Exploring the Chef's Favorite Restaurant Variety Show 'Chef's Aunt's House' Director Jang Joo-sung's Written Interview Released!

Disney+ is proudly presenting a new concept variety show 〈Weekly Entertainment: A Comprehensive Playground for Entertainment Held Over a Week〉 with 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉. We are releasing the full written interview with Director Jang Joo-sung. 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 is a new healing eating show that evokes memories intertwined with food and people, along with chefs' tips for finding delicious restaurants. Director Jang Joo-sung shares the behind-the-scenes stories of the production, from the background of the concept of 'Aunt's House' to special viewing points that make it even more delicious.

Q1. Unlike typical variety shows, this is produced in a mid-form format of about 30 minutes. I'm curious if there were any specific points you paid special attention to or struggled with in the direction.

A1. Regardless of length, I believe that content must ultimately provide viewers with fun, emotion, and information. However, within the somewhat limited time of mid-form, the most I pondered was, 'What is the essence we want to convey when we strip away all other elements?' In long-form, scenes can be placed naturally as a way to grab attention or take a break, but in mid-form, they feel entirely different. If content other than the message is included in a short runtime, even if that scene is funny and touching, it can feel like an 'appendix.' Therefore, from the planning stage through filming and editing, I kept asking, 'Is this scene really the core we want to convey?' I think that process is the biggest differentiator in this work, and I believe that properly introducing a single restaurant is a strength that connects with mid-form.

Q2. The concept of capturing chefs going to find restaurants rather than their cooking is intriguing. What is the intention behind this program?

A2. We have produced various food-related content with chefs over the years. In that process, I felt that the chefs' expertise and passion for cooking have already been sufficiently highlighted in various media. However, the excitement felt when they talk about their favorite restaurants in private or the personal stories intertwined with that have not been introduced much. Additionally, with the recent rise in interest in 'cooking shows' and chefs, curiosity about 'how special are the restaurants that chefs frequently visit?' has grown. 'What do they eat?' This question itself became an attractive starting point for the program and made experiencing restaurants from the chefs' perspective the biggest motivation for the production.

Q3. What does the title 'Aunt's House' signify?

A3. We have referred to friendly people as 'Aunt.' If we consider the original meaning, the expression 'favorite restaurant' is more accurate. However, we wanted to unravel not only the 'food' of that place but also the stories of the 'people' within it. We aimed to capture the warmth represented by the 'Aunt' as the owner of the favorite restaurant and the special chemistry that arises from the relationship with the chef as a customer. For this reason, we chose the title 'Chef's Aunt's House' rather than simply 'Chef's Favorite Restaurant.'

Q4. I was impressed by the focus on finding each person's taste of memory rather than objective evaluations of food. If there are any specific aspects you paid special attention to in the direction for this, what are they?

A4. I asked the chefs to speak honestly and as subjectively as possible when discussing their impressions of food. Usually, when asking a chef for a review, they tend to provide professional analyses regarding the freshness of ingredients or cooking levels, which can feel somewhat difficult and objective from the viewer's perspective. What we wanted were expressions that carry personal memories and emotions, like 'the kimchi that feels like the taste of Aunt's hand' or 'the sundae that comforts after a hard day.' During filming, the chefs were honest and sincere, and even evaluations like 'this isn't my style' appeared, which are rarely seen in food programs. We captured these moments without any alterations, so please check them out in the broadcast.

Q5. I'm curious about the reason for selecting Yoon Doo-joon as the main MC and the process of bringing in chefs Kim Min-seong, David Lee, Lim Tae-hoon, and Yoon Nam-no.

A5. We needed a main MC who could approach from the perspective of the general viewer rather than expertise in food. It would be even better if they had a keen interest in food and could enjoy any dish deliciously. The entire production team unanimously chose Yoon Doo-joon early on. His character, as shown in 〈Let's Eat〉, with his genuine interest in food and the way he enjoys eating, was a perfect fit for our program. He readily agreed, allowing us to start on a positive note.

