The Fires of Cooking: Hua Xiao Chu (2020)

Yummy Drama

This is probably one of the most enjoyable drama. While watching this drama, you will feel light-hearted. I really love how the whole drama focuses on Hua Xiao Mai's cooking and her 'dream'. Usually, other cooking dramas like dating in the kitchen don't really depict its title, it only has the cooking and kitchen part at the early episodes, but at the latter episodes there is no dating in the kitchen anymore. But at Chef Hua, they managed to keep the show core plot, they did not go astray from the main plot. This drama doesn't have the fight for throne, love triangle, evil scheme, bla bla bla bla. It is totally a light hearted drama, it is like showing the audience a day in a chef villager in the past.
Also the cinematography is AWESOME!! I love the cooking shots. Even though some of the cooking shots bothered me bcs of the fingers smh .. but the angle lightning and everything made up for it. In addition, the OST is also very catchy too!! If you are looking for a light drama, I definitely recommend this drama!!

Leia Mais

A feel good drama!

Finally completed this, such a feel good drama.
Don't look at the cast or the synopsis. If you enjoy looking at food program of how tasty food are prepared, you may enjoy this drama. Lot's of cooking,. the camera angles are professionally done. Don't bother if the hands does not belongs to the main actress. Just enjoy the flow of the show. Make sure your stomach is full before watching. It's not a typical chef show where you only get cooking demonstration in a few scenes. You will have lots of them. The story line will only become more prominent after ML & FL got married in the middle of the drama. Be patient.
The ML & FL leads are destined to be soulmate. The sister/family love is amazing. FL lead met a lot of trusted friends. The ML is very supportive and understanding. Very good chemistry. Strong FL lead who have talents and big dreams. If you prefer a light drama with a simple story line of how the FL become successful gradually, this is the drama to watch. The music somehow reminds me of Go Princess Go..

A takeaway learning from this drama, live your passion with all your heart. Success is not easy but with every steps and effort you put in...
You may hear before,.. you won someone's heart through the food you feed them. I believe the ML is so proud of his wife and he is so lucky. If you love food documentary and like to see a well bonded relationship...this is the drama. It brings smiles to myself on several scenes. Hope you feel the same if you think alike. Enjoy.

Leia Mais

This drama seem promising. I would say for the most part it was an enjoyable drama but lacking . It mainly focuses on the female lead trying to become a chef. While she is trying to pick the ingredient she needs she falls and of course the male lead catches her. Their love story is pretty smooth as she like him and he likes her. The male lead is kind of like a body guard/protector of values being transported.
The food she cooks looks so good but thats totally not her cooking because it resemble male hands ( during some of the closeup shots of her cooking the food)
The storyline goes pretty smooth and their isnt too many bumps. We are introduced to a girl that likes the main lead but that storyline doesnt really go anyway. The female lead along her way of opening a restaurant meets other chef and other people she takes as apprentice, teaching them to be a better cook.

Leia Mais

I didn't expect to like this drama as much as I did lol. I originally watched this drama because I was bored and waiting for Song of Glory to come out but I had no choice but to finish this drama and I forgot about SOG.

Story: These 36 episodes are the most sweet and kind and just peaceful episodes (even when there are problems, the sweetness outweighs the negatives). This drama is very different from other dramas in my opinion bc we typically see wuxia and xianxia and harem palace dramas where everything is over complicated and problems are made worse instead of resolving them. This drama focuses on normal people and cooking lol. These everyday people have similar problems and worries like us making it easier to relate to them. Also, the marriage in this drama is to die for. Unlike other dramas that focus on the romance starting with marriage or ending with marriage, this drama has marriage right in the middle of the story which is very refreshing to see. We get to see a typically sweet romance play out from when the couple were single to being married without much complications (literally chef's kiss). This drama in my opinion is dragged out but not specifically for the plot, just for the cooking scene so if you're a fan of food and cooking, then it won't bother you so much but the cooking/food scenes are quite long. The plot itself is simple and honestly refreshing after watching a lot of like problematic sad complicated dramas.

