“Absolute Taste, Yoo Tae-woo”
As the title clearly implies, it’s a culinary drama.
The story follows Yoo Tae-woo, a failed chef who awakens with the extraordinary ability of “absolute taste” and goes on to achieve great success.
The realism aspect doesn’t resonate much.
The very existence of something like “absolute taste” is questionable, and even if it did exist, it wouldn’t be as magnificent as depicted in the drama.
The idea that someone can instantly know all the ingredients used in any dish just by tasting it is no less than sheer fabrication.
“Still, it is a culinary drama, after all.”
However, even considering such issues, this show is no match for Restaurant Promo.
This feels somewhat unfair.
My drama has turned into something beyond just a culinary drama but, on the other hand, this drama cleanly sticks to just cooking.
What I’ve always wanted was a regular cooking drama like this one.
This makes my stomach hurt so much.
“So, the role I need to take on…”
The opening segment of the drama.
There’s a scene where the protagonist, who has lost the restaurant inherited from his mentor due to a rival’s conspiracy, seeks help from a wealthy philanthropist.
This philanthropist, who had a connection with the protagonist’s mentor, Master Baek Seok, initially refuses the request, advising him to hone his skills first.
Through this advice, the protagonist undergoes a pivotal revelation, awakens his “absolute taste,” and in the early parts, rises proudly on his own merit.
The role I need to play is this philanthropist.
The role that drives the protagonist’s early awakening.
“And, adding the setting that Director Yoo requested… all right, let’s sh**t and see how it goes.”
Entering the luxurious kitchen, Yoo Tae-woo recalls their recent meeting.
He had asked the gentleman, who shared a bond with his late mentor, for assistance, only to be told that, no matter the past connection, the gentleman would not invest enthusiasm into a fruitless endeavor without proof.
And now, he stands here to provide that proof.
For a chef, proof equates to preparing a dish.
He was confident that the recipe passed down from his mentor would be enough to convince the gentleman.
– It’s not just about investment. This gentleman can help revive the cherished place that holds memories of both me and my mentor.
If he can pass the gentleman’s test, everything will return to its rightful place.
-Huh, that guy…
Watching Yoo Tae-woo cook, Elder Yoon signals to Secretary Kim as he approaches.
– Yes, Elder.
– Is this the disciple of Baek Seok, that friend of mine?
– Yes, that’s right.
– Did you know? The first thing this guy did after losing the pride of our city, Stones Premium owned by Baek Seok, was to seek outside help. Moreover…
Elder Yoon’s mind was flooded with the recipes of his close friend Baek Seok, which he mostly remembered.
And right now, Yoo Tae-woo was cooking one of them, claiming to be Baek Seok’s disciple.
Even Stones Premium, a hallmark of Baek Seok.
If only the depth of the dish being prepared had approached that of Baek Seok…
– This is nothing more than a knockoff of Baek Seok’s work. I can imagine him crying in his grave right now.
Unfortunately, Yoo Tae-woo wasn’t on that level at all.
– Here it is, Elder.
Time passed, and the dish was completed, presented before Elder Yoon.
Visually, it was a replica of the Stones Premium Elder Yoon knew well.
He took a piece, chewed it slowly, savoring it, bringing to mind memories of his dear friend.
On the surface, the taste was undoubtedly that of Stones Premium, but…
This dish lacked depth. It was devoid of Yoo Tae-woo’s unique touch, the chef’s personal flair.
According to Baek Seok’s teaching, this could never be called a proper dish.
-Hm… Yoo Chef.
-Yes, Elder.
-What exactly did you learn from Baek Seok?
-What… are you talking about…?
-This dish here, it’s a decent imitation of Baek Seok’s work. Could it be that you’ve been running Stones with dishes like this all along? Baek Seok didn’t aim for this, did he?
…
-I heard your surroundings shook you, and as a result, you lost Stones entirely. However, if you were the genuine chef Baek Seok spoke of, would you have come begging for help from me? A chef speaks with his cooking, right? You should