This review may contain spoilers
Love letter to haute cuisine and to the emotions that truly exceptional food can evoke.
The main story follows the rise of a new, ambitious restaurant, exploring how the team comes together and the challenges they have to overcome along the way.The restaurant business is portrayed with a certain amount of glamour and romanticism, but at its core it feels remarkably authentic. What makes this drama especially refreshing is that, unlike most stories about fine dining, it doesn't place the head chef at the center of everything. Instead, it highlights the importance of service, the art of wine pairing, and even offers a glimpse into the business side of the industry, building its conflicts around securing funding, cutting costs, and maintaining relationships with suppliers.
This drama is, above all, a love letter to haute cuisine and to the emotions that truly exceptional food can evoke.
I'm genuinely impressed by how skillfully the creators held my attention, making me binge one episode after another without relying on manipulation, excessive melodrama, elaborate plot twists, or any of the usual devices used to keep viewers hooked.
The storytelling is refreshingly straightforward. There's almost no ruthless rivalry with competitors, hardly any betrayals, and even a tender romance is notably absent.
Instead, you simply watch the characters learn, search for suppliers, build healthier relationships, and discover new sides of themselves.
The central conflict—the one that sets countless problems in motion—stems from an allergic reaction suffered by a customer at the protagonist's former restaurant. In my opinion, the industry's response is exaggerated and somewhat contrived. Still, I accepted it as part of the premise. It doesn't dominate the narrative throughout, but it does serve as the catalyst for the team's growth and growing sense of unity.
It's honestly difficult to single out what this drama does well, because nearly everything about it works. And all of those strengths are amplified by the simplicity of its story, the clarity of its message, and the depth with which it explores its subject.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The best jdorama I have ever watched - brilliant acting, writing and editing!
This jdorama joined my playlist when I started watching jdorama last year. Decided to watch the series while on a staycation with family. My sister & I binged this drama in one day. It was très magnifique!What I liked:
1. Acting - First and foremost, phenomenal acting by Takuya Kimora & Kyoka Suzuki. Wow they were immersed in their roles. The supporting cast was amazing too. Love it when they spoke French.
2. Writing - This is an underdog story with brilliant storytelling. I rooted for them to succeed from day 1. I was engrossed every single minute. Main & some supporting characters were given substantial arcs & growth. I love Chef Obana's eccentricity!
3. Antagonists - There are a few characters that posed challenges to Chef Obana & Chef Rinko's journey to achieving 3 star Michelin. Wonderful arcs for them!
4. Styling - I actually prefer Chef Obana's hairstyling when he was head of Echofille. Takuya Kimora looked like Benjamin Bratt during American movie Miss Congeniality. Ms Linda Machiko Richard had impeccable styling - very chic.
5. Editing - The shots of food (prep, cooking and even when they were at the market) made my mouth water. I also liked how important emotionally charged scenes were framed. I cried when some staff messed up.
What I disliked:
1. Mr Eto - I disliked him for being manipulative.
2. Chef Obana's decision - I don't understand the brash decision he made before the Michelin award ceremony. He needed to be acknowledged by his peers!
Favourite scene
When Chef Obana convinced Mr Minegishi the grear hunter
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Gran Magnifique!
It perfectly depicts the struggles of a chef. The storyline is clear and the goals are clear. The writer didn't immediately give the characters Michelin stars; there's a reason for that, and we feel they deserve it in this drama.It's like watching a drama version of The Hundred-Foot Journey with many stern yet engaging scenes. "a chef must lead" that's why they're prideful.
not wanting to compare, but there's nothing wrong if Korean culinary dramas learning from their neighbors (as a reference for the drama).
Was this review helpful to you?