Characters: The characters are freaking amazing. The ML and FL compliment each other so well as husband and wife (it makes me want to get married; if my husband is not like the ML character - I don't want him lol). The FL is nice but not a pushover and she's smart and resonant and honestly never seen such a well developed character. There are so many dramas that I've watched where if the FL was played like this FL, those dramas would be so much better. The side characters are likable as well except for the annoying ones that are put to annoy us but the problems are resolved quickly so it's not overwhelming. I freaking love all the husbands in this drama like the husbands are literally 12/10. The big sister and the mother in law were great characters as well. At first I didn't like how aggressive they were but they grew on me as I continue watching. There isn't much character development but like it's more on hoe each character acts as individual that makes the drama likable.

Acting: The FL and ML's acting was not bad considering I've never seen them before (I think they're new) but as leads, I think they have a lot of potential. However, I would definitely say that the ML is a little stiff but I guess his character is stiff so it makes sense. The FL is cute and bossy when she needs to be. She portrayed this role perfectly in my eyes I think that she really gives off the vibe of being nice doesn't mean being easy. The supporting cast were good and each had their own personality which I liked. The annoying people were great bc they were so annoying. I really like the FL's apprentice, especially when she was crying - her tears were very real and I genuinely felt bad for her.

Cinematography: The camera angles is freaking amazing. Every time I watch this drama, I'm hungry because the way they filmed the food is appetizing and interesting. The fight scenes were mediocre but again this is a food drama so I didn't really mind. The majority of the drama was well lit and bright which I am a fan of and I also liked the transition from each scene. There wasn't really like awkward transitions where you miss like a bit of the story. However, I don't like how whenever the leads kiss, they would zoom out and make it out of focus like I want to see them kiss bruh lol.

Overall: I genuinely liked this drama and if you're a foodie that likes simplistic dramas then definitely go for it and watch this drama.

Leia Mais

This drama will give you a satisfaction you never expected to have

RECENTLY REWATCHED AND I'M GIVING IT A HIGHER SCORE, THIS DRAMA IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL.
Before I watched this drama I read a lot of reviews and I saw that it actually received a lot of critical reviews, not negative but just very critical in the sense that a lot of people seemed to be bothered by the excessive cooking or maybe it’s just because it’s not like the other conventional historical dramas with big problems and a lot of misunderstandings and royalty and the lot ( love triangles and all). This drama however, brought a whole new light to historical dramas. I always wondered what the lives of commoners in historical dramas were like and this drama really showed me what it was like. the reason I love this drama so much is because

- there are no scandals or unnecessary misunderstanding (problems are not too heavy weight and are resolved quickly, Xiaomai and Yuhuai really complimented each other well and were a very supportive and non toxic couple.
- this drama is totally about self development and the career of our Chef Hua, we see in this drama resilience and strength, it is a very beautiful story showing the value of friendship and family
- this drama also portrayed the beauty of simplicity. so there isn’t any real scandal or over the top drama, there are no wars, no kings and no officials trying to take over the throne, there is no harem or unnecessary killing, (there is no cross dressing) it’s totally different from the conventional Chinese historic, this just makes it so beautiful in its own way.
- I personally think the cooking in this drama was actually very amazing because they were trying to show us the beauty of the foods that were being cooked. I think that was one of the aims.
- let’s also discuss the fact that we should not expect actors to be so perfect in everything, they are actors for God sake obviously there will be expert Chefs hired because there’s no way in the world that they are going to actually be able to cook all those dishes themselves or find someone with exactly the same hands as the actors. If you are looking for perfection then I’m sorry but you are just being over the top. so there is really nothing there. I think the most important thing is that we were able to see and appreciate good food.

I also love this drama as much as I love The General’s lady because the actress (Tang Ming) is a really beautiful and talented actress. I loved this side of her. it’s very obvious that she’s a good actress.

Now let’s talk about our male lead. I initially didn’t want to watch his drama because of the male lead. He isn’t the conventional pretty boy, but I was so surprised by his acting and I actually found him very attractive and manly, much more attractive than most of the normal pretty boys. Also because there was just something about his role as a good husband and a wonderful man. he’s a great actor, you’ll be surprised by his performance.

The side characters are also amazing, let me tell you, you will love the mother-in-law, the sister, the brother-in-law and all other side characters and I love the fact that most of the bad people where either punished or they were redeemed. the end seemed a bit rushed because some people didn’t receive punishment for their despicable actions, I think that was because Chef Hua was graceful enough.

