Kimchee is a traditional, fermented Korean food that can offer rich opportunities for hands-on student inquiry in microbiology. Extensive research on the biochemical, microbiological and nutritional aspects of kimchee provides a rich base for student-led exploration while real time data acquisition systems allow for rigorous quantification and data collection of experimental results. By constructing and monitoring kimchee fermentation chambers in the classroom, students can measure changes in pH, turbidity, CO₂ production, O₂ consumption, microbial populations, sugars and vitamins. The BioQUEST computer simulation, Sim Chee, (currently under development) will allow students to bridge the gap between wet-lab data collection and model construction.