PASTA 파스타(Korean drama, 1 season, 20 episodes) via Netflix -2010
This is a poster for Pasta. The poster art copyright is believed to belong to the distributor of the television series, MBC, the publisher of the television series or the graphic artist.
Once I started it I only stopped when it was necessary.
The series reminded me of why I am NOT working in a kitchen of a restaurant. There's just too much pressure, so I applaud everyone who works professionally in the kitchen most especially the females, because it's no joke, and when it comes to the kitchen, I am not a team player ... plus, I don't standardize my recipes. Yes, that's that.
I also learned a lot of things while watching this well-researched series. Of course I checked if they were just pulling our legs or not. I am not talking about the controversy offoie gras d'oie (fat liver of the goose) in the series, because the info about how they are made was disseminated worldwide years ago, and the danger of boiling oil and ice, because I believe we took that up in elementary, but there are a lot of other things that only seasoned cooks (home or professional) would know, so I appreciate learning about them very much. I also relearned a lot of stuff.
MORE THAN AN EYE CANDY
Even if the story centers on SEO YOO-KYUNG (GONG HYO JIN, a multi awarded actor / actress ... I think the first series that I've seen her is BEAUTIFUL DAYS) and CHOI HYUN WOOK (LEE SUN-KYUN, a multi awarded actor, whom I first "met" in COFFEE PRINCE) withALEX CHU(Korean-Canadian actor / singer; Vocalist of Clazziquai 클래지콰이 ... I first "met" him in SMILE, DONG-HAE) as KIM SAN, La Sfera's owner, andLEE HAN-NUI/LEE HA-NEE(Miss Korea 2006 and 3rd Runner-Up Miss Universe 2007 --- That's where I "met" her) as Chef OH SAE YOUNG, I got glued to this series because of this man:
LEE HYEONG CHEOL (Prince Boksun in JANG OK-JUNG, LIVING BY LOVE) orHYUNG-CHULas Geum Seok-ho, the Sous Chef
I used to have posts about him on Instagram, but I removed it because a young girl named Dorsa already has a great fan page for him there.
He is just so dreamy . Even if he's not part of thequadrangle, he is very vital to this series. When he speaks, you would really listen (or read) to what he has to say. Thankfully, even when he is silent, he has lots of closeups, giving me and the others who fancy him, cheap thrills. Of course, this is just a harmless crush. I don't know much about him except for what I read online like he loves his family, he dives (he's been diving here in the Philippines from time to time), he cycles, he sings, he acts, he plays golf, et cetera .
I have learned the hard way not to fall in love with someone I barely know. So now, even if I am already in the golden age, when I say it's just a harmless crush, it's just a harmless crush. I wouldn't go to South Korea or the USA or wherever else in the world just to pull the hair of his loved one, and I would be truly happy for him if he indeed has one.
I am currently watching FLOWER OF (the) QUEEN
의 꽃 on Drama Cool where he plays Seo In-chul, a plastic surgeon.
After that I will watch GOOD FOR YOU 정말
THE QUADRANGLE
Chef Oh Sae Yong (Lee Hanui), Chef Choi Hyun Wook (Lee Sun-Kyun), Seo Yoo-Kyung (Gong Hyo-Jin) and Kim San (Alex Chu)
The series starts by introducing to us Yoo-Kyung, and showing us the importance of the kitchen assistant inside a professional kitchen. It's a menial job that most people just use as stepping stones and some don't actually care about it. One of the characters in this story is an example of people like that.
Then other "things" happen before the two lead characters " meet cute " at the crosswalk. The crosswalk scenes are quite dangerous, and mom said they are quite unrealistic, but they are also some of the most exciting scenes.
While watching this series I can't help, but be reminded of HER YERDE SEN . Although worlds apart, their situations are very similar (there's also a goldfish there). There's no real villain, and you could relate to each of the four main characters, and if they were people you have met in your life, you would want them to be your friends ... well, maybe not Chef Choi at first. LOL. You have to get to know the person first before you start to like him.
There are times when I want to hit Seo Yoo-Kyung because of the way she talks to Kim San (I have a soft spot for him), but I guess it's a part of her "charm".
Chef Oh has her own inner battles, but she is a good person who is also very pleasant to look at.
President Kim San is a very lovable character, and anyone could fall head over heels with him. Although he dated Chef Oh in the past, he became her good friend through the years. His heart belongs to Yoo-Kyung and Yoo-Kyung alone. There should be a spin-off with Kim San (Alex Chu) as the male protagonist. He's really so lovable, and he deserves better. Oops! Well, I am talking about the character, Yoo-Kyung, not Gong Hyo-jin, OK? He wasted three long years. Haist.
Speaking of Yoo-Kyung, I must say, she grows on you. Even if she has very annoying attitudes at times (Mom said, "Ang sarap batukan!" --- to hit on the nape as a minor punishment), little by little you would understand why our two leading male characters like her very much, and you would also understand her choice in the end ... so please give Kim San a spin-off. Pretty please! (Or is there one already ??? Please, enlighten me.)
The other important characters are:
Lee Sung-min as Seol Joon-seok, Sfera’s President demoted to junior waiter; he complains a lot, but you can't really totally hate him.
Choi Jae-hwan as Jung Eun-soo (I like his depiction of a seemingly simple minded slowpoke kitchen assistant, but eventually turns out to be thoughtful and caring)
Noh Min-woo as Philip (the crush of San's sister) #TeamItaly He is musically inclined and looks like a fashion model.
Hyun Woo as Lee Ji-hoon #TeamItaly (Chef Choiloves to hit him on the head or nape when he does something outrageous or says something unnecessary)
Jo Sang-gi as Jung Ho-nam #TeamKorea (The love of Mi-hee's life)
Baek Bong-ki as Min Seung-jae #TeamKorea (Hehates it when Yoo-Kyung's work holds him back)
Heo Tae-hee as Han Sang-shik #TeamKorea (One of the "originals" who is very hardworking)
Ha Jae-sook as Lee Hee-joo (Yoo-Kyung's Unni who speaks her mind / female Sous Chef of La Sfera who first got fired)
Jung Da-hye as Park Mi-hee (The cook that is caught kissing her boyfriend Jung Ho-nam inside the Kitchen, and is fired for it ... mom's observation: She loves Ho-nam more than he loves her)
Choi Min Sung as Nemo (Captain Waiter / first friend of Yoo-Kyung in La Sfera)
Byun Jung-soo as Kim Kang (San's older sister who fancies Philip and Sae Young's good friend)
Jang Yong as Seo Jong-goo (Yoo-Kyung's Father; Cook and proprietor of Yoo-Kyung's Noodles)
Kim Dong-hee as Seo Yoo-shik (Yoo-Kyung's Brother; future surgeon)
Yoon Yong-hyun as Gwang-tae (illegal trader from the market)
Jung Dong-hwan as Choi Hyun-wook’s mentor chef
Ryoo Seung-bum as Restaurant client (cameo, ep 9)
Wayne Richard as Chef Totti, the Italian Executive Chef who was fired unreasonably. (Chef Choi Hyun Wook's predecessor)
I have a question: The Kitchen Crew made a big issue about the kitchen being locked. If ever only two to three persons were responsible for the keys, and those people weren't a part of the contest, how could the contestants who intended to practice even enter the kitchen after (or before) "office" hours? It could probably be understandable if they stayed on, or at least one of them stayed on and just waited for them. Besides, I was, and I still sort of am, in the food industry. As far as I know, kitchens should be locked. The equipment and the "secret" recipes could be stolen, plus there's the danger of being sabotaged. Oh well. Maybe I just got lost in translation somehow. Maybe it was explained. I am still a novice when it comes to the Korean Language. Or maybe they have different rules out there.
All the best!
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