Let me tell you, Chef Hua will not disappoint you. this drama is amazing and the end is beautiful and if you are looking for something with purity and just beauty and the simplicity of life, this is the drama for you. it is realistic in its own way because it shows how life was then. It isn’t overly romanticised, but this drama will touch your heart differently. Just holding hands made me feel butterflies for them. Their love was so strong.
I fell in love with this drama, I fell in love with the actors, I fell in love with the food, with the side characters, with the villains. Everyone was beautiful in their own way and everything was done nicely, in a way that it will satisfy you.
This drama is not perfect and is definitely not the best but I think this is a hidden gem. I really want people to notice it. Rewatch value is a total 10.

Just watch this drama, it’s beautiful and satisfying.

Leia Mais

Feel-good drama about cooking

This is a lovely, feel-good slice-of-life drama about a woman in a rural village becoming a chef, where everything centers around food. It honestly felt like the show creators looked at the popularity of Li Ziqi's videos and decided to recreate that in drama form -- romanticized rural village life, close-up cooking cinematography, beautiful scenic backdrops (mountains, rivers, beautiful old bridges) -- with a dash of romance.

The big draw here is the cooking! Those beautiful close-ups and slow-mo shots of food being prepared - chopped, boiled, fried, steamed, arranged - are enough to make you hungry every episode. That's what I'm here for.

For the rest...

There's very little drama or tension in the story - challenges and issues come up, but they are quickly resolved or even avoided by our smart protagonist(s). On the one hand, this is great because lord knows we've all seen enough unnecessary angst and conflict being drawn out in dramas so it's a pretty happy and chill watch with loving, supportive relationships. On the other hand, no conflict or tension also means this isn't really a "story" but is more of just a series of events in our protagonist's life (fairly standard for the slice-of-life genre), so after a while I do start to skip past scenes that aren't cooking-related. Also, there are a few character threads left unaddressed at the end, which I wish they had fit in - there really wasn't a standard climax and resolution, so they honestly could have just added another episode to cover them (or put them in an earlier bit).

Characters and acting are mostly fine - a few standouts to me are Erqiao (FL's sister) and ML's mom, props to the writers for having overbearing/hot-tempered female characters that are still good people. Yuhuai is also an ideal ML, and the romance between him and Xiaomai is acted and portrayed so sweetly that there are almost literal hearts in my eyes seeing their scenes together. One thing that does bug me a little, though, is that Xiaomai is a bit of a Mary Sue - her cooking is the best, she always outsmarts her opponents, she always has the answer. While she is the main character, she's just not really compelling to me because there's no character growth - if she has always been the best/smartest, where is there room to grow? And this also means there's no room for the other chefs to grow or contribute by coming in with a clutch idea or solution.

But again, I'm mostly here for the food. Worth the watch.

Leia Mais

Watch! Thumbs up!

I really enjoyed this show!!

This show popped up on my YouTube. As a result, I decided to do some research. After my research, I decided to watch Chef Fang first before watching Chef Hua. Chef Fang was good enough. Thus, I decided to watch Chef Hua and it turned out to be better than Chef Fang IMO.

Watch this because:

* The chemistry between the leads is wonderful, heartwarming and heart-stopping. I love watching them together.
* I love the interactions and expressions of affection and love between the two leads. In the show, they truly love and care for each other. It’s so lovely to watch. ‘Heart Eyes’
* The story line is decent enough.
* The female lead is so cute and pretty.
* The male lead is manly, handsome enough and has a good build.

Overall, please watch! I highly recommend!!

Leia Mais

Super wholesome and heartwarming show that will make you smile a lot, including the OST that will evoke memories of many sweet scenes. The bonus is the food porn - if you love watching delicious food cooked in MANY creative ways, then this is definitely the show for you.

I started watching this show after finishing Chef Fang (another show that I highly recommend), and I really enjoyed it. This show is uncomplicated and endearing with messages of staying true to oneself as well as emphasizing familial bonds. Bear in mind that this show has a low angst factor, so do not expect an emotional roller-coaster. In fact, my favorite thing about this show is how I am NOT STRESSED watching it, although at one point, I got worried that the writer was going to throw in a huge melodramatic plot twist and ruin it for me. Fortunately for me, that did not happen!

The chemistry and believability of an OTP can make and break a show, and in the case of Chef Hua, the two leads shone! The pace of their romance is good, and even though the show is conservative (i.e., no steamy scenes), the interactions between the OTP are so sweet and romantic. I love watching how Meng Yi Huai gradually falls in love with Hua Xiao Mai, who already has a crush on him, and how they stay steadfastly true to each other throughout the show.

