Jin Caldwell and Kyurim Lee have made a name for themselves in the culinary world with their small bakery, JinJu Patisserie, located in Portland, Oregon.
The duo, both formerly working in the high-paced hotel scene of Las Vegas, sought a fresh start and a more community-oriented lifestyle.
They opened their bakery in 2019, incorporating their Korean roots and Asian flavors into traditional French patisserie.
This week, their efforts were recognized with one of the highest accolades in the food industry: the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery in the U.S.
In a conversation with OPB’s “All Things Considered” host Crystal Ligori, Caldwell and Lee discussed their culinary journey and the challenges they faced as women in a male-dominated field.
Kyurim Lee shared her experiences of working in Las Vegas, remarking on the strong male presence in the kitchen culture.
“Mainly, it’s all male chefs, and some of the chefs have a really strong opinion towards women–that women are a little bit weaker than men,” Lee explained.
Determined to challenge this perception, both chefs worked diligently to demonstrate the capabilities of female chefs.
Caldwell added, “If you look back 20 years ago, all the famous pastry chefs working in New York and Las Vegas were mainly French.
“It was more like ‘Put your head down and work hard,’ and our opinions didn’t really matter.
However, in the past decade, there’s been a significant shift, with many female chefs emerging and thriving in the industry.
At the recent awards, Caldwell expressed pride in connecting with other women chefs, especially those from Korea.
Originally from Seoul, both Caldwell and Lee incorporate their cultural heritage into their offerings at JinJu.
“At JinJu, we try to incorporate a lot of Korean and Asian flavors,” Caldwell stated.
They are hands-on owners and believe that their presence fosters a better connection with their customers.
“As Koreans, we’re trying to incorporate kimchi, bulgogi, and we also use other Asian flavors like matcha and red bean paste,” Caldwell elaborated.
An example of their innovative approach was their creation of a croissant filled with kimchi and barbecue fried rice, which has been well-received by customers.
“People get excited to try something new, and for us, that’s really easy,” Caldwell noted.
Lee added that the community’s trust in their unique flavor combinations has grown.
“Before, we were very skeptical about introducing new flavors to the customers, but now our customers really appreciate what we bring to our store,” she mentioned.
With culinary training rooted in French pastry traditions, the pair skillfully blend European and Asian flavors, elevating their offerings.
As they reflect on their recognition as semifinalists the previous year, they recall how unexpected it was to receive the nomination and how they did not anticipate winning this time.
“This year, we really didn’t expect to be in the final, and we definitely didn’t think we would win,” Lee said.
Caldwell provided context about last year’s challenges, sharing that Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer during their semifinalist nomination.
She underwent surgery, and the bakery had to close for about six weeks, which affected their chances of competing in the awards.
Despite the difficulties they faced, the duo approached this year’s nomination with a mindset of enjoying the experience and connecting with other chefs.
Thus, the moment they heard their name called as the winners came as a complete surprise.
Looking to the future, Lee shared their excitement regarding the next steps for JinJu.
“We’re brainstorming what JinJu can do differently coming up.
We want to keep pushing what we are currently doing while also exploring new concepts,” Lee mentioned.
With their recent recognition, Caldwell and Lee are inspired to continue their innovative and community-focused approach in the culinary landscape, ensuring their heritage is celebrated and that their bakery remains a beloved neighborhood spot.
image source from：opb