In selecting chefs, we prioritized 'chemistry' as the most important criterion. Since the concept is about finding favorite restaurants, there needs to be familiarity and comfort among the participants for authentic filming to occur. Chefs Kim Min-seong, David Lee, Lim Tae-hoon, and Yoon Nam-no were already a group that knew each other well through various activities, and the atmosphere of 'if that chef is going, I will too!' naturally led to their joining.

Q6. If there are any memorable episodes during the selection criteria and process for 'Aunt's House,' please share.

A6. The most important criterion for selecting locations was whether 'the participant truly loves this favorite restaurant.' No matter how trendy a hot restaurant is, if it doesn't meet this criterion, it was excluded from consideration. The core of 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 is not only the food itself but also the personal stories of the participants intertwined with it, so I believe that if this condition is not met, the program cannot be established. It is truly a 'my favorite restaurant' that chefs frequently visit and genuinely want to introduce to others.

Since we filmed at actual favorite restaurants, the owners often made accommodations for the shoot. There were cases where a restaurant that never filmed allowed us to shoot with just a phone call from the guest chef, and there were times when they adjusted their operating hours for smooth progress. Of course, we made thorough prior consultations to ensure that other customers were not inconvenienced and filmed quickly with minimal personnel to avoid disrupting the restaurant's operations. Sometimes, they even prepared 'hidden menus' that weren't on the menu, allowing the production team to create special memories in every episode of 'Aunt's House.'

Q7. Many chefs participated as guests alongside the main cast, and I'm curious if there was a chef who left a particularly strong impression.

A7. All the guest chefs showcased their unique charms, but the one who stands out in my memory is Chef Kim Mi-ryeong from episode 1's 'Aunt's Course.' Chef Kim Mi-ryeong was the guest who opened the series and perfectly embodied the representation of 'Aunt.' The hardships she experienced while selling food in the market and the life stories of crying and laughing with customers unfolded at her favorite food stall, making that story a scene that symbolizes the identity of 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 in the first episode.

If you could recommend just one restaurant among the Aunt's Houses that left a lasting impression, which one would it be?

A8. It's really hard to pick just one, but I would like to introduce a pub in Mangwon-dong that some of the production team recently revisited privately. The guest chef introduced it as a place where 'the side dishes are Michelin-level delicious,' and indeed, every side dish served by the owner stimulated our salivary glands, making the staff swallow throughout the filming. Perhaps because of that lingering impression, several members of the production team visited again a few days ago, and they ordered not only the dishes they had during filming but also other items, all of which were top-notch.

Additionally, there's a meat restaurant in Samcheongpo. There was some confusion about 'why eat pork belly when going to Samcheongpo?' However, we proceeded with filming based on the guest chef's confident recommendation. The pork belly we had there became the best pork belly that all participants and production staff agreed upon. The owner's meticulous care and philosophy of not serving customers if the ratio of lean meat to fat is not right resulted in the best pork belly of our lives. I believe you won't regret visiting it at least once.

Q9. What do you think is the competitive edge of 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 compared to other food and eating-related variety shows?

A9. The biggest competitive edge of 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 is that it is 'a favorite restaurant experienced from the chef's perspective.' Existing eating shows or restaurant programs often focus on introducing famous places or showcasing the taste and visuals of food. However, we capture the places that chefs visit as 'customers,' along with the personal memories and relationships contained within.

Moreover, the human charm brought by the 'Aunt,' represented as the 'owner of the favorite restaurant,' cannot be overlooked. Not only the taste of the food but also the warmth and stories of the person serving that food, as well as the chemistry with the chefs, allow us to feel the hearts of those who love that place. Ultimately, I believe 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 differentiates itself from other eating variety shows by being a program that conveys stories about people, relationships, and memories while being a food program.

Q10. Please say a word to the Disney+ subscribers waiting for 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉.

A10. 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉 is a story filled with the warmth of people unfolding in the 'Aunt's House' that chefs genuinely love. I believe that while watching the broadcast, viewers will not only experience the taste of the food but also the sincerity of the person making that food and the warmth that can only be felt in that space. You will also experience moments of laughter, surprise, and sometimes heartwarming emotions with us. Please look forward to 〈Chef's Aunt's House〉, which will soon meet you on Disney+. We invite you to the 'Aunt's House' table.