Despite being set in a historical period, this show feels contemporary with a smart, competent, and independent FL, and a male lead who respects and supports the FL's ambitions. This is the first time I have seen Yang Kai Cheng, and his low-key looks won me over. I have to point out how impressed I am with his posture - his stance so tall and imposing - he looks really good in his outfits. As the multi-talented Meng Yi Huai, he portrays every girl's dream man who is decisive, strong, and protective and at the same time, gentle and sweet when it comes to his lady. You can practically feel the love and admiration he has for Xiao Mai, and I would say that Yang Kai Cheng did a great job emoting, and his microexpression is on point.

Tang Min is perfect as the bubbly, optimistic, quick-thinking Xiao Mai. She is quite lovely, and I hope to see her in more dramas. I like the FL's character; despite being young, she is steady-minded and confident, especially when it comes to cooking. I thought it was brilliant how the scenes of Xiao Mai cooking competitively against others subtly shows this - for example, how her competitors would constantly look over to check out what she is doing, while she focuses only on her own cooking. She can be quite bumbly when it comes to her beloved Yi Huai, but she quickly grows to understand and complement his character well.

The supporting cast does a great job as well, with a special shout out for Yi Huai's mother. What a great character - traditional and fierce, but loving and supportive of Xiao Mai and Yi Huai at the same time. There is some side story development, but except for a couple of key supporting characters, there is not a lot of focus on the other characters. I guess some could complain that certain plot lines are left unresolved. However, I myself do not mind the open endings left for them. For the OTP though, what a satisfying ending!

I cannot sing enough praises of the OST. Niko Sun has the perfect voice for those period songs, and I am happy that I found the whole soundtrack on YouTube music.

I rated the re-watch value above average but not a 9 or 10 because I probably won't watch the whole show. However, I have already re-watched the delightful scenes of the OTP. Yi Huai can say the sweetest things at times :D

Leia Mais

Good Fun and it made me hungry to watch!

Cute story, cute characters, GORGEOUS ML. I liked that the intrigue was uncomplicated and simple - bad guys got their comeuppance without a lot of blood and gore and unnecessary death just for drama sake. I especially liked that the FL wasn't afraid to be hard and kick ass without so much as one kung fu move. She does some mean kicking and broom waving! LOL

If you're looking for some easy weekend watching, this is it - and you will find yourself drooling over the food scenes (although they got a little repetitious at times). A few loose ends, such as Wang's poisoning, the unwelcome relatives, the scholar & the apprentice - I think I liked Dasheng better myself. But overall, it was an entertaining watch!

I hope to see this ML in more featured roles.

Leia Mais

Adorable and Sweet

So this was an unexpected delight for me. A cute and appealing respite from all the mediocre cdramas we have been getting lately. As I had zero expectations going into the drama I was so pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Such a cute and adorable drama. Just a slice of life drama set in earlier times. No huge trauma, no utterly despicable people. Problems arise and the main couple get thru them with honesty and integrity. Family values and sisterly love. Side characters cute and funny. Yes there are setbacks and a few bad guys but it would not be a drama without them. Main couple are adorable and funny and remain true to each other. I recomment watching on a full stomach, the food scenes made me hungry each and every episode. What fun this one was!

Leia Mais

I really enjoyed this drama. It had the perfect balance of everything. The relationships seemed to develop well, not being rushed. The relationship between the sisters was so amazing, you could only smile. Yes, you will get your fill of cooking scenes while watching it but the relationships and events come together so well. We don’t have the extremely wicked people although you’ll have some schemers. The writers did a great job. The cast played their rolls well. There were cooking scenes, fight scenes, family scenes, unity scenes and more. In truth, I loved the fact that the 2 sisters were supportive, loving. They were both fierce but good, smart women.

What I like most about this series was that it was entertaining and the relationship between or 2 leads was great. There was no crazy misunderstandings or ridiculous breakup Just development and you know the rest. It was sweet to see the love, support and loyalty. There were no overly immature characters (LOVED THIS). I really am tired of seeing this series with Married female characters who act Like they’re 13 years old. Our lead was a mature, young adult which was pleasant.


Do I recommend it? Yes, yes, yes.
Is it sweet? Yes

Leia Mais