Celebrity chef Baek Jong-won has opened a barbecue restaurant in Lyon, France, aiming to showcase Korea’s unique “hanjan” dining culture.
The premiere of tvN’s ‘Business Challenge: Baeksajang3,’ broadcast on the 10th, followed Baek Jong-won, Lee Jang-woo, Yuri, Yoon Si-yoon, and John Park as they launched the restaurant in Lyon, often called the “culinary capital.”
During an inspection of the establishment, Baek praised the open kitchen concept for its appeal but expressed concerns, stating, “This will likely be the most challenging location this season. To successfully introduce a new Korean restaurant to locals, we must select a menu that minimizes resistance.”
He concluded, “Ultimately, it’s about the meat. We must focus on meat dishes,” leading to the decision to open a barbecue spot.
Baek also acknowledged the evolving perceptions of Korean cuisine overseas, urging the team to consider “bold and unconventional dishes instead of predictable ones.”
Lee Jang-woo concurred, emphasizing the need for a unique “kick” for their restaurant. Baek highlighted the “Korean culture of grilling and sharing meat on a pan” as their core concept.
When John Park inquired if only one dish would be served daily, Baek mentioned considering samgyeopsal, spicy samgyeopsal, dak-galbi, and bulgogi as potential options.
After deliberation, Baek decided, “For the first day, we should go with samgyeopsal.”
Following a trip to the market, Baek prepared the dish with pork belly, garlic, onion, seasoned green onions, fried eggs, and rice cakes, completing the hanjan meal.
Image source: tvN ‘Business Challenge: Baeksajang3’ broadcast capture
