Wok of Love Greasy Melo review

Drama name: Wok of Love/ Greasy Melo 
Country: South Korea
Year: May- July 2018

This show was in the list of dramas to watch in May 2018 featured on the Korean drama disqus channel which I am following. I saw the cast was Jang Hyuk and Jun Ho so I gave it a go. It was airing on my local cable tv so it was convienent as well... ;D 

So, what's this drama about?

Seo Poong is a Michelin star chef (not sure how many stars I forgot) working in a Chinese restaurant of Giant Hotel. He worked hard to reach his current position and everything seemed to be going well on the surface. He was about to get married and there were rumours of him being promoted to be the top chef of the restaurant. 

As Poong was going about his marriage preparations, he met Dan Sae Woo. Sae Woo is a governer's daughter and she is getting married as well. They met at the local bridal centre and later again at the hotel restaurant as she had booked a big dinner there. But during the dinner, she wanted Jjangmyeon (black bean noodles) which was not served in the hotel. She recognised Poong and demanded him to make her one bowl as she had not eaten the whole day. 

Poong had to go across the street from the hotel to a small Chinese restaurant to get some black bean sauce. The Chinese restaurant named Hungry Wok was run by an ex-gangster named Doo Chil-Sung. Poong managed to get the sauce but he didn't manage to cook the noodles because of the run-in with Chil Sung's men. Suffice to say, Sae Woo did not get to eat the noodles but she invited both Poong and Chil Sung to her wedding. Poong thought that was the last time seeing her. 

Then Poong got married with his fiance. However, it turned out that his fiance was cheating on him and the guy she was cheating with is the hotel's CEO. Poong got dumped the very next day after his marriage. (Yeah, this is really s*!) On top of that, he was framed by the hotel CEO and lost his job. 

Everything went downhill for Poong. It was then that he remembered the restaurant opposite the hotel, Poong went there and gave a proposal to Chil Sung. He wanted to use that restaurant to take revenge on the hotel CEO as well as the chef from the hotel restaurant. 

The story goes on with Poong trying to keep Hungry Wok afloat, handling Chil Sung's men, love interest with Sae Woo and lastly revenge on the lost of his job at the hotel restaurant.

Overall thoughts

The show reminded me a lot of Pasta, only in an updated version. The female lead character is like a total  "bimbo", dumb but rich girl this time. To be honest, she annoyed me a lot because she seemed so dumb being a governor's daughter like she never did anything in her life before. The part which pissed me off the most was when she took a loan for her horse to undergo surgery. That was like WTF moment, when your father is arrested, thrown in jail and all you think about is your horse??!!

Best parts of the drama

Chil Sung's apartment, his bedroom and kitchen is really nice. Love it... <3

The bromance between Poong and Chil Sung... To be honest, they were the only reason for me to continue watching this drama...

I read some comments that this show has become somewhat a makjang (food drama) I'm not too sure about that but the food featured definitely looks yummy! :D Tangsyuk (Sweet and sour pork), Jjangmyeon, Tang bao (I think it's a giant soup dumpling) and Almond tofu...

Some finer dishes served at the hotel restaurant and during the final cook-off battle...

It seems that this drama featured a lot of prawns/ shrimps... I feel hungry now... :D

I am wondering if Hungry Wok actually exists in South Korea... maybe someone can please tell me the location?!

Last but not least, Dim Sum the little kitten!! Aww, he's too cute... I'm glad they had a kitten in the show... it redeemed the show somewhat... XD

Notable scene

There seems to be a fascination with bus stops in kdramas... I have no idea why! The bus stop scenes in this drama seem to stand out for me... esp the one where Jang Hyuk brought the umbrella...

Conclusion

With the half assed writing of this story, I'm glad they cut short the episodes from 40 to 38... but then again some comments said that the ending was too abrupt. They didn't cover much of Poong's revenge on the CEO and what about his ex-fiance? No closure from there.

Also, the final battle between the two restaurants with the wager on was a tad bit ridiculous. It's like gangster style to settle debts. There is a happy ending nonetheless, Poong won the cook-off and everyone moved into the hotel restaurant... What?! Yeah, seriously mind blown to this point now...

What about the couple? Poong and Sae Woo ended up together, working in the hotel restaurant and Poong suggesting for them to get married (again) No disappointments for kissing fans though, there are enough kisses to keep you happy I presume... XD Jun Ho is quite a good kisser and the female lead is good as well.

Should you watch this drama? Nope. Unless you are a Jang Hyuk fan and you'll get to see him eat, grate dance, looking badass with sunglasses even at night and wearing a cowboy hat... XD Jang Hyuk my man, please come back as the badass butt kicking guy on screen which I know and love! Jaebal (please) Hahaa... yes I heard his next drama he will star as a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) guy... lots of abs to see I guess?! ;D

Until then, keep eating Chinese food y'all! Jun Ho says so... XD

*image credits Dramabeans, Google and my own screenshots*

Midnight Foodstore Episode 36- 37 review

[Episodes 36- 37] Flowers bloom in full moon

Featured food: Fried glutinous rice flour balls

We're nearing the end of this series... Another three more stories (this one included) and we're done! Yeaaaahhhh!!! :DD

This story is about a pair of sisters, Xiao Yue and Xiao Mei. At first, I thought it was going to be those younger sister falling in love with her elder sister's husband story... but luckily it wasn't. Phew! 

Xiao Mei is the younger sibling and the scene opens with her riding in a cab late at night. She had a sudden craving for fried fish balls and asked the cabbie to take her to a restaurant/ eatery. He replied that there wasn't any open at that hour. She starts to cry (I know right?!) and the cabbie asked for some help via the radio. He finds out about the midnight diner and Xiao Mei was so happy after that... 

Xiao Yue is the elder sister and her life is what you would call the perfect wife. She's beautiful, has a handsome husband, she's a great wife who prepares breakfast every morning and makes sure her husband is all cared for. She lives in an upper class neighbourhood and she is a career woman as well. She's the type of person that will never be seen at places like the midnight diner... 

Xiao Mei arrives at the midnight diner only to find out that they didn't have any fish balls. She remembered a dessert which is usually served during the Mid-Autumn festival. The diner boss said he didn't have that as well. She starts to bawl again. Yeah, seriously what is her problem... *rolls eyes* I actually felt irritated and wanted to slap her... Haha... 

Uncle Xiao was there and comforts Xiao Mei. He sends the three gossipers to the local hypermarket to get some of that glutinous rice balls. Haha! Poor girls, they were so confused wondering why they had to run an errand for a stranger. I'm more confused as the store is still open at that hour??!! :O 

After having the dessert, Xiao Mei heads to her sister's place. She had moved out from her boyfriend's and now homeless. It was late at night and Xiao Yue was already sleeping. She thought her younger sister had come to get money again but apparently she needed a place to stay the night. Xiao Yue didn't allow her to stay at first but then relented... 

I think it was some days later that Xiao Mei dragged her sister to the midnight diner. Xiao Yue eyes the place suspiciously as she was not used to being in those kind of places. Once again, the three gossipers had to go out to buy the rice balls! Hahah!! I guess it's another product placement (there were so many in this series) 

Xiao Yue finds out that her younger sister is pregnant. She was horrified and had an argument with Xiao Mei. Xiao Mei left the diner in a huff... 

Worried about her younger sister, Xiao Yue couldn't seem to concentrate... Oh yum yum, this part is something... The handsome hubby is sooo sexy sitting there watching his wife prepare dinner.... Omooo... Let's look at him again... XD

Xiao Yue takes her younger sister to a medical check-up and the prognosis wasn't good. The pregnancy may be dangerous to Xiao Mei's health and Xiao Yue wants her to abort the baby. Xiao Mei escapes via the washroom window (true drama style! Haha!) 

Xiao Mei was hanging out at the midnight diner when she overheard a conversation. The two guests were bragging about a relationship and when Xiao Yue came into the diner, they were horrified. Xiao Mei knew instantly that the two were talking about her brother-in-law and exposed them. Xiao Yue's handsome hubby was cheating on her with the secretary. Ouch.... Aigoooo.... 

I loved how Xiao Yue handled the situation. She noticed the necklace around the secretary's neck and remembered seeing it in her husband's drawer. Damn! What a heart breaking moment... Xiao Yue said it looked nice on her and then continued by saying, "You're fired!" Haha! 

The two sisters left the diner but they had an intense argument... All the pent up feelings from Xiao Yue came out... She said the reason Xiao Mei could live a carefree life was that she was the one holding the fort. She did all the things to make sure her little sister can enjoy life... Xiao Mei fell silent... 

Xiao Mei reflected on her sister's words and realised it was the truth. Her elder sister was always looking out for her, making sure she would not get hurt or anything. Meanwhile, Xiao Yue was also feeling remorse for scolding her younger sister... She ends up at the midnight diner, but it was day time... Haha! The diner boss was surprised to see her but opens the shop for her to drink. Dayum, I seriously think this diner boss is biased towards pretty girls and women! *smh* 

While Xiao Yue was at the diner, her younger sister went to her house instead. It was funny that both sisters were looking for each other! Aww... Xiao Mei finds out that Xiao Yue had divorced her cheating hubby. Yeah, serves him right. *nods*

The two sisters finally met up with each other at the midnight diner. Ah, sweet moments when they made up and hugged each other. They managed to resolve their differences... At the end of the day, they are sisters and sisters stick together forever! :D The story ends with them enjoying the fried glutinous rice balls and having a road trip together! Some girl power ending! Yeah... ;D

Fried glutinous rice balls seems interesting... Usually, it is served in a soup style. Called tang yuan, it is a dessert served during the Mid-Autumn festival. It looks pretty, the pink and white balls topped with crushed peanuts and icing sugar. Hopefully can try it someday! :D