'The Tyrant's Chef' has received rave reviews from international media, establishing itself as a global late-night snack mate drama.
The tvN weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' (directed by Jang Tae-yu, written by fGRD, planned by Studio Dragon, produced by Film Greeda and Jung Universe) features a variety of fusion dishes that tantalize everyone's taste buds and showcase the flavors of K-food to the world.
The dishes in 'The Tyrant's Chef', brought to life by the passionate performances of actress Im Yoon-a and the chefs, are widely praised globally, continuing the legacy of K-food's prestige since the drama 'Dae Jang Geum'.
From the selection competition for the royal chef to cooking battles that determine the fate of the nation, the show presents a colorful array of fusion dishes such as sous-vide steak, doenjang pasta, schnitzel, and Peking duck rolls, all created by combining traditional ingredients and royal cuisine with modern techniques, providing delicious entertainment for viewers both domestically and internationally.
Not only the food but also traditional tools that replaced modern cooking equipment, such as the bamboo mold used to shape the yukhoe tartare in the haute cuisine course and the noodle-making tool for the doenjang pasta, added to the intrigue.
Moreover, the delicate details of the show, such as the chef personally demonstrating the cooking process instead of just presenting the finished dishes, enhance the visual appeal. Unlike the plating style of chef Yeon Ji-young, which uses sauces and ingredients, the Ming dynasty chefs' dishes featured carving as a point of decoration, adding a unique flair.
As a result, major international media outlets are showing great interest in 'The Tyrant's Chef'. Forbes stated, "The real star of this drama is the meticulously arranged food," while The New York Times remarked, "Although various genres are mixed, the core is a romantic comedy that conveys love through the language of food," highlighting the K-food feast presented in the show.
Thus, the success of 'The Tyrant's Chef' in tantalizing global viewers' taste buds can be attributed to the efforts of actress Im Yoon-a, the meticulous work of star consultant chefs, and the detailed direction of director Jang Tae-yu, creating a synergy.
First, Im Yoon-a, who plays the role of the royal chef Yeon Ji-young, attended a cooking academy three months before filming and learned from consultant chefs, performing most of the cooking scenes without a stunt double. She reportedly impressed the production team with her passion by mastering the entire cooking process and approaching numerous shoots with the same order and posture.
The culinary consulting and menu development for 'The Tyrant's Chef' were overseen by Shin Jong-cheol, head chef of a top domestic hotel. Chefs Oh Se-deuk and Kim Jong-hyo focused on French cuisine, while Chef Choi Kang-rok handled Korean and fusion dishes, and Chef Lee Seong-woo was responsible for Chinese cuisine, all contributing as development advisors.
Additionally, Jeong Min, an expert in royal cuisine, worked hard to recreate the plating style of royal dishes and the dining etiquette of royal people, including the low table and the royal banquet, while the ingredient consulting was enhanced with the help of diet researcher Lee Chae-yoon.
Director Jang Tae-yu emphasized that "cooking is the main character," adding delicate direction to ensure that the cooking process itself could tell a story. The production team stated, "We referred to books to conceptualize the menu based on what ingredients people used at the time and what dishes existed, aiming for a fresh harmony with various elements like dishes."
Furthermore, they revealed, "The modern dishes that Yeon Ji-young makes, such as pasta, steak, and schnitzel, primarily utilize Korean ingredients like doenjang, clams, red ginseng, and misutgaru. We wanted to show global viewers how Ji-young beautifully completes dishes using familiar cooking methods with Korean ingredients," hinting at their efforts.
With a special royal banquet that incorporates modern cooking methods, the tvN weekend drama 'The Tyrant's Chef' satisfies viewers' taste buds and will air its 9th episode on the 20th at 9:10 PM.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
