So Hwang, 74, spent a month in the Philippines, where a Korean cook prepared kimchi daily for him.

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Those involved in the Korean restaurant industry say kimchi, and fermented foods like it, shouldn't be considered potentially hazardous at all.

WSJ: Restaurants: City Failing on Kimchi

When my kimchi-less Korean taco arrived, I bit into it and was immediately met by flavourful pork, spicy but earthy Korean barbecue sauce that balanced out the smokiness from the grill, and soft, silky avocado.

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According to Elliott Marcus, an associate health commissioner, Korean restaurants don't get penalized when kimchi is being made (the fermentation process often requires leaving vegetables, most commonly cabbage, out at room temperature for days).

WSJ: Restaurants: City Failing on Kimchi

There's mushroom wine and chestnut porridge, according to summit officials, as well as kimchi, which is a spicy Korean vegetable dish that's pretty full of garlic, and the leaders are all going to be gathering for a photo, as well.

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Korean and Chinese restaurants have been given trouble about traditional practices with kimchi and Peking ducks, respectively.

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The crispy pork belly, a staple of Korean cuisine called samgyeopsal, is intensely rich, and silky chocolate mousse is served up in tiny traditional kimchi pots made from chocolate, which are decorated with cake crumbs and edible flowers.

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