Sunday Read: Chef David Chang on #MeToo, Ugly Delicious and more

RECODE

David Chang was interviewed last week.

CELEBRITY CHEF David Chang had a candid interview in which he talked about his many business ventures.

This week's Sunday Read is actually a Sunday Watch. If you're a foodie and follow David Chang, this is a must watch video.

The conversation took place Wednesday (May 30) at the Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He was interviewed by Eater editor-in-chief Amanda Kludt and Recode executive editor Peter Kafka about his many business ventures. This candid conversation covered Momofuku’s expansion plans, his vision for the recently launched company Majordomo Media, the criticism of his hit Netflix show Ugly Delicious, and Chang’s thoughts on how the #MeToo movement has changed the restaurant industry — including his own establishments.

Eater provides some highlights of the 34-minute interview below:

On the impact of Ugly Delicious on his businesses: “It’s a sea change. I didn’t understand how many people were going to watch the show. I won’t say numbers, but whether it’s Chef’s Table or any other culinary programming on Netflix, the story is, among those that have been on these programs, is you can expect to see a dramatic bump, even in restaurants that are already busy.”

On the role that the Majordomo Media plays in relation to the Momofuku group: “You look at someone like Wolfgang Puck, and he’s created a giant business of every kind of thing related to food, from like CPG (consumer packaged goods), to pots and pans, to frozen pizzas, to catering. And there’s a reason why hundreds of people stay with him. He constantly takes care of his employees, and he’s got a great team. And that’s sort of the idea: ‘Hey if the media takes off, that’s more stuff we can bring back to the restaurants.’ Maybe people will never want to pay that much money for food; maybe we can subsidize some of the costs with other stuff that’s elevating our business.

On how the #MeToo movement is changing his restaurant group: “There was just a recent revelation, more on Eater today, about Mario [Batali]. And it’s not just disheartening. You’re like... Jesus Christ, this is so hard to read. Because simultaneously, I don’t know if we would be in business today without Mario’s support. So I feel obligated to recognize that, but also, like, what do I do with the opportunities I have now? And the only thing I think I can do with the platform that we have, is to be the best-in-class business with the most thoughtful, forward-thinking culture, knowing that we’re never going to be perfect. But that’s always been our goal.”

But why settle for thosse teases. Listen and watch the entire conversation, below