How one of Toronto's most famous chefs turns junk food gourmet with his son
Susur Lee, the Iron Chef and Toronto-based restaurateur, is better known on TikTok as Jet Bent-Lee’s father—the one who turns junk food into gourmet meals.
It began a year and a half ago when Jet ordered a waffle fry, spicy chicken sandwich, nuggets and a lemonade from Chick-fil-A.
“Eh, dad. Can you turn this gourmet?”
“Suddenly, he wants to do something with me. I'm so excited to do things with him. It doesn't matter what it is,” Susur told CTV News Toronto. Jet, 24, is his youngest son. “I have a soft spot for him.”
Since then, the two have chronicled dozens of videos—in some cases viewed by upwards of 34 million people.
The concept is entrancing. Jet hands Susur junk food – anything from McDonald’s to a KitKat – and his dad turns it into a meal that no longer resembles its origin. Instead, the food looks more like to a dish Susur would serve at his King Street restaurant, Lee.
Beyond the delight of the food itself, there is an element of intimacy in their videos, which typically take place at their Toronto home where Susur can be seen in flannel pajama pants with his dogs trotting around in the background.
But more intimate than the scene itself, is the rawness of their interactions.
“I think it is the relationship,” Sursur said. “He reads my emotions. Sometimes he walks up and says, ‘Dad, are you okay?’ I say, ‘How do you know?’ He just saw me and it completely changed my spirit, just because he read me.”
This playfulness starts from the first frame – Jet throwing his dad a banana who then dips into a deep squat to catch it – to the final image of Susur smothering his son in an embrace after receiving a 10/10 rating on his spring rolls oozing with peanut butter and jelly.
The thousands of comments that roll in mirrors an affection the audience has for their relationship. One user writes, “The hug at the end!” while another says, “I love you guys.”
“I think that part is really big,” Susur said. “Because, we're not just on camera doing that, spending time. When we go out, when we hang out, we are just exactly like that.”
Despite their dynamic-duo energy, and Jet’s “chef’s hand,” according to his father, Susur says they are not looking to enter the restaurant space in a more professional capacity together.
“I still think he shouldn't be in the restaurant business. It’s too hard, too hard. I think he’s very good at what he does. So I really encourage it,” he said.
Jet is behind the music, filming and editing of their videos, which have contributed to his stunning figures when it comes to followers: 2.8 million on TikTok, more than 51,000 on Instagram and 246,000 YouTube subscribers.
When it comes to the continuity of their videos, Susur says they have no plan to pause them, with their latest one coming out just last week.
“I’m starting to really get to know him as a person, not just as a son. So that part is, it's a huge development. I can share some of my life as a father, and also as a friend.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.