Dosirak Korean Lunch Box (Medium)

Later in the 1960s and 1970s, it was common for mothers to pack lunches and meals for their children’s school lunches and dinners in Korea. Two were escorted to and from school daily, as it was an all-day affair. During class, they were placed on enormous rusty radiators that doubled as central warmers until the food was heated and ready to consume and share with friends.

Today, dosirak serves as a reminder of the past, love, and convenience, as well as a way to make people feel special. The majority of Koreans recall their mothers cooking meals to be shared with peers. Dosirak is still commonly used in Korean culture for serving lunches at room temperature and is vigorously shaken for a few minutes prior to serving. This simulates the throwing of a lunchbox in a child’s backpack throughout the day till lunchtime. The result is similar to fried rice in that all of the ingredients are combined, creating a very nostalgic flavour.