Lu Ching Lai, a chef from 'Families Across Boundaries,' was watching the profiles of men hanging in the 'Matching Square' of Sichuan when they made a bombshell remark, asking, “Should we put up our son’s profile too?” which devastated the studio.

In the 82nd episode of 'Families Across Boundaries,' aired on Channel A on the 8th, the four MCs, Ahn Jung-hwan, Lee Hye-won, Yoo Se-yoon, and Song Jin-woo, along with representatives from France, Fabien, and the U.S., Kris, showcased families who crossed boundaries between France and China as they traveled in unique regions of their respective countries. Notably, guest star 'Chinese cuisine master' Lu Ching Lai added insight and fun while observing the gourmet tour of the 'Chinese family'.

First, the 'Chinese family,' Hyeon Bo-na and Zhang Hai-xiang, appeared alongside the sibling duo, Zhang Geon-hee and Zhang Geon-hee. They stated, “We have come to Chengdu in Sichuan, one of the 'four major taste cities' in China, together with Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong,” adding, “We will take on the 'three major dishes' of Sichuan, famous for 'mala'.” For their first course, the 'Chinese family' sought out the original hot pot restaurant known for 'Mapo tofu' loaded with mala. After the meal, they remarked, “It's spicier and numbing than we expected, but mixing it with rice makes it incredibly delicious.” In response, Lu Ching Lai noted, “Having cooked Chinese cuisine for decades, I thought Korean people could never eat 'mala,' but I didn't expect it to become a trend in Korea,” and prepared 'mala Mapo tofu' in the studio to serve to the cast, creating a warming atmosphere.

Afterward, the 'Chinese family' explored the 'Wuhusa,' which contains the history of the Shu Kingdom from the Three Kingdoms period, and expressed, “I’m using my head and my stomach is growling,” as they headed to 'Jinri Street,' which recreates the market street from the Three Kingdoms era. There, they cleared Sichuan's second 'three major dishes,' Dan Dan noodles, as well as sweet noodles, joon-tun gwo-kui (Sichuan traditional sweet potato cake with meat), fried quail, and roasted rabbit head. They then headed to 'Xue Ming Tea House,' a 100-year-old tea house in Chengdu People's Park, and ordered Sichuan's traditional tea, 'Gaiwan tea.' When they requested a refill, a 'tea master' appeared, performing a graceful 'Zhangquihua Da Ye' tea pouring performance with a long spout kettle, which drew cheers from all.

Next, the 'Chinese family' visited the 'Matching Square' where parents were waiting for potential matches by hanging their children’s profiles. Lu Ching Lai explained, “In China, many men cannot marry due to gender imbalance. The tradition of sending 'cash gifts' from the groom's side to the bride is still prevalent, so sometimes men cannot marry due to a lack of money.” Immediately afterward, Lu Ching Lai joked, “Should we put up the profile of our second son who cannot marry?” to which Ahn Jung-hwan humorously replied, “If Chef Lu Ching Lai is looking for a daughter-in-law, I think applicants would flock from all over China.” For their last activity, the 'Chinese family' entered a 'kebab hot pot' restaurant and enjoyed gourmet challenges such as duck tongue skewers and duck blood, ultimately consuming a total of 200 skewers, eliciting respect for setting a 'legendary record.'

The 'French family,' Kim Da-sun and Steve, greeted Rohan, Lena, and Kim Da-sun's mother. They stated, “We are on our second trip with mother to the iconic vacation spot 'Nice,' a dream destination for people worldwide,” asserting, “We will introduce all the attractions, food, and expenses of southern France.” First, they showcased the 'Small Luxury' hotel where the families were staying, revealing that a night in the hotel with a view of the Mediterranean costs about “600,000 won for a standard room.” Later, the 'French family' strolled along the 4-kilometer Nice coastline and tasted the trendy cocktail 'Saint-Germain Spritz' at a cocktail bar on the 'private beach.' Kim Da-sun expressed satisfaction, saying, “Cocktails here cost about 20,000 to 25,000 won, which is a bit pricey, but you can enjoy the Nice sea right in front of you.”

Located just a 5-minute walk from the beach is Nice's traditional flower market, 'Saleia Market,' where Steve gave his flower-loving mother-in-law an instant gift of 'rose bouquet,' adding warmth to the scene. Following this, the 'French family' enjoyed 'socca,' a local snack of Nice, and commented, “It tastes like Korean pancakes, reminiscent of makgeolli.” After thoroughly enjoying the view from 'Nice Castle,' the 'French family' sought out a traditional Nice restaurant and ordered 'petit farci' (stuffed vegetable dish) and 'rouget' (a quickly grilled fish dish). The average price for each menu item was around 19 euros (approximately 30,000 won), prompting reactions of “reasonable” from them. At that moment, Ahn Jung-hwan asked Chef Lu Ching Lai, “Is there any food you enjoyed the most during your trip to France?” to which Lu Ching Lai humorously replied, “I only ate Chinese food in France,” causing everyone to burst into laughter. After a hearty meal, the 'French family' headed to 'Eze Village,' a small city about a 20-minute drive from Nice, experiencing a time slip back to the medieval era. After strolling along the 'Nietzsche Walking Path,' where Nietzsche once stayed and found inspiration for his work, they admired the exotic scenery while exploring the highlight of 'Eze Village,' the 'Cactus Garden,' warmly concluding their 'filial piety trip.'

[Photo] Provided by Channel A

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