I think I spend a bit too much time watching food related shows. No, not necessarily cooking shows (about the only would be Good Eats), rather “other” type, including one of my favourites: Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. However, there is a new show (actually, this is the third season) in FoodTV.ca (Food Network in Canada) called Family Restaurant which causes me to shiver. No, no typo, no mistake. A food show caused this reaction… What is this show about? Well, take a look at this clip:
So, why this reaction? Let me begin with saying that I have worked in a restaurant environment like The Lingnan, the restaurant of the Quons (though not the same scale). And it is NOT a happy/funny place to work in. For example, in the initial episode, Miles Quon (the eldest son) says (I am paraphrasing here but it is almost a direct quote): “The restaurant is my girlfriend, the restaurant is my wife. The restaurant is my ex-wife, the restaurant is also my mistress”. Sure, I can laugh now, as it is something in my past, yet watching it makes me re-live it.
So why watch the show then? Well… That brings point two: Display of Chinese culture, specially that of Amy Quon. Example: Miles had already set the wedding day with his fiancée and Amy originally agreed with the date. However, after further review of the actual day, it just happens to be the same as Chinese’s equivalent of the Day of the Death and, instead, suggests to have it a couple of days earlier… Which happens to be April’s Fool!
That is funny in its own way; however, the discussion that ensues… “If you don’t agree to the date change, I (Amy) will not attended your wedding”, likewise, “I (Amy) am paying for the reception” (which Miles add “it has already been paid”!). Finally, the coercion Chinese children have to endure: “If you love me, you will do as I say”. No, no kidding!
There is other interaction with other family members, this time, once again, Amy with Mandy, the daughter. It just happens Mandy is dating an East-Indian and Amy does not necessarily agree with that. Such is the disagreement, Amy grills him when he is helping in the restaurant. And, at home, when Amy is showing Mandy how to prepare swallow’s nest soup (making emphasis on the cost of that ingredient), she says she will not give some to Mandy’s boyfriend just because he is from a different culture and will not appreciate it. If you say each culture has it biases, I will not disagree here…
And how about the food itself? Since this is not a cooking show but rather the life behind the owners, there are no recipes per se. But having browsed their menu (it is available on-line), you could say it is the typical American Chinese menu. But, their reputation and popularity seems to come from not the originality of the food; rather because of their legacy.
By now, you might wonder, so why this gives me shivers? It just happens my mother is not that different from Amy Quon and seeing others go through the same I went through in an unscripted show is really scary. And, yes, I will keep on watching the show for the same reason people like really spicy food. It hurts at first but, it is enjoyable, and will come back for more later.
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Ha! I was flipping channels and came across this exact same clip.
Funny, eh? Assuming you have watched the show itself, opinions?
I’ve caught a part of what I think was the 2nd episode (where they installed a fish tank). Don’t know if I am getting the vibe of it yet, and not sure if it will be as interesting as the previous editions of this show. I think the over-the-top characters they are using in this one is a bit off-putting. Sad to see some stereotypes emerging (negative ones at that) too…
THis is the funniest show I’ve seen… That Marty is hilarious… a drama King.. love hima and the way he makes his brother the delicate princess and how he’s going to end up in a coffin on a light note… I’m watching forever
Man… I can’t really stand watching this show, but it’s like a train wreck, I stare it sometimes. LOL. My mother-in-law is so much like Amy. I think this will be quite familiar to a lot of Chinese families.
I’m Chinese and I live in Asia. But man… I cringe watching this. Trust me, this is NOT typical of all Chinese families. Oh the parents are very Asian alright, with the Asian superstition and controlling and such. But their kids? In a typical Asian family, if the kids spoke to their parents like Miles and Mandy do, they’d have been kicked out of the house, probably with a slap for the road. I am seriously APPALLED at the way they talk to their mum. It’s disrespectful and just downright mean. And the scene about checking the leaking pipes? He goes calling for dear ol’ dad to check it because he says, “I’m scared.” WIMP!…
Fiona, welcome! Of course it is not a typical Chinese family! This is more on the lines of one that has emigrated to other parts of the world and it is second or even third generation Chinese. Given the environment is not the same, cultural changes will exists.
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