Q&A with Susur Lee: the chef discusses Lee Lounge’s new dishes, lower prices and new flavours
On Monday night, we found ourselves at the highly anticipated Valentine’s Day opening of Lee Lounge, the new restaurant from Susur Lee. The room was buzzing, with all hands on deck working to the beat of the floor manager’s Iron Chef-like calls. A bartender was making frantic last-minute adjustments to one of the new cocktails, the very dirty ume plum martini. Amid this chaos, Susur Lee was the eye of the storm. He spoke with us at length, excusing himself with only thirty minutes to go before the service started. Our conversation, below
What exactly is Lee Lounge? Is it Susur Lee’s latest establishment or is it an extension of Lee?
Lee Lounge is considered a part of Lee—it’s just that Lee has a lounge now. People waiting for their table have a place to sit for a drink, have some small bites. It’s a bit more modern, a little more relaxed and with less feeling of commitment.
Was your decision to move toward a more casual feel influenced by dining trends or demands from a certain dining demographic?
No, it’s not because of a trend. I just feel that all my life I’ve been doing fine cuisine, and now I’m going with the times. It’s not about me—it’s about cooking for people. I don’t have a prejudice about the crowd I’m catering to. I’ve welcomed everyone who’s been a customer from Lotus to Susur to Madeline’s.
What about the price point?
Sometimes with restaurants you make so little money, it is all about the labour and love. And the prices we are charging are so inexpensive—$40-45 per person. Susur used to be $125. The idea was to make something modern with interesting food. Things don’t always have to have foie gras. Although I do have foie gras, I’m just not charging people $30 for it.
What are some of the new dishes at Lee Lounge that you’re particularly proud of?
I have the Peking duck roll, served with foie gras at $22. It’s a cross between char xiu duck and Peking duck. I took the skin off, then wrapped it in tofu skin to make it crispy. Another dish is the spicy Hunan chicken wings ($11); it’s my recipe using red fermented tofu and Hainanese chicken rice dip. I want to give people the chance to have some very nice flavours, not something boring.
Are diners receptive to trying new flavours?
Oh yes. Being Asian, the restaurant has a wide variety of flavours and also the umami taste, which is important in my cooking. It’s based on really concrete things, not an “oh my God, I don’t understand” with bubbles, or those scientific cooking things which I never liked myself. My intention is to cook like a Chinese person living in North America, but combine it with something a little abstract.
What’s in store for customers coming here on your opening night?
The thing with opening tonight is that it’s Valentine’s, and with this restaurant opening, it’s double happiness. So I want people to enjoy tonight. I want to take care of people. Lots of love tonight.
Lee Lounge, 601 King St. W.,416-603-2205, susur.com.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/qa-with-susur-lee-the-chef-discusses-lee-lounges-new-dishes-lower-prices-and-new-flavours/&title=Q&A with Susur Lee: the chef discusses Lee Lounge’s new dishes, lower prices and new flavours&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/lee-lounging.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_55810" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="Lee lounging before the opening of Lee Lounge (Image: Renée Suen)"][/caption]
On Monday night, we found ourselves at the highly anticipated Valentine's Day opening of Lee Lounge, the new restaurant from Susur Lee. The room was buzzing, with all hands on deck working to the beat of the floor manager’s Iron Chef-like calls. A bartender was making frantic last-minute adjustments to one of the new cocktails, the very dirty ume plum martini. Amid this chaos, Susur Lee was the eye of the storm. He spoke with us at length, excusing himself with only thirty minutes to go before the service started. Our conversation, below
What exactly is Lee Lounge? Is it Susur Lee’s latest establishment or is it an extension of Lee?
Lee Lounge is considered a part of Lee—it’s just that Lee has a lounge now. People waiting for their table have a place to sit for a drink, have some small bites. It’s a bit more modern, a little more relaxed and with less feeling of commitment.
Was your decision to move toward a more casual feel influenced by dining trends or demands from a certain dining demographic?
No, it’s not because of a trend. I just feel that all my life I’ve been doing fine cuisine, and now I’m going with the times. It’s not about me—it’s about cooking for people. I don’t have a prejudice about the crowd I’m catering to. I’ve welcomed everyone who’s been a customer from Lotus to Susur to Madeline’s.
What about the price point?
Sometimes with restaurants you make so little money, it is all about the labour and love. And the prices we are charging are so inexpensive—$40-45 per person. Susur used to be $125. The idea was to make something modern with interesting food. Things don’t always have to have foie gras. Although I do have foie gras, I’m just not charging people $30 for it.
What are some of the new dishes at Lee Lounge that you’re particularly proud of?
I have the Peking duck roll, served with foie gras at $22. It’s a cross between char xiu duck and Peking duck. I took the skin off, then wrapped it in tofu skin to make it crispy. Another dish is the spicy Hunan chicken wings ($11); it’s my recipe using red fermented tofu and Hainanese chicken rice dip. I want to give people the chance to have some very nice flavours, not something boring.
[caption id="attachment_55811" align="alignright" width="320" caption="Lee preps his team before opening service (Image: Renée Suen)"][/caption]
Are diners receptive to trying new flavours?
Oh yes. Being Asian, the restaurant has a wide variety of flavours and also the umami taste, which is important in my cooking. It’s based on really concrete things, not an “oh my God, I don’t understand” with bubbles, or those scientific cooking things which I never liked myself. My intention is to cook like a Chinese person living in North America, but combine it with something a little abstract.
What’s in store for customers coming here on your opening night?
The thing with opening tonight is that it’s Valentine’s, and with this restaurant opening, it’s double happiness. So I want people to enjoy tonight. I want to take care of people. Lots of love tonight.
Lee Lounge, 601 King St. W.,416-603-2205, susur.com.){kind=link}
I know my brother was there for Valentines day and he said it was fantastic, especially the duck roll. He stated to me and I qoute”I wish that duck was in every dish”. Only down side for him was he is 6’4 big guy and the tables were mad close. I am excited for my dinner there in a month.
Smart move. People know when they’re being ripped off, especially when there’s so many good owner-managed restos in the area at prices considerably less than $125pp.
Was there for Valentines Day with my g/f. It was a great experience, the service was quick and efficient. Had the singapore slaw, orzo saute w/ crab, scallops, lamb rack and slow braised beef. My fav was the lamb rack, the scallops I could do without. Also had 1/2 a bottle of wine, came to $197 w/ tip. Also got to meet and talk w/ Susur as he was wandering around. Only neg as stated above, was the tables were really close together.
I just wish Foie Gras would be reconsidered as a staple on these menus. It’s so disheartening to hear it discussed in an almost “must-have” menu item diatribe. It may be delicious and it may be a delicacy, but honestly the geese and ducks who produce it go through immense suffering and pain for this “dish”. I don’t mean to be “that person” but it’s honestly so awful. Please consider reading this post: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/foie-gras.aspx I know anyone who puts anything by PETA gets hammered by negative comments, but just consider reading about it. That’s all.
Read and not convinced. Bring on the foie.
Ate at Lee lounge tonight,
everything was tasty as hell, service was excellent and atmosphere was great!
***** out of 5
Susur is the master and should be considered one of the top 10 chefs in the world! I have never eaten better meals/flavour/ingredients anywhere else – and I have traveled and eaten at some very decent restaurants in 5 continents.
Susur should have won the Iron Chef contest hands down but it was so skewed in Bobby Flay’s favour….he does not have any creativity and is marginally a better cook than Mr. BAM aka Emeril Lagasse!