PD Kim Kwan-tae of tvN‘s ‘Edward Lee’s Country Cook’ shared everything from the program‘s planning intentions to the behind-the-scenes.

‘Edward Lee’s Country Cook’ is a program where Chef Edward Lee and his three reliable friends, Byun Yo-han, Ko Ah-sung, and Cynthia, travel around the country and present a variety of concepts using seasonal winter ingredients. It is comprised of a production team specializing in food programs such as ‘MasterChef Korea’ and ‘Korean Food Battle’.

PD Kim Kwan-tae, who directed ‘Edward Lee‘s Country Cook’, saw Chef Edward Lee’s sincerity about Korean food in “‘Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War’. He said, “I wanted to convey the taste of Korea by utilizing the infrastructure I gained from ‘MasterChef Korea’ and ‘Korean Food Battle’.”

He continued, “In the process, I thought, ‘What if Chef Edward Lee, who always cooked by measuring, learned cooking from Korean grandmothers and aunts who only create flavor with their hands?’ And I was curious about how the elderly in the region who usually eat the same food would react if he made a Korean dish that had never been seen before with the local ingredients and the tastes of the elderly people that he encountered in that way, and I thought it would be fun.” He explained the intention behind the program‘s planning.

Since this is Edward Lee’s first reality show challenge, people are curious about the behind-the-scenes story of how he came to be involved. PD Kim Kwan-tae said, “I sent the chef a program proposal email and explained it to him during a video conference, and the chef‘s first words were, ’I loved idea all show!‘” “I was really grateful,” he recalled. He also added, “After reading the chef’s book, I found that he enjoys exploring ingredients and food, and he seems to have a unique spirit of challenge when it comes to food, so I tried to create a reality that included these elements.”


He chose Edward Lee‘s food as a differentiating factor. PD Kim Kwan-tae said, “Just like an orchestra conductor harmoniously combining several instruments to create one magnificent sound, it was amazing to see how he combined flavors to create a familiar yet new flavor. I tried hard to show the viewers the chef’s unique kick that made this combination possible.”

Meanwhile, the teaser video included notable points to watch from the first rural visit to Korea by American man Edward Lee. It is full of interesting elements, including a K-countryside experience that will make you burst with dopamine, Byun Yo-han who will manage Edward Lee‘s mentality, Ko Ah-seong who will help him cook, chemistry with Cynthia who will join him for the mukbang, and even a challenge to capture the taste buds of country grandmas and grandpas.

Above all, Edward Lee’s appearance of showing off even chemistry while receiving teachings from the ‘Country Taste! Pia’ grandmothers is eye-catching. With the creativity he gained from his travels, Edward Lee serves food to country grandmas and grandpas and foreshadows unique Korean recipes, such as combining peanut butter, makgeolli, and egg yolk with homemade soybean paste.

‘Edward Lee‘s Country Cook’ will first air on February 14th at 8:40 PM.

Hong Se-young, Donga.com reporter projecthong@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.