Bonjour Bakery, which carries warm healing for Parents' Day, opens.
On the 6th, a production presentation for Coupang Play's new variety show Bonjour Bakery was held at the Myeongdong Community House in Jung-gu, Seoul. Park Geun-hyung PD, writer Kim Ran-ju, and actors Kim Hee-ae, Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Ki Taek attended.
Bonjour Bakery is a healing baking variety show set in the country's first "senior dessert cafe" opened in a quiet rural village, where elders who know the taste of life and bakery family members who know the taste of happiness share sweet comfort and warmth. Through the unique concept of a "yes senior zone" cafe that only allows entry to elders aged 65 and older and their companions, it promises fresh fun and warm connections never before seen.
Bonjour Bakery began with writer Kim Ran-ju's episode about her father. Kim said the planning intent was, "He traveled between Yeosu and Seoul during a long illness, and when I saw him off at Yongsan Station we waited for the train together in a cafe and he liked eating desserts. He ate various desserts, and my father passed away two years ago. That became a memory, and I wanted a comfortable space where people who couldn't spend time with their parents could be together."
In particular, writer Kim Ran-ju said about opening Bonjour Bakery in Gochang, "Gochang was the location for the 200th episode special of 1 Night 2 Days, and the elders liked it so much that I always remembered it. When we scouted for Three Meals a Day and Direct From the Source, the elders at the village hall ate the same food at the same time. Seeing that the supermarket that was in 1 Night 2 Days hadn't taken down its sign, I wanted to open a bakery here. I chose Gochang because it has mountains, sea, and tidal flats, and therefore many local specialties."
Park Geun-hyung PD said, "I thought French desserts might be unfamiliar to the elders. It's good if they enjoy it, but they need to accept it comfortably, so I thought it would be fine if the origin was our village, and we made desserts from things grown in Gochang. I remember the elders enjoying them very much." Cha Seung-won added, "If the chefs hadn't been here, Bonjour Bakery wouldn't have reached its destination. They had an enormous influence."
Writer Kim Ran-ju said about casting, "When I planned and talked with the other writers, we did a lot of research. I thought it wasn't something most cast members could do, so Cha Seung-won was the only option. For the hall team, I wanted someone familiar who would be recognized in any rural area, so I contacted Kim Hee-ae. I wondered who could embrace the youngest member, part-timers, and the elders, and the people we first contacted all responded quickly, for which I am very grateful."
The chef team in charge of the kitchen is led by the trusted "Chef Cha," Cha Seung-won. Known for his surprising charms through exceptional cooking skills, he this time challenges French baking, which requires delicate techniques, and transforms into the multilayered, meticulous "Cha patissier." Cha Seung-won said, "Baking and pastry are called a science, and I'm not good at that. The processes are complex and I wondered if it would be possible. Because the work is so precise, I didn't know until opening day, but it all came together like magic. And there was a tough writer who wouldn't compromise. They pushed and guided me, and afterward I felt very grateful to that writer. I want to say thank you for being able to complete everything perfectly."
Cha Seung-won, who left the famous line 'ugly bread is treason,' said, "My drive to achieve is greatest with Bonjour Bakery. Spain's Guesthouse and Three Meals a Day were great, but the process of making pastries and bread alone gave me happiness. There was a sense of accomplishment in overcoming hurdles one by one, and in terms of difficulty, Bonjour Bakery was the toughest."
Bright-energied Lee Ki Taek joins as an "assistant patissier," assisting in the kitchen. He will become Cha Seung-won's reliable right-hand man, busily moving in front of the oven and bringing cheerful energy to the kitchen with unexpected clumsiness and relentless passion. Lee Ki Taek said, "I wanted to participate because it was clear we could bring happiness. I thought it would be meaningful, and I wondered when else I could work with my seniors. Healing was nice, but I was happy to work with my seniors."
Lee Ki Taek said, "I was happy. I tried to work hard beside senior Cha Seung-won, but the dessert processes were tricky and required a lot of affection. Senior said we should bring happiness to the elders, so I didn't get tired and could work together."
Kim Hee-ae, who transforms into the "general manager," anchors the cafe with her unique elegance and warm smile. Listening to the elders' stories and sharing sincere empathy, her presence will raise Bonjour Bakery's healing quotient. Kim Hee-ae added, "Bonjour Bakery is a dessert cafe only open to elders aged 65 and older and their companions. I think Korea's pastry and baking skills are the best in the world, and it's a pity that they are mainly open to younger generations. We want to offer a small, subtle, dessert-like moist happiness to those who have difficulty accessing such places."
Kim Hee-ae later said, "I had a selfish reason for joining. I ate the most among the members and was happy, but afterward I got a body ache," sharing her impressions.
Kim Seon-ho takes on the role of barista, showing off the image of the nation's grandson. With a genial smile and friendly reactions, he is expected to melt the elders' hearts and deliver happiness in a fragrant cup of coffee. Kim Seon-ho said, "The purpose was so good, and just hearing about the production staff and cast made me want to do it. It was meaningful to give healing and happiness to the elders, and I also received healing. I felt happy and excited as if traveling each time."
Kim Seon-ho said, "Compared with the kitchen team, there weren't as many processes, so my learning time was short. I proceeded while talking with the seniors, and I only did the coffee while Kim Hee-ae senior handled the other drinks. It was fun." Kim Hee-ae said, "I couldn't get a sense of how to make coffee and drinks, but Kim Seon-ho was very dependable."
Seventeen's Dino, Ong Seongwu, and Lee Joo-been joined as part-timers. Kim Seon-ho said, "I couldn't be there for all the time because of performance schedules, so the part-timers helped. Later, when we were short-staffed, Dino came one more time. I was moved by how well they did." Kim Hee-ae added, "I felt Cha Seung-won and Lee Ki Taek really worked hard, and we were tired too. In that chaotic situation, the part-timers came and were a great help."
After filming, both the cast and the elders wiped their eyes and expressed regret. Kim Hee-ae said, "The moving event at the end seemed like something the production team had not intended. They created a more precious life memory than I imagined." Cha Seung-won said, "When we arrived in Gochang, we only looked at the building's exterior at first and only at the end did we see its essence. Viewers of this program will take away lingering feelings similar to mine."
Kim Seon-ho said, "At the end there was an unintended moment that made my eyes redden; it stayed in my memory. I don't know how it will appear on screen, but I felt 'we came to the right place.' Please look forward to it," and Lee Ki Taek said, "The finale was the most moving; I cried so much I had to wipe my eyes off camera, but the tears kept coming. It warmed my heart and remained a good memory."
Ahead of Bonjour Bakery's opening, Park Geun-hyung PD said, "I hope viewers will think about the people around them while watching." Kim Hee-ae said, "It's not a story that's too distant — it's a mother's story, our story we'll soon meet." Cha Seung-won emphasized, "Sometimes after a program ends you feel it was unnecessary, but this time you'll feel it was truly well done and enjoy it." Kim Seon-ho urged, "Seeing the elders heal made me think a lot about the people around me. Please watch and feel it for yourselves," and Lee Ki Taek said, "As your view of those around you becomes warmer and broader, please watch and enjoy it together." Writer Kim Ran-ju said, "Watching elders find happiness in small things will make viewers happy too," she said.
Coupang Play's new variety show Bonjour Bakery will be released for the first time at 4 p.m. on the 8th.
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