Culinary Class Wars' meat boss Chef David Lee surprised viewers by revealing his American wife.
On the 15th broadcast of KBS2's 'The CEO Has Donkey Ears' (hereafter The CEO Has Donkey Ears), David Lee was shown conducting market research with his staff.
That day David Lee said, "I've heard Boss David Lee's restaurant has been packed lately," adding, "A lot of people do come." Park Myung Soo asked, "I'm curious how service is handled. If a favorite celebrity comes, do they get special treatment or is it the same for everyone?" David Lee confessed, "Honestly, superstars and regular customers are the same to me. Nothing special is given."
In response, Jun Hyun-moo testified, "There really wasn't any special service. It was neat," but David Lee retorted, "Think about it. You ate a lot that day so you don't remember," and scolded Park Myung Soo, saying, "You should have come earlier; you didn't come, did you?" Park Myung Soo replied, "I'll go. I'm saving money to go," drawing laughter.
Later, David Lee was shown sitting at a cafe in Hannam-dong. He was smiling brightly unlike usual, and the person sitting across from him was none other than his American wife Rosa. Jun Hyun-moo admired Rosa's beauty, saying, "She looks like a South American actress."
David Lee explained, "My wife Rosa is an Ecuadorian American. We met in New York; I fell in love at first sight and asked her out. It's been six years since she came to Korea with me. She isn't good at Korean," revealing his affectionate side. He added, "I'm worried. Living away from home, her parents aren't here, she has no relatives, the language is different and the culture is different. It's just me, so I try to spend as much time with her as possible."
He showed affection by picking out only the breads his wife liked and feeding them to her, and Kim Sook exclaimed, "He has that side too?" David Lee confessed, "Even now, when I meet her outside and see her, I still get fluttery," but when Jun Hyun-moo asked, "Really? Does your wife feel the same?" he candidly replied, "Probably not," provoking laughter.
Rosa complained, "It's been six years since I came to Korea. I like Korea, but life here is a bit hard. Mostly it's because of the language." David Lee asked, "Should I teach you some Korean?" then said, "Repeat after me. My husband is Park Bo Gum," drawing jeers. Lee Soon-sil angrily said, "Let's not be like that," and Jun Hyun-moo added, "Park Bo Gum could get mad too." Park Myung Soo warned, "A complaint could be filed." David Lee said, "In my wife's eyes I might look like that," but Park Myung Soo firmly dismissed it, saying, "You don't look like that. You'd look like this. She'll think you're a Zen master," delivering a blunt put-down.
David Lee then recalled his first meeting with his wife. He asked, "Do you remember how we met? What was my first impression when you first saw me at the restaurant?" Rosa said, "It was really funny. Because you kept giving me food as comp, right?" which caused an uproar in the studio. Park Myung Soo angrily said, "This guy's a gangster. He didn't give Hyun-moo any. His behavior was rough, but he kept giving free menu items, didn't he?" and Kim Sook added, "He must give it depending on the person."
David Lee said, "There's a whole story. The day before I saw her at the restaurant someone asked on the street, 'It's your first time in Koreatown; where should I go?' I told them everything is open at this hour and it's all delicious, and we parted. I said to my friend next to me, 'Isn't she really pretty? Should I go talk to her?' and my friend said, 'Don't. Someone in her group definitely has a boyfriend,' so I didn't. The next day she came as a restaurant customer. By chance, not knowing it was her. I thought I couldn't let the chance pass today, so I kept sending dishes. Then a cocktail came back to the kitchen and they said to bring this. When I went, they said, 'So you were the one yesterday?' and we started getting closer from then on."
Rosa recalled the time and asked, "Maybe it was three items. Why did you give me service food?" David Lee answered, "Because you were pretty," creating a heartwarming moment.
After that, David Lee made an emergency inspection of his New York apprentice's shop with his staff and then went out to do market research. He explained, "Nowadays, it's not an exaggeration to say that more than half of foreign tourists visiting Korea are interested in K-food. We thought it might be a time when we could be influenced too, so I went with the staff to study."
Meanwhile, David Lee told a handsome employee, "Philjung, you should make a girlfriend soon," adding, "I'll give you tips to get a girlfriend." Watching this, Jun Hyun-moo clicked his tongue and said, "Who is teaching whom.." David Lee offered, "If Hyun-moo hyung gets a girl he's seeing, if she comes to our restaurant we'll create an opportunity for you." Jun Hyun-moo quipped, "Then at least get me that restaurant," prompting laughs.
David Lee advised the employee, "Men need confidence. You have to push. Put yourself down. The world isn't easy. If you find someone, you have to seize them. Don't hesitate, go in. Look at me. Of course I wasn't like this back then," but when asked, "Can you give two or three complimentary items for the employee?" he firmly replied, "But when you're working I want you to focus on work," which drew laughter.
[Photo] KBS2
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