Bonjour Bakery

The production team expected the elders to be the main characters, but they just weren't that interesting, and why should they be when they just want to try some dessert and go home. The elders were supposed to be the main stars, but they just seemed to come, eat, and leave. The chats they had with each other were so boring to watch, which you'd kind of expect if you stuck a surveillance camera to a cafe. There's a reason you need scripts, games, and objectives in variety shows since it isn't supposed to be a documentary.

I think the setup of locking two main cast members in the kitchen for the entirety of the show was not only evil with the amount of work they did and had to do for preparations, but it meant that was the only thing they did in the show. They should have just left a main pastry chef in the show to help them. Cha Seung-won baked everything, I couldn't imagine how stressful and tired he was every day on top of cooking lunch for them. Lee Ki-taek didn't seem not familiar with cooking or baking really, so he was practically invisible in the show except making breakfast.

With the hall team, Kim Hee-ae as the manager seemed incapable of the duties of a server let alone that of a manager to the point where she made multiple mistakes in one day. She's quite well known among the elders which I assume is why she was casted, but she seemed incapable of connecting with them since she's reserved. Kim Seon-ho is outgoing and the best casting since he was good at using the register, taking orders, making coffee, and also good at communicating, it probably would've been better if he was the manager and paired with someone younger like Dino or Lee Joo-bin. But in general, as much as Kim Seon-ho and Kim Hee-ae tried to connect with the elders, the entire layout of the show is quite awkward. There would have been no difference to the show if the entire cast be replaced by actual cafe workers.

As many complaints I have for this show, I could see the sincerity of everyone involved. The kitchen team studied for four months to be able to make the complicated pastries themselves, and they were so dedicated during the entire shoot. The production team actually believed in making a genuine show without adding extra drama, and they believed in showcasing the elders just as they are. And despite the show being more on the boring side, you could feel how genuine and passionate everyone who participated in the show was. I think at the finale, I became more or less attached to cast members and the elders who came in a lot. The party was one of the highlights of the show, and I actually felt emotional at the elder singing and felt a little sad that the show came to an end.

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A place of peace, warmth and laughter

Love this show so much already and the concept is 'chef's kiss'. Seonho back in variety, with his kindness, warmth and easy laughter is the best and his chemistry with 'chajumma', established through working with him on the The Tyrant, is such a pleasure to watch. The whole cast gets along really well and the elder villagers are so charming. Also, Seonho and Dino were incredibly sweet together. Can't wait to watch as all their relationships grow and deepen. If you are needing some peace, laughter and all around warmth, this is the show for you.
It drops every friday on Coupang Play and Viki.

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Variety show yang ga cuma memuaskan rasa laparmu, tapi juga menghangatkan hatimu

Bonjour Bakery adalah sebuah show dengan konsep dimana mereka membuka sebuah kafe roti yang berkebalikan dengan kebanyakan kafe di Korea pada umumnya, mereka justru mewajibkan para pengunjungnya berusia 65 tahun ke atas. Sebuah konsep yang sangat 'fresh', dan tentunya menjadi wadah baru bagi para lansia khususnya bagi penduduk lokal.

Pengalamanku selama menonton:
Berawal dari rekomendasi teman, yang dimulai dari tontonan ringan berujung menjadi tontonan yang sangat menghangatkan hati. Aku suka sekali melihat bagaimana para host berusaha memfasilitasi para pengunjung yg notabene sudah lansia dengan sangat baik. Interaksi mereka dengan pelanggan, dan banyak kebaikan kecil yg dilakukan. Bahkan antar host juga berusaha saling membantu, walaupun ada banyak rintangan baik sebagai tim bagian aula maupun bagian dapur.

Plus, kalau bagian tim dapur sedang 'memasak'. Semua pastry-nya sangat bikin ngiler, rasanya kayak auto pengen terbang ke tkp buat cicipin semua dessert-nya langsung :D

Yang aku suka dari show ini:
Aku suka konsepnya. Di saat kebanyakan cafe justru melarang lansia masuk, Bonjour Bakery justru membuka lebar dan memberi fasilitas terbaiknya untuk para lansia ini. Nyatanya, meski sudah berusia lanjut, mereka juga manusia, mereka juga mau healing-healing kecil sambil nongki bersama keluarga, teman, sahabat. Makan makanan yg enak dan minum secangkir teh atau kopi hangat, sembari mengobrol. Atau mungkin sekedar menghabiskan waktu sendiri, menikmati sedikit lagi sepotong kecil kehangatan lewat kue dan teh yang mereka minum, di sela umur yang gatau berapa lama lagi masih mereka miliki di dunia ini.

Banyak banget hal yang bisa dipelajari, saling menghargai, toleransi, kerja sama. Bahkan gimana kebaikan-kebaikan kecil yg kamu lakukan itu bisa sangat berdampak besar bagi seseorang. Semuanya pekerja keras, tim aula depan dari Kim Seonho yang sangat ekstrovert, baik dan mengayomi semua pelanggannya. Kim Hee Ae si manajer yang walaupun sangat hati-hati dan pemalu, tapi selalu berusaha memberikan yang terbaik. Semua part-timer dari Dino, Joobin, dan Seongwu. Juga tim dapur Cha Seung Won dan Lee Ki Taek. Walaupun ada aja dinamika diantara kepala chef dan asistennya ini, tapi bisa dilihat kalau keduanya selalu berusaha memberikan yang terbaik. Cha Seung Won memang kadang kelihatan tengil, suka marah-marah, tapi aku yakin semata karena dia ingin Ki Taek jadi lebih baik. Begitu juga sebaliknya, dibalik Ki Taek yang selalu terlihat ragu-ragu, dia selalu berusaha dan belajar lebih giat lagi. Aslinya hatinya sangat lembut. Cha Seung Won dengan berbagai menu makan siang yang terlihat menggiurkan, dan Ki Taek dengan menu sarapan smoothie blueberry dan telur rebus andalannya. Lucu :D

Yang aku tidak suka dari show ini:
Jujur engga ada, semuanya terlihat menarik. Aku cuma berharap bisa ada momen yang memfasilitasi supaya ada interaksi yang lebih dalam antar anggota tim. Selain screentime, juga bisa untuk mempererat hubungan dan meningkatkan kekompakan dalam tim. Sedikit notes juga, karena premis show ini sangat simpel, mungkin show ini akan terasa sangat lamban untuk beberapa orang. Tapi untukku personal aku sangat menikmatinya, kembali lagi ke preferensi masing-masing ^^

Wajib nonton kalau kamu:
Penikmat show yang bikin hatimu adem dan tenang, sesuatu yang pelan tapi menghangatkan. Slice of life. Suka dessert! (karena semua kuenya cantik-cantik banget disini) Coffee lovers. Anything about life, families, friends. Little moments to cherish. Values about old life and ages.

This was definitely a worth one to watch :)

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