pasta
Seo Yoo Kyung endured the gruelling job of kitchen assistant at high-class restaurant La Sfera for two years in hopes of being promoted to chef. Things are looking up as she meets a handsome stranger on the street who ends up being the restaurant’s new head chef. His first day on the job, however, he fires all the female cooks, including Yoo Kyung. Yoo Kyung, too stubborn to let go of her dream, she is willing to do whatever it takes to get her job back. Yoo Kyung struggles as she butts heads with the new chef while trying to learn everything she can from him at the same time, and sparks begin to fly. Things are complicated by the presence of Kim San, a charming customer with an eye for Yoo Kyung who seems to have mysterious ties to the restaurant, and Oh Sae Young, a famous TV Chef and former love of Hyun Wook, not to mention the kitchen politics that get in the way of their budding romance.
mydramalist
- Starring : Lee Sun Kyun | Gong Hyo Jin | Alex | Lee Ha Nui
- Episodes : 20 (1 hr. 5 min.)
- Aired : January 4 – March 9, 2010
- Network : MBC
I blame Parasite. Well, not entirely because this drama has been on my to be watched list since I first watched Coffee Prince. But I will blame Parasite for wanting to listen to Lee Sun Kyun’s deep Allstate commercial worthy voice. With that said, I’m glad I was able to knock this one off the ever growing list. Since this is a show revolving around food and a kitchen, let me tackle this like a recipe.
Take two parts of opposite leads. One tough and chewy male lead, Lee Sun Kyun’s Chef Choi, who has been burned in the past and all around misogynistic asshole to be honest. Then you have a fresh and newly appointed cook, Gong Hyo Jin’s Seo Yoo Kyung, with enough ambition and tenacity that can have you needing some water. Give these two a nice meet cute and a serendipitous circumstance and you have the hot and cold relationship of our main OTP. Throw in a few sprinkles of failed attempts at a love triangle slash square and put it in the oven for 20 episodes.
On the side, we’re given an array of side dishes, a.k.a supporting cast. And just like any side dish, some help the main dish and others sit on your stomach and give you indigestion. I personally got a lot of indigestion from most of the male kitchen staff. Which in the end, I think was intentional. For me as a viewer, I’m supposed to be here to root for Yoo Kyung through all her hardships and if her fellow cooks are dicks, she’s going to conquer it somehow. I get it, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to reach through my screen and ring my hands around their necks. And sometimes Yoo Kyung was the source of frustration. Gong Hyo Jin has a natural talent of pout acting. Sometimes it works and others makes me wonder if her characters are that ditz. But I will say I rolled my eyes less watching this than they did when I watched Master’s Sun or Jealousy Incarnate.
But with savory there must come sweet; the dessert. Even though Chef Choi was basically a walking poster child for anger issues and probably should seek help, there were moments of charm that came through. And because Lee Sun Kyun is one hell of an actor, you didn’t want to kill Chef at the end and even swooned at his meany face. I admit, I drank the kool-aid and was here for the typical asshole boss who is sweet when he wants to be. Slight spoiler, but the moment Chef, drunkenly, confesses…. I was done for. Puddle in the middle of the floor. Also a sweet aspect was our adorable second lead Kim San. He was so sweet that I’m sure I got a toothache. Maybe that’s why there was no chance of me getting SLS here.
Ultimately, this meal wasn’t the worst I ever had. It followed the typical K-Drama recipe and because some of the ingredients (the acting) weren’t downright horrendous, it saved this from being burned to a crisp.
Acting : 8/10
Story : 7.5/10
Music : 0/10
Overall : 8/10
Recommended For : Foodies who like romance and carbs
Fave Song: N/A
Unbothered Unnies 