A new taste of rom-com, "Tastefully Yours," is coming.
The production presentation of the Genie TV Original "Tastefully Yours" took place on the 8th at the Stanford Hotel in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event was hosted by Park Kyung-rim, with creator Han Joon-hee, director Park Dan-hee, and actors Kang Ha-neul, Go Min-si, Kim Shin-rok, and Yoo Soo-bin in attendance.
The Genie TV Original Monday-Tuesday drama "Tastefully Yours" (planned by KT Studio Genie, produced by Shortcake, created by Han Joon-hee, written by Jung Soo-yoon, directed by Park Dan-hee) is a kitchen takeover romance where the wealthy heir Han Bum-woo (played by Kang Ha-neul) becomes a "recipe hunter" to inherit a food corporation by merging a small restaurant, and Mo Yeon-joo (played by Go Min-si), a stubborn chef running a one-table restaurant without a sign in Jeonju, engages in a war-like kitchen competition.
Previously, creator Han Joon-hee, who had shown strong works through several projects such as "Weak Hero," explained, "Two to three years ago, I went down to the countryside to work as a staff member, and during that time, I had to visit many famous restaurants due to work. I had been in Seoul and then went to the countryside, spending time without family or friends, and I remember writing a short screenplay based on new friends I made there. It has been 15 years since then, and I thought it would be interesting to take that original idea and adapt it with the director and writer to fit the present."
He added, "In reality, 'Tastefully Yours' is a special project for me. It carries a lot of my experiences, and many of the restaurants I visited in that area were well depicted by the director. It holds a lot of memories from my youth, making me emotional and nostalgic." He particularly noted, "At that time, there were friends with characters like Yoo Soo-bin. There were friends living stylishly."
Moreover, he stated, "This is my first drama since my debut, so I feel the pressure. There are times when things go well and times when the reactions are more disappointing than expected, but we need to put in a lot of effort as we are in a refined profession. I believe we should work hard on every episode. However, I would be grateful if people enjoy it a lot." He added, "Ultimately, it seems to be a story of individuals coming together, a growth narrative showing how young people connect to accomplish something. While I'd be very thankful if you love it, I think about whether 'Am I entertaining?' whenever I watch the edits; it was really enjoyable. I watched the edited version until the end last week, but I can't know the results, though I found it enjoyable."
Director Park Dan-hee explained the differences between this and other food dramas, saying, "When I first saw the original idea, I felt it was very warm. Rather than a desire to do it while watching, I felt afraid. There was a restaurant tour book called 'Walking Slowly' that another director wrote while working at a film festival, filled with many stories. I wanted to capture the warmth and the charm of the owners while working on this project. I put in a lot of effort to portray the real stories that actually happened." He continued, "There are really unique characters like the second-generation chaebols and chefs gathered in one place. I think what distinguishes it from existing food dramas is having unique characters."
Kang Ha-neul, who returns to a chaebol character after a long time following roles like in "The Heirs," remarked, "I've tried various works, but it's been a long time, and I've never had the memory of living my life as a chaebol, so it was a bit challenging. Thus, I tried to think about what characteristics might make it more enjoyable by approaching it from the perspective of 'How would a chaebol act?'. It's not like being a chaebol comes with specific traits. So, I approached it with the thought of 'What if I were a chaebol?' which resulted in a livelier character." He continued, "Honestly, I'm comfortable being underestimated. Underestimating others is rather challenging," he added with a laugh.
Moreover, he smiled and said, "While filming this time, I tried to maintain an open ear, listening to the director's stories and the co-actors' input to make it more enjoyable." He jokingly added, "Especially regarding the manner of speaking, I had to look down on people a bit. So, I prepared for that. I thought about how I could convey that impression, like underestimating someone."
Go Min-si, who returns as a chef after working as an intern in 'Seojin's,' expressed, "It definitely seems that my experience has helped this time," smiling. She continued, "While in 'Seojin's,' I mainly did dishwashing or vegetable chopping, this time I learned how to chop properly and found it fun. I believe if I hadn't had prior filming experience, it would have been much more daunting and difficult."
Go Min-si added, "I chose this role because I wanted to film something fun and comfortable, but it's turned out to have more work than I expected compared to previous projects. Fundamentally, I had to learn how to cook, actually learning from chefs and practicing cooking before filming. The dialect was a crucial aspect, so I always sought guidance and checked with them. Besides that, my deficiencies were filled in by the others."
In the drama, Kim Shin-rok plays the character Jin Myung-sook, an ace with 15 years of experience in running a rice soup restaurant, who excels with overflowing sense and ability whenever needed. Kim Shin-rok stated, "Since my character relies on intuition and hands-on feeling, I didn't specifically train for it. In past projects, I've often taken on powerful and leading roles, but this time, it's ensemble work that requires us to share a pleasant experience, so I felt like I was going along with it. The three actors were all so good that I practiced surrendering to the flow of the river."
Returning as the third-generation successor of a rice soup restaurant, Yoo Soo-bin shared, "This character doesn't show much indication of being wealthy," adding, "Since I'm a character that lived in Jeonju for a long time, I continued to roam around even on non-shooting days. I tried to attach that image to myself. I also practiced for a scene where I ride a motorcycle, which I remember vividly."
The actors also shared about the cheerful filming atmosphere. Kim Shin-rok remarked, "While filming, we laughed so much that I joked that from now on, anyone laughing would be fined, but that made those who were already nervous laugh even more. Especially the chaebol played by Kang Ha-neul laughed a lot. Thanks to him, it boosted our group meals," taking a jab at Kang Ha-neul. In response, Kang Ha-neul quipped, "I do it for the whole team. Please go easy on me." This incited laughter. Director Park then revealed, "The one who started this was Min-si; she laughed the most. Seeing that, Hyun took it upon himself to say, 'This can't do; let's fine anyone who laughs', but he laughed 90% of the time," also eliciting laughter. Hearing this, Kang Ha-neul lamented, "Min-si would not laugh anymore from the moment we talked about fines," adding to the giggles.
The chemistry between the main couple, Kang Ha-neul and Go Min-si, was also observable. Kang Ha-neul commented on his interactions with Go Min-si, saying, "Of course, many actors would say this, but it feels like Go Min-si really 'acts with sincerity.' When acting, there is no wavering in her eyes. It's not just about the role; it feels like she believes in her own acting and expresses it sincerely. I've learned a lot from that aspect." He added, "I generally don't have that quality; I tend to express in a way that seems crafted. So, I've been recommending to production teams these days, 'Make sure to work with Min-si,' because she's fantastic."
Go Min-si mentioned, "During the initial days of filming, it took a while for me to adapt. I tend to take my time to adjust. However, each time, oppa was there on set. There is a difference in atmosphere when he's there versus when he's not. I could even feel from afar, 'He's coming.'" She continued, "However, he made sure to assist me comfortably when I was acting, and more importantly, he made me realize that I'm vulnerable to laughter, as he kept making me laugh during the shoots. I realized that I truly am someone who laughs a lot," adding, "Since this is also my first rom-com, I felt like I came to the set with a dating vibe."
Hearing this, Kang Ha-neul shyly replied, "What stands out from afar is the size of my face. I just happen to stand out," but Go Min-si quipped, "He's the Jim Carrey of Korea," making everyone burst into laughter.
The chemistry between Kim Shin-rok and Yoo Soo-bin was also noticeable. Kim Shin-rok shared, "This set is truly special to me because, in my previous works, I tended to portray more charismatic roles, but I've never had this level of comfort and enjoyment while acting before. It was truly fun. The first person who opened my heart to that was Soo-bin. The charm of Soo-bin is that they are everyone's comfortable darling. When Soo-bin is around, the atmosphere on set is soft and relaxed. When Ha-neul brings energy, it's like I get to relax, too. Thanks to my fellow cast members, I had an incredibly happy experience. I had many scenes doing some back-and-forth with Soo-bin, and it felt like they were someone who could improvise on set. But they were also well-prepared, approaching it methodically, making it comfortable to interact with them. I consider them a genuinely clean actor, and I respect that."
Yoo Soo-bin expressed, "There was a moment when my sister looked so cool. It was during filming when we finally got to shoot together after a long time, and I felt nervous and shaky. My sister said she was nervous too but mentioned it was 'fun.' Even though I'm younger and junior to her, I don't think it's easy to think that way while working. However, she sincerely said it was fun, and I learned a lot in that moment. So, I thought that the persistence seen in Kim Shin-rok, whatever project they engage in, must stem from that purity."
Lastly, Go Min-si remarked, "Ha-neul oppa is savory, I'm spicy, Shin-rok is refreshing, and Soo-bin is sweet. It's going to be a work with various flavors." Kang Ha-neul added, "I also see many works that have intense flavors. They are fun but not easy to revisit. However, our work gives off a feeling of 'walking slowly.' Even after it finishes airing, I continue to think about it, like the taste of Pyongyang cold noodles."
[Photo] OSEN DB
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