from high-school years reserved a table, the concept was ‘Tell me your wish.’ She always asks herself, “Why do they come to me?” To her, understanding why they choose Yubaka House is key to meal preparation. So from plating to menu choices, every reservation is approached differently. Thanks to the effort, guests at Yubaka House can enjoy a table solely designed for them. “That’s why I only accept one reservation a day. I mean to convey that ‘I remember everything about you from our first step together. I’ll do my best preparing for your meal.’ When they are entertained and satisfied, I also feel happy and content.”

The real name of Yubaka is Yu Miri. ‘Baka’ is the name she gave herself. She once smelled a fresh mint scent while walking and could cheer up. So she named herself ‘Baka’ which is how mint is pronounced in Korean, hoping that she could be like a mint to people around her. Indeed, she has that very effect. Yubaka says her guests are all ‘little princes.’ “Whether it’s an old lady or gentleman, they are all little princes to me.” After eating what she has cooked for you and chit chatting with her, you will feel like you’ve received a big hug from her. She’s embracing people through her space and food.

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