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