• 2
    watchers
  • 7
    plays
  • 13
    collected
  • 2008-05-26T23:00:00Z on BBC Four
  • 2h
  • 10h (5 episodes)
  • United Kingdom
  • Documentary
Four part series looking at China's largest restaurant looks at what it takes to run a successful restaurant business in China. It introduces us to the energetic owner, Qin Linzi, her highly capable general manager and the army of waiters, chefs, managers and staff who keep everything running smoothly. West Lake Restaurant in South China's Changsha can safely call itself the biggest Chinese restaurant in the world, with its staff of 1,000 working 5,000 tables and serving no fewer than 150 ducks per day and 200 snakes per week. The words of the restaurant's staff and guests are used in the film to paint a picture of modern China: the proprietress, one of the city's 20 self-made millionaires, speaks candidly about her failed marriage; a bridegroom-to-be who is celebrating at the restaurant explains the modern Chinese customs associated with the wedding party; and a waitress visits her poor parents in the countryside. Through these scenes, we gain insight into the unique combination of the ancient religious values and the new capitalist values with which China is stepping into the 21st century. What becomes very clear is that not everyone is set to benefit from the economic boom. In an approach comparable to Jia Zhang-ke's in his portrait of a theme park called "The World," by focusing on the microcosm of the West Lake Restaurant, this film manages to gain a perspective on the huge changes China is going through.

5 episodes

Series Premiere

2008-05-26T23:00:00Z

1x01 Enterprise

Series Premiere

1x01 Enterprise

  • 2008-05-26T23:00:00Z2h

The chefs' skills are put to the test in a competition to prepare snake and cook 'Fried Live Fish' and Qin is seen improving the restaurant's signature tofu dish. Communism and commerce go hand in hand as Qin's party connections are revealed to have been integral to her success.

2008-06-02T23:00:00Z

1x02 A Good Match

1x02 A Good Match

  • 2008-06-02T23:00:00Z2h

Features the wedding between a wealthy property developer and his beautiful bride and examines attitudes towards marriage in contemporary China. For the new moneyed classes, old traditions have come into fashion and the wedding is a colourful carnival of Western traditions and ancient Chinese rituals.

2008-06-09T23:00:00Z

1x03 Family Duties

1x03 Family Duties

  • 2008-06-09T23:00:00Z2h

Explores the strong sense of duty implicit in family relationships in China. It show how waitress Peng has sacrificed her own education to support her sister's studies. The restaurant is also busy preparing for a 70th birthday banquet for Sun and her family, including special dishes such as steamed longevity buns and stir-fried turtle. Through her story, this episode explores China's painful past and the extreme hardship faced by many families. The owner, Qin Linzi, discusses her own difficult childhood and introduces us to her daughter, who has led a privileged life.

2008-06-16T23:00:00Z

1x04 Bright Future

1x04 Bright Future

  • 2008-06-16T23:00:00Z2h

Looks to the future with a banquet for a new baby and the anniversary show organised by the West Lake to celebrate its third year. Managers, chefs and waiting staff take to the stage in an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza rounded off with a star turn by the owner, Qin Linzi. The restaurant addresses the high rate of staff turnover and gives the waiting staff a pay rise, while Qin discusses how important it is for her to drink with her customers.

2008-07-06T23:00:00Z

1x05 Compilation

1x05 Compilation

  • 2008-07-06T23:00:00Z2h

Documentary which looks at what it takes to run a successful restaurant business in China. Owner Qin Linzi and her staff keep everything running smoothly, while the chefs' skills are put to the test in a competition. The restaurant prepares for a 70th birthday banquet. Qin Linzi discusses her difficult childhood and introduces her daughter, who has led a more privileged life. There's a banquet for a newborn baby and an anniversary show organised by the restaurant to celebrate its third year.

Loading...