New York | Hangawi
Chuseok (Korean: 추석), originally known as hangawi (한가위 from archaic Korean for "the great middle (of autumn)"(한가위), is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon.
Hangawi's warm aesthetics eases patrons back in time where focus was on the delicate balance of service and cuisine. The menu is wholly vegan Korean. Focus on the vegetables is reminiscent of the traditional harvest festival that the name implies. Upon entering, you take off your shoes and are welcomed into their home. Seating is low, on thin cushions with space carved out for legs and feet below a stunted table. Immediately, you know you're in good company.
I went this time with one of my best friends - Jenny. We were roommates for the better part of 2 years after graduating college. I can say with confidence she has made me a kinder and more thoughtful human. She has always indulged my sense of adventure and met me with openness to try new things. While I frequent Hangawi regularly, I was really excited to take her here.
The space is dimly lit, with enough room for everyone to sit comfortably. Mutual respect is a strong theme in the space. You're expected to arrive on time as they have anticipated your arrival and are prepared to cater to you. This simple social contract with many other restaurants is often broken. Here, 15 minutes really means 15 minutes. It's nice. It's nice to remember that there are still standards and just because other restaurants allow for lateness, sometimes a reminder that it's still disrespectful goes a long way. Jenny is a little bit like this. She reminds me to be respectful of other's time when I'm usually late to everything.
The food, being vegan, is clean and vitalizing. Creative vegetable pairings, genuine ingredients, and Korean inspired recipes often win over the hesitant carnivore. The ambiance though, is very much Chinese. The writings on the wall, the cups and the decor was all very much traditional Chinese characters. Funny story, thinking of it now about how I was looking forward to bringing Jenny here, the tea cup that she got her Date Paste Tea in, actually had her Chinese name written on it (李青). Not that they could have anticipated that, but it did make us to think that Jenny's name was literally written all over this place.
Being here with someone that you know will always be there for you is one of those fleeting moments that makes everything a little calmer. The atmosphere encourages close conversation and a sense of personal intimacy. Not all of us take the chance to actually enjoy it. Kind of like festival, Hangawi takes the time to allow for small celebrations of life and balance. The friends and family that you bring are a part of one big family that you've created for yourself. It's worth dedicating your attention to them to appreciate what they mean to you.
In essence: go to Hangawi, take your time, play footsie with your friends, and enjoy yourself.