Ruby Edward's TARTINE - Bakery   Cafe

Who is Chef D.Garrett Edwards?

Chef Garrett has had a life long love affair with cooking and baking. In 1959 Chef Garrett’s mother gave him his first cookbook, The Boy’s Cookbook. The brownies he makes today are from the recipe found in that book so long ago.

Chef Garrett spent the early part of his adult life in Astoria, Oregon, USA, where he had several businesses and bought and restored many historical buildings. Retiring in 1991 he moved to San Francisco, California, USA where he traveled the world dog and house sitting. It was this endeavor that brought him to Seoul in 1996. After spending two months in Seoul, Chef Garrett decided to relocate to S.Korea.

During his first year in Korea, Chef Garrett organized the kitchen and then the menu for Gump’s Restaurant and Bar in Chunghug [outside of Seoul]. Working both the front and back of house, he helped to make Gump’s a local landmark.

Chef Garrett then embarked on a 4 year long restoration of a farm house in Song’chu, where he added a ornamental garden. It is during this time he met his future business partner, Luke Lee who was serving in the army just a few kilometers away.

During the cold Korean winters, Chef Garrett returned to Astoria and was the relief Innkeeper for the Benjamin Young Inn and was renowned for his breakfasts and hospitality.

In 2001, Chef Garrett and his friend, Mr. Kim, opened a small coffee shop and deli in the Dongbu Ichon-dong area of Seoul. Mr. Kim managed the coffee operation and Chef Garrett made his signature pies, cookies and cheesecakes. After a year, Chef Garrett sold his interest in the business.

In May of 2007, Chef Garrett and Luke Lee formed a business partnership and they preformed due diligence before opening TARTINE Bakery & Cafe in April of 2008. Chef Garrett was the only baker at TARTINE until early 2009. Chef Garrett is the Executive Chef at TARTINE and now manages a staff of 7 chefs.

Chef Garrett has also modeled and acted in S.Korea, featured in magazines, video, movies and on TV programs and ads.

Who is Luke Lee[Young-Ho Lee]?

Luke Lee parents grew bean sprouts near Seoul and sold them to restaurants and also retail at a local market. Working long hours and hard work was instilled in him by example at an early age along with a respect for good quality farm goods.

Luke majored is Oriental Philosophy and English Literature at Sungkyunkwan University and participated in the ROTC program. After University, Luke served his country in the army as a 2nd Lieutenant and was responsible for three tanks near Song’chu. It was during this time that Luke met his future business partner Garrett Edwards.

After completing his military service, Luke embarked on a hike the length of the Korean peninsula; it took him one month, 2 pairs of shoes and one pair of sandals. After his solitary hike, he was ready to plunge into a career.

Luke honed his marketing skills as a sports marketing promoter and later as a computer programmer for a company supplying software to the Korean government. After working for companies, Luke longed to create his own business and work for himself.

Luke and Chef Garrett created an Internet business together in 2003. They designed and sold amethyst and gold jewelry on eBay, selling their fine jewelry all over the world. Luke became the first eBay Certified Trading Assistant in Korea and gave many lectures and presentations about how Korean businesses could sell successfully on eBay. This however, was a seasonal business and he wanted something more permanent.

In 2004, Luke and Chef Garrett opened a commercial kitchen where they supplied up-scale restaurants and coffee shops with their handmade desserts. This eventually led them to opening Ruby Edwards’ TARTINE Bakery & Cafe in the Itaewon area of Seoul, S.Korea, in 2008.

Luke worked alongside Chef Garrett in the design, demolition and remodel of their new cafe, TARTINE. The only task hired out was the plumbing and the installation of the gas main.

From the beginning, Luke took over the responsibilities of the service center and as Office Manager, responsibilities he still carries out today.

On opening day, April 19, 2008, Luke and Chef Garrett greeted their customers, met their needs and baked all the items they sold. Finally, more service staff was hired and now TARTINE has 14 Servers, 7 chefs and 1 Office Staff Member.

When not working, Luke likes to read, study business / management, snowboard, travel and ‘just look around.’