This is taken from “Riding the Third Wave,” which looks at adoptees currently living in Korea and the effect of Korea’s social distancing level 2.5 on their professional and social lives.
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In the fall of this year, I opened a restaurant with the concept being a private kitchen. After many years running a Michelin-starred restaurant in Dubai, I returned to Korea and decided to open a restaurant offering a French menu made with seasonal produce and a wide range of wine. Because it is a reservation-only restaurant, we provide an ambiance of privacy and intimacy that is appreciated by our clientele.
Before the social distancing level was increased, the operating hours were 6 PM to 1 AM from Tuesday to Sunday. After the social distancing level went up to 2.5, all restaurants were required to close at 9 PM, which means customers physically have to leave before that time or we can get fined by the government. Therefore, we had to start opening an hour earlier so we didn’t have to rush our customers and still maintain the convivial atmosphere and great dining experience.
Our concept of the restaurant is based on a dinner experience with wine after the meal. The idea was to have a set menu for groups no larger than eight. In December, we created a partnership with a beer brand. Because we have to close at 9 PM, we introduced a lunch service in addition to our two dinner services while eliminating our last dinner service. Preparations were the same as before, but we had to come in much earlier to prepare for lunch. We are preparing to offer a takeout menu to meet clientele requests as Christmas and New Years are usually a great time for restaurants. We had some large group reservations, but they all got cancelled. This year, we aren’t planning to offer a holiday menu. Depending on the situation at the beginning of January, we might postpone and offer our Christmas menu to some of our regular customers to keep the festive end-of-the-year spirit.
Outside of work, to be honest, I didn’t really have to change much in my daily routine. I’m following the new 2.5 restrictions and going back home earlier, which gives me more time to spend with my family, and that’s not a bad thing at all.
