Soju Party: A James Beard Award Winner

JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER • The ultimate guide to drinking (and eating) like a Korean! Recipes for cocktails, bomb shots, drinking food, hangover cures, and much more.

“A fun and heartfelt guide to Korean culture through food and drink . . . Irene will have you saying ‘Geonbae!’ in no time.” —KRISTEN KISH, host of Top Chef, restaurateur, author

“An apt blueprint of how to navigate this world like a pro while enjoying all the Korean recipes that are indispensable to a night of drinking soju.” —EDWARD LEE, chef and author of Bourbon Land

Drinking is an essential part of Korean culture, one that's guided by a complex web of unspoken rules, deep tradition, and lots and lots of food. With Soju Party, food writer, chef, and co-owner of Brooklyn’s Orion Bar Irene Yoo has written the book on drinking like a Korean.

She introduces the classic Korean alcohols and how Koreans typically like to drink them, sharing recipes for cocktails and tasty anju (drinking foods), including:
•The viral Milkis Shot
•A heart-stopping Seoul Train
•Unique cocktail recipes featuring Korean-inspired riffs and nostalgic twists, like a Jujube Ginseng Negroni and a Banana Milk makgeolli
•Simple snacks like salty and sweet Honey-Butter Bar Nuts
•Essential comfort food like a savory White Ddukbokki and a super slurpable Kimchi Carbonara
•A dedicated party section featuring a large-format Watermelon Soju Hwachae and sweet-and-spicy Chimaek Chicken

In addition to recipes, Soju Party explores the history of Korean drinking, with illustrations explaining proper serving and drinking etiquette, drinking games, food pairings, and more. A book that promises late nights (don’t worry, there’s a section on hangovers!), this is a party on the page. Geonbae!

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs