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Present / yedang entertainment company
Production / SHOW EAST
Distribution / CJ Entertainment
A taste that shakes you to the core.
You experience it not with your tongue, but your heart.
5 Years Earlier
I've asked all of you here
to choose the next head of Woonam-jung.
Kim Kang-woo
Im Won-hee
Lee Hana
The golden blowfish is the ideal task
to give our next head.
Are You readY?
Yes, sir.
Present your dish.
So thin, I can see the print on the dish.
I've never seen a flower this pretty.
A butterflY flown from that flower is dancing in mY mouth.
It tastes like peach blossoms.
Peach blossoms from raw fish? Incredible.
Your grandson is an exquisite chef.
Original story by HUR Young-man
This time it's a crane.
A touch from my chopsticks maY send it into flight.
I taste the sea.
The crane is flYing through the sea!
It's true that some tastes are to die for.
Exquisite.
How can we choose between them?
There is no waY to choose between the two.
I can sense something different.
The after taste is different.
I feel like I'm standing on a sharp blade...
A sharp blade?
What's that taste?
What did you do?
Weren't you careful with the blowfish?
How could this happen?
Didn't you extract the poison?
Don't you know how deadly that is?
I don't make mistakes!
No, this can't be...
Directed by JEON Yun-su Something's not right.
Something's not right.
Le Grand Chef
Is there a special reason for the shape of this knife?
When King Soon-jong stopped eating,
the Royal Chef had no one to serve and stopped cooking.
And to avoid being forced to cook for the Japanese colonizers,
he cut off his own hand.
Please find a rightful owner for this knife.
It's the only way to atone for the sins of my ancestors.
How do you plan to choose the knife's new owner?
We'll hold a competition.
The greatest chef of this era shall carry on the Royal Chef's tradition.
He will be the Royal Chef of modern times.
Get me the phone! I'm a VJ!
Be quiet, you card shark!
Who says I'm a card shark?
What's with all the cash in your purse!
Heard you were in every poker and card house in town!
VJ? yeah, right.
I was doing undercover research!
I'm awful at cards!
Yeah, right! You won all my money!
She's a card shark, alright!
She's got tricks up her sleeve!
- Back off, miss. - ***.
KIM Jin-su. You're free to go.
You came to get me yourself, sir?
Am I that important?
Hungry?
I haven't eaten in two days!
You're in luck. I'll treat you to something special.
- Really? - Sure.
Where are we?
You said it was a special treat.
Has he gone out? Sung-chan!
What's to eat in a place like this?
I'm starving...
What?
Stop poking me!
No, thank you.
Thank you, sir.
- Chief! - Hi!
- What brings you here? - You look like doing business well.
- How's the produce business? - Going fine.
Look at all your gray hair.
Thanks for the anchovies you send.
My wife loves 'em.
Any time.
When are we eating?
You heard about the competition, right?
The Royal Chef's knife?
You should enter.
Hiding here won't solve anything.
You should do what you enjoy. What's past is past.
I was never once happy cooking there.
I'm tired of competing to be the best.
I'm satisfied just cooking for people
and seeing them happy.
We haven't been introduced yet.
I'm Jin-su. You must be Sung-chan.
Enjoy your meal.
Did you make all this yourself?
Would you like to take some home?
The sesame leaves, too.
Sure.
Think you're at your parents?
It's like Mom packing me food.
I forgot the pickled crabs I made last week.
Pickled crabs?
They're to die for. Hold on.
That's enough Maybe next time.
When will that be?
She will stay here until you sign up for the contest.
Still, can't I have just one jar?
She stole my energy drink!
Grandpa, she didn't steal anything.
Did you think I wouldn't notice? You thief!
- Did you take it? - Of course not!
Grandpa, stop!
No, he gave this one to me!
You thief!
Sorry. It was nice meeting you!
Sung-chan! I didn't take anything!
Why'd you take it?
I didn't! I swear!
Your big bro's going out to work.
Who's that?
You scared me.
Who is she?
Never mind.
Excuse me, Jin-su? I have to go to work.
I filled out the application for you.
- Just sign next to your name. - What?
It's Sung-chan!
Got any freebies for your best customer?
Here. Your eyes are puffy each morning, right?
This squash is just the thing to help.
How about going for a drink some time?
You buy five boxes of squash, I'll let you borrow this instead.
So firm! What's your secret?
Buy these eggplants.
Serve them to your husbands, and they'll be firm like me.
Eggplants for sale!
Who's that, Your girlfriend?
I don't like young women.
Just saying that to please us, huh?
Young women are too rough.
- Really? - Of course!
The price tag is right here. 2 dollars per kilo.
Please don't touch the produce.
Here's a sweet one. And take another with you.
Some cherry tomatoes for free. Come again, ma'am.
Have a nice day.
Are you trying to ruin my business?
Then sign the application form.
- My future son-in-law! - Mom!
We've got great squash and potatoes today.
Sure, but when will you meet my daughter?
She's the one who's busy.
- That rotten girl. - How much is this?
Okay, okay.
Call me if she turns up. I'll run right over!
- I'm coming! - Sung-chan!
Here's your water.
I'll be right there!
Wait just one minute, please.
Should we wait, or go somewhere else?
I'm hungry. Let's just go.
But...
Let's wait a bit. This place looks good.
Bro!
You were so good to me when we were at Woonam-jung.
***-ju hit me all the time, so I finally left.
Luckily, I met her, started this,
and made some money.
That's great.
I wanted to be just like you.
You punk...
Why don't we start over?
It was awesome watching you cook.
You know how many customers I have?
I'm king of the produce business.
Yeah, right.
OK, drop the chit chat.
I'll bring veggies from tomorrow.
Of course!
- See that? - No way!
I got mosquito bites all over me from sleeping in the car!
You know how much my back hurts sleeping here?
I'll buy you a cool patch.
Sign it.
Why let your talent go to waste?
Sorry.
It was one mistake! Don't be so *** yourself.
You were never once happy cooking?
Sorry for wasting your time.
I'm sorry, too.
You are? Then sign up, please!
Do you deliver?
What?
I'll buy this whole truckload.
Sure. Where to?
WOO Jung-guh
Woonam-jung
Chef OH's Sauce
15 years Earlier
Be the best!
The Royal Chef's knife has been found.
It belongs here.
Let's get it back, together.
That's why you called me here?
Woonam-jung descendant recovers Royal Chef's knife.'
Sounds nice...
People want me to win the contest.
You'll help, won't you?
I'm asking you to come back.
Take charge of the kitchen under me.
Wasn't that your dream?
I wanted to be the best chef there is.
Overseeing the kitchen here means you're the greatest.
Thanks, but no thanks.
You're not hatching any crazy ideas, are you?
You want to enter the contest and parade around on TV?
Keep your dignity as a chef.
I never did anything undignified.
Didn't you leave that poison in on purpose?
You wanted this place so badly, You even put people's lives at stake.
That's not true!
You wanted to give them a taste of something extreme...
I never even considered entering that competition.
- Good. - But I just changed my mind.
I'll show you who I am. I'll prove that I'm the best.
You're making a grave mistake.
It was your mistake to call me out here.
Arrest me! Please!
Grandpa!
I killed someone!
The old man's so strong.
Your gramps is at it again.
I'm sorry this keeps happening.
He ate noodles with us. Take him home.
Thank you, sir.
Please forgive me. I killed someone.
Okay grandpa, it's okay.
Sung-chan is entering the cooking competition.
He's really something.
I should go and support him as the town rep.
Go, and you're dead.
There's a pile of work in the fields!
I just thought I might be able to help him.
Stop yapping and fold this.
Watch the house for me, sweetie.
Wish me luck!
Sung-chan!
Wait! Take me with you!
Preliminary Round - Poultry The preliminary round is about to start.
Look at all these people! Think you can do it?
It won't be easy. The top chefs are all here.
Anyway, don't get nervous.
Wow, that's amazing.
How'd he make that?
Poultry
Start the music! Angle on the MC!
The preliminary round is going to be tournament.
The chefs may select pheasant, duck,
or chicken to showcase their talents.
Let the contest begin!
He chose the pheasant.
Woonam-jung chose the chicken.
In the Chosun Dynasty, they kept hawks to catch pheasants.
That's how precious they considered pheasant.
The white meat and yellow yoke of the eggs in perfect harmony.
The mother and her baby chick are dancing around in my mouth.
The yang of the chicken is blended with the yin of the egg.
This is more than just food.
Well done, Chef OH.
Woonam-jung!
We almost died because of you.
Do you think you have the right to compete here?
I want to start over. Please give me a chance.
You've got some nerve.
Well, let's have a taste.
Yeah! I knew it! Oh yeah!
I told you the pheasant would be good!
Anyway, you just breezed through the first round!
What are you doing?
Hey!
Wait!
Allegiance!
Corporal WOO?
Yes, sir!
Cook officer!
Nice to see you!
Doesn't that smell great?
It's the herring you wanted.
Give me the herring body.
OK, we'll give the tail and head to Hosung.
This isn't it! Give me the herring!
Hey...
I don't get it.
He's getting worse and worse.
Did you see my idiot husband?
He was here earlier, but he left to do some work.
Wait 'till I get my hands on him!
What's that doing on the floor?
Was it gramps?
He asked for a herring body, but he says that's not it.
Maybe he means taro shoots.
Taro shoots?
My grandpa loved taro. He used to call it herring.
Maybe he wants taro shoots?
Maybe that's it!
Anyway, if you see him, tell him to get home while he can.
When will he ever smarten up?
Wait!
Get over here, you!
Sung-chan!
How could you sell me off like that?
You would've been caught eventually.
But she hits hard!
You don't understand what it's like to be beaten by wife!
How'd you escape this time?
The door was locked, so I broke through a window.
What are you, a fugitive or something?
Just about!
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Didn't see you.
Descendant of the Royal Chef...
2nd Round - Fish
We announce the ingredients for the second round!
The specific ingredients are now being brought in.
2nd Round - Fish Please give a big hand as each type of fish is revealed.
Croaker fish
Red snapper
Mullet
Golden blowfish
This is your last chance.
Give it up and come work for me.
It's the blowfish...
It's already ruined you once!
Bro?
Yeah?
I can do this, right?
Sure...
I'm the best, right?
Of course you are!
Thanks. I needed to hear that.
Let's ask for another kind of fish.
No, I can do this.
Don't do it, man.
I'm the best. You said it.
Cooking is the most meaningful kind of creativity.
When we eat delicious food, we feel loved.
What contestant will touch the judges' hearts?
Let the judging begin.
I dare not touch this beautiful work of art. It's perfection!
But we better taste it, right?
A miracle of rejuvenation! A court banquet inside my mouth.
I feel like a king right now.
A modest lady on the plate, a voluptuous courtesan in my mouth!
Does she fuss about in your mouth?
I don't believe this... What are you trying to prove?
Are you out of your mind?
The same thing twice?
I refuse to eat this.
Please, just one small taste.
5 years earlier If you want this place so much, then beat him!
I'm your grandson! This place belongs to me!
Why should I compete when it's already mine?
Beat him.
If you don't want to live your life in regret, like me...
You must beat him.
If you're all done, let's go get changed!
Wow.
Let's go.
He cannot be disqualified without someone testing his dish.
But he leaves poison in his blowfish!
He's an incompetent chef who endangers people's lives.
There's no proof that he left in the poison deliberately.
Maybe not, but I still can't trust him!
You know how precisely the blowfish must be prepared?
People's lives are at stake here!
Contest rules?
Wait!
Someone should still taste it.
What!
But who would eat this?
Yeah, who would eat that?
If I taste it and I am fine, You'll all try it, right?
What's the big deal?
Look at her!
Why did she eat?
I knew that.
- Go ahead and try it. - Taste it.
You should've seen it!
The judges gobbled it up. They were weeping in joy!
Sung-chan is amazing!
You really gotta respect the guy.
You're pretty amazing, yourself.
Ah... really? Why?
How'd you ever make it through this hole?
Sergeant KOO!
I used to get beat a lot back in the army.
Remember when I got beat badly
and you secretly cooked ramen for me?
I can't forget the taste.
But no matter how I try, I can't get it right.
Please.
Tell me the secret.
You're kidding me, right?
Stop laughing. I'm serious.
I can't explain it in words...
Sergeant KOO! Please!
Crazy fools.
Stop joking around and go home, mister.
He's got fields to plow.
Go on! Get to work!
- Corporal WOO? - Yes?
You got some time?
Sorry, the tractor always breaks down
and I can't keep borrowing the cow.
No problem. Just tell me the secret.
Left... left... That's good.
Now... right!
He's digging himself a hole, that fool.
Look man... The truth is...
Cooking class will be delayed due to rain.
What?
Do you know why ramen noodles are twisted?
No.
Go home and think about why.
The secret to the ramen is close by.
To cook the best fish soup, You must choose the right fish.
80o/o of a food's taste depends on the ingredients.
This one has clean scales and is fresh.
Caught by fly fishing, this is the best fish for a clear soup.
Well done.
This is a cheap fish you can buy in a country market.
The gills are ripped and the scales are falling off.
You can't make great meals with this sort of trash.
What the...?
Excuse me...
But isn't that a waste?
It can still be made into something good, can't it?
What do you think you're doing?
Cut the filming.
This is Woonam-jung.
The country's top quality restaurant!
But it's so expensive, how can ordinary people eat there?
Eat something cheap, then.
What?
Wrap this in newspaper for her.
It takes more than great ingredients to make the best food!
What an idiot...
I got it!
I know why ramen noodles are twisted!
Don't follow me into the toilet!
It's because our lives are full of twists and turns, right?
And our exhausted lives are contained in the spicy broth.
So what!
You're right. The secret was close by!
Get lost and let me poop, man!
If I want to recover that old taste, I have to go back.
Beat me. Just like they did in the army.
I'll do anything to taste the ramen from back then.
Please, beat me hard!
Come on! I'm begging you!
Need to taste the ramen like it was back then!
This is crazy, man.
I'm ready.
Here.
Does it taste the same?
What? Is it that good?
It's hot.
This is not it.
If I beat you a few more times, that should do it.
- No! - Just a few more times.
- No! Forget it! - Just a few more hits!
Try it, sir.
I make a pretty good tofu stew.
Grandpa's taste buds are hard to please.
See that? I think he likes it.
Beef was the most widely used ingredient in the Chosun palace.
Main Round - Beef Cows serve a lifetime then offer their meat,
much like the history of our people.
This contest carries on the tradition of the Royal Chef.
Please display your best talents with the best of ingredients: Beef.
Mom says I need good pepper oil to make tofu stew.
I'll cook it again someday.
What are the judging criteria?
It's not the tongue but the heart that senses taste.
This is absolutely heart melting.
Moon rising over a lotus flower.
A perfect combination of taste and color!
The judging will begin.
Tension is in the air.
9! 10! 10! What a great score!
A big applause for the winner of this round, Sung-chan!
He's making dumplings.
We can't see his hands! Amazing!
He's handing him the tweezers.
A master surgeon, no doubt.
- Now, a brush? - He's drawing!
What a masterpiece!
The judges all give him a 10!
Chef OH sets a new record!
Meat & Vegetables Brochette
Let's welcome, the director of Food&Culture Korea.
- Good afternoon. - Good afternoon, everyone.
Please tell us about brochettes.
There are some different kinds of brochettes.
According to the recipe difference,
seasoned, parboiled, battered and fried are the typical brochettes.
When was seasoned brochette first made?
It was already perfected in the mid-Chosun era.
Heartbreaking!
A taste that outlasts memory!
There is not much time left.
Please exert your best efforts.
How can you eat ramen at a time like this!
Let's congratulate the top 10 finalists.
The leader after five rounds with a total score of 480...
It's Chef Sung-chan!
There are only four spots to the finals.
Only four chefs will move on.
Now, we will announce our next round.
Charcoal Charcoal burns mystically slow and hot.
Good luck in finding the best charcoal there is.
Aren't we going to look for charcoal?
He was in charge of all the charcoal at Woonam-jung.
He knows all the best charcoal makers.
- Hello! - Hi!
Let's go.
I'm Hosung. Sung-chan's hometown friend.
- I'm Duk-gi. - Nice meeting you.
That's my seat.
But I know the way.
Let's go.
Let's go!
Sung-chan!
I talked with Madam CHOI. Stop going around bars.
How can you eat ribs with a hangover?
I drank way too much.
How are the new shops coming along?
It was 7 in Seoul, 4 in Daejeon...
We'll decide on the new shops after the competition.
What?
You're in second place at the moment.
Sales of your products in our stores have dropped by half.
You'd better win.
Or it'll cost both of us.
Chef OH of Woonam-jung must win the Royal Chef's knife.
We're getting charcoal here?
The best charcoal maker is in there.
Is he a prison ward?
No he's on death row.
Mr. HAN, it's me Duk-gi from Woonam-jung.
Remember? I found ginseng once and shared it with you?
I have a big favor to ask.
I need your charcoal for an important cooking contest.
Let me die quietly, man. Or I'll come back and haunt you...
This is crazy. I know someone back in town.
I called him and he'll get us good charcoal.
- Long time no see. - ***.
What brings you here?
I brought some food to open the road to rebirth.
Everyone has a right to good food.
Did you find the charcoal?
Cut!
Tell Sung-chan to look somewhere else.
How did he know?
# Don't forget me.
OH ***-ju's charity concert # Don't forget everything about me.
# You're too far away from me.
# So I look lonely.
I heard a lot about you.
I'm Chef OH of Woonam-jung.
So you're the reason our barbecued beef isn't as good as it used to be.
I heard you're the best charcoal maker.
Please teach me how to make it.
What a waste to take Your talent to the grave!
Name your price.
No need to eat this garbage today.
They say ghosts who ate well have a better complexion.
What the...! Stop it!
Why'd he bite your nose?
It won't stop bleeding.
What's going on?
There was a riot. HAN ended up in solitary confinement.
- Really? - What do we do now?
I heard that's HAN's mother.
She's been coming everyday for years but he won't see her.
What did you talk about?
Her son.
I feel so bad for her...
Her husband drowned when she was young.
She was forced to leave her son with his grandmother and remarry.
Selling herself to feed her son, in other words.
He was just seven at the time.
Who's there?
Rotten kid!
How dare you steal from my house!
Come here you! You need a good spankin'!
Get lost, you rotten kid! How dare you come here?
- Wait! - Rotten kid!
Let me break his legs!
How much did you steal from our house?
Let go!
I'm not your mom!
The crazy kid will call anyone his mom.
Don't come around here again!
Son... Is anyone feeding you?
Stop coming here.
'Cuz I'm...
I'm not your mom any longer...
He'd walk for 4 hours everyday to see his mom.
His mom always left sweet potatoes for him in secret.
One day she suddenly moved away, leaving him a last pot of food.
HAN went to the mountains and became a charcoal maker.
And he never came back down.
Then one day he heard news about his mom.