Korean cuisine has evolved in various ways throughout its 5,000 years of history. Eating Korean food is one way to learn more about Korean culture. “It is a wonder why such an excellent cuisine has taken so long to be known,” said a food critic based in New York. Korean food is characterized by the belief that good food is the best medicine. In ancient Korea, food was more than just a meal. Food was considered to have medicinal power to prevent or heal a sickness. A Korean staple food, kimchi is a fermented food eaten throughout the winter. The beneficial lactobacillus that develops during the fermentation process makes kimchi a great anti-cancer food. Various Korean dishes such as bibimbap (a nutritious rice dish topped with vegetables, egg, meat, and red pepper paste), japchae (sweet potato noodles mixed with various vegetables), and samgyetang (chicken and ginseng rice soup) are made with flavors and health in mind using fresh ingredients.