Bistro Shigor Stands at the Intersection of France and Korea
JTBC’s newest addition to their list of variety shows highlights a quite peculiar but fancy name: Bistro Shigor. Nonetheless, welcome to Bistro Shigor, the restaurant for locals and food enthusiasts alike.
A Quick Dive into the Show
Called 시고르 경양식 in Korean, Bistro Shigor is a literal translation with “bistro” representing 경양식 and “shigor” representing 시고르, a slang term that is essentially “시골” (meaning countryside or rural area) spelled out.
Located in the province of Gangwon-do, the bistro opens up in Samcheok-si, a town situated quite a distance away from the heart of the city. Surrounded by gorgeous and peaceful scenery in the absence of the bustling and frenetic ways of urban life, the pop-up restaurant offers a rather unforgettable sentiment that is accompanied by the particular air of the countryside.
Through meticulous planning, Samcheok-si was chosen as the home ground in hopes of widening locals’ dining experiences. Serving amazing French cuisine to the locals in town, the restaurant will be a key player in broadening the scope of opportunity for many to approach and even take a liking to French food.
To target the niche audience of local mass as customers, the show’s production crew selected the empty town hall to renovate into the very site of Bistro Shigor. The drastic update that occurred over one month completely changed the look both on the exterior and especially the interior, giving the building a touch of elegance in an attempt to replicate a neat, simplified version of the ravishingly romantic impression of France.
A Warm Greeting
Bistro Shigor strives to capture the process of opening a pop-up restaurant in a small village far from the city. The kick is that celebrities themselves run the restaurant; from managing the hall to prepping, cooking, and serving the plates, it is definitely a spectacular sight to see.
All hail the very members that make up the Bistro Shigor team, and this sure isn’t too much of a grand welcome when you see some unexpected celebrity appearances as the cast (not as a guest!) on the show.
First up, we have actress Choi Jiwoo who takes on the role of the bistro’s owner. In her executive role, she is responsible for the overall management and supervision of Bistro Shigor. Embracing hospitality at the core, Choi Jiwoo looks after customers, guiding them to a memorable experience with a pleasant meal full of comfort and warmth.
The bar is managed by comedian and entertainer Jo Seho. As the bar manager, he plays the role of enhancing the rich flavor of the cuisine with a tasty drink. Not to mention that he’s the light of the party, bringing the team atmosphere up with his lively spirit even more.
In Bistro Shigor, the hall management group is led by actor Lee Soohyuk. With a keen eye for detail down to the meticulous bits, he works his way around to provide customers with the best service that can leave a lasting positive memory of the bistro. Aside from his renowned looks, his witty charm acts to take him a step closer to achieving his goal because he’s clearly earning all the brownie points from customers with his superb service!
In the kitchen, we have three chefs in charge of creating appetizing dishes. Actor Cha Inpyo is the head chef; as the leader of all chefs, he acts as the pillar of comfort and spiritual mainstay who gets the team up and goes through the challenges they face.
Actor Lee Jangwoo participates in the show as the sous-chef. Along with head chef Cha Inpyo, Lee Jangwoo is responsible for getting the right savory flavor in the fast-paced kitchen. As much as he loves cooking, his skills and techniques are definitely one of a kind to look out for!
TVXQ member Changmin joins the cast lineup as a special chef. Aside from preparing the plates alongside his fellow kitchen mates, he also adds the final touch by decorating the cuisine. By investing passion and diligence in carrying out his role, Changmin’s final touch further amplifies the plate’s attractiveness and magnifies the joy that customers feel during their meal.
Now, let’s take a brief overview of the finalized Bistro Shigor course menu: the white whelk bourride and french onion soup are the two options for starters, the Korean tenderloin and flounder fillet are two options for the main menus, seafood pilaf and pasta for side menus, and red ginseng (홍삼; hong sam) brûlée and verrine for desserts.
The fact that the bistro is the first time that some local members of the town are encountering French food makes it a challenge for the plates to be approachable and satisfying in terms of look and taste. To deliver the pleasurable experience that French food brings, but also create something not too out of the ordinary for those accustomed to Korean food, the chefs trained in creating Bistro Shigor’s signature menus include local ingredients. Essentially modifying French cuisine to cater to the taste preference of the local customers, the kitchen team’s joint effort is evident in the quality of food that they present.
A passionate band of chefs and managers invite you to the Bistro Shigor. Devoted to sharing unforgettable French and Korean culinary experiences, the Bistro Shigor crew offers exceptional service, dishes, and memories that will remain in the hearts of many customers.
Now that Halloween is over, it’s never too early to start getting into holiday festivities and feel the romance, nostalgia, and comfort drifting in the air. Embrace the warmth and comfort that appetizing dishes radiate, and live in the moment of excitement and joy that food can bring to you with Bistro Shigor.