The program 'Convenience Restaurant' expands its reach by promoting 'K-Food' while featuring singer and actor Lee Jeong-hyun, Kim Jae-jung, actor Lee Sang-woo, and Jang Shin-young among the 'Chef and Friends' group.

On the afternoon of the 27th, a press conference for the KBS 2TV entertainment program 'New Release Convenience Restaurant' (abbreviated as Convenience Restaurant) was held at KBS Art Hall in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Attendees included MC Boom, fixed panel member Oh My Girl's Hyojeong, Chef Lee Yeon-bok, and 'Chef and Friends' members Lee Jeong-hyun, Kim Jae-jung, and Lee Sang-woo, who discussed the program under the guidance of announcer Kim Jin-woong, along with producer Yoon Byeong-il.

'Convenience Restaurant' observes the 'daily life of food-loving stars' and shares their recipes. Previously, the program gained attention with exquisite standalone dishes not found in convenience stores alongside comedians Lee Young-ja, Lee Kyung-kyu, and actor Ryu Soo-young. However, this time, with a partnership with OURHOME, a meal service provider, it broadens its scope and paves a new path.

The changes became evident with the opening remarks from Chef Lee Yeon-bok, the eldest present, before the main press conference began. Chef Lee held up prepared notes and expressed gratitude to the gathered reporters by saying, "Thank you for coming despite your busy schedules." He continued, stating, "We are currently in a national disaster situation," and expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims and those affected. He further expressed, "To all of you battling in the field and those involved in the rescue efforts, I sincerely hope there are no further victims." This statement was read as emphasizing the program's significance as a 'heartwarming entertainment' meant to promote 'K-Food,' while also considering the social climate.

Producer Yoon Byeong-il also addressed the program's evolution, stating, "We launched in 2019, and it's already been six years. I believe our longevity stems from discovering new talents that have brought us to this point." He added, "By partnering with new collaborators, we aim to strengthen elements like live cooking that we couldn't do before, and we also plan to enhance set revamps and cooking competition vibes. We will showcase our attempts extending beyond convenience store products to include school meals and frozen lunch boxes."

Host Boom humorously remarked, "There are parts of cooking I don't want to miss. I love it so much. Yet, I find myself intently watching other chefs cook. I receive my wife’s love through Convenience Restaurant's recipes. I don’t want to miss out on cooking that much. If given the chance, I want to challenge myself as Chef Boom. I’m worried it might shake the very foundations of the show too much."

Hyojeong shared, "When I first started with Convenience Restaurant, I was so much of a beginner that I couldn't even chop properly. But I've gradually picked it up by following along. Nowadays, I cook about three times a week," emphasizing her growth alongside the program.

Given that the program started as 'Convenience Store Restaurant,' its identity could have easily shifted. In this regard, producer Yoon Byeong-il explained, "We aim to take the word 'convenient' to mean a restaurant where you can easily cook at home, not limited to convenience stores. Our new partner also includes meal service providers."

Among the 'Chef and Friends,' who stands out the most? Lee Yeon-bok responded, "There are many formidable chefs. One who comes to mind and is amusing is Lee Chan-won. I was taken aback when I introduced his dried and seasoned vegetables. He dries fish and squid, enduring the smell while showing his genuine passion for cooking. Also, he doesn’t follow precise recipes when cooking and quickly whips things up, inviting many guests over. From a chef's perspective, that’s not easy, but it’s always fascinating to watch how quickly he produces dishes. If he appears, he might be a strong candidate for the championship."

Additionally, he noted, "Lee Jeong-hyun sitting here has always been strong and has won many competitions. Kim Jae-jung created JJ seasoning, which feels like an unfair advantage every time I use it because it's so delicious. The dedication of Lee Sang-woo, who is present, is also quite impressive. It's hard to pinpoint just one specific chef, but there are quite a few strong contenders here."

In line with the changes, 'Chef and Friends' sharpened their culinary skills. Lee Jeong-hyun remarked, "I've mostly cooked simple and easy home dishes until now. However, as Convenience Restaurant has adopted a home-cooked concept, I feel the shift aligns. I believe I can continue to cook comfortably as before. Two years ago, I published a baby food book and became interested in cooking through our country's royal cuisine encyclopedias. As per the new concept, I think it would be great to incorporate more of our traditional ingredients into my cooking. There’s a disappearing ingredient called 'red bean paste,' which is simpler to make than meju. I want to introduce such traditional ingredients so that people don't forget them and continue to present delicious and easy home-cooked recipes using these ingredients."

Kim Jae-jung stated, "Until now, I have personally loved Korean food and have made dishes related to it. Moving forward, I feel I should challenge fusion foods as well. It seems like there’s a need for practice. Generally, I’ve used simple ingredients that I’ve always employed in home cooking. However, I want to utilize some special parts or by-products that can be made at home to create budget-friendly dishes that can feature on family tables."

Lee Sang-woo mentioned, "It seems that I often cook things that are hard for viewers to recreate. It takes a long time. I think I've inadvertently been running an inconvenient restaurant. Thus, like everyone else, I also want to try making dishes that are more convenient for people to follow along with," adding, "For now, it’s a secret."

In this, Boom chimed in, "It seems we could even connect it to agriculture. Isn't sincerity what the concept is about? I and the producer will plan a large project where you personally harvest and connect cooking. I would appreciate your cooperation on this."

Furthermore, regarding sales targets, producer Yoon Byeong-il joked, "More is better. OURHOME is striving to help enhance our buildings as best as possible," and added about their direction, "We actually have many things we want to do. To give you a slight hint, we are starting large-scale cooking. While we've offered comfortable home meals through Convenience Restaurant, we will also challenge large meals and, if opportunities arise, consider international market launches. Our future direction largely focuses on promoting K-Food to the world."

'Convenience Restaurant' airs every Friday at 8:30 p.m.

[Photo] OSEN reporter Kim Seong-rak.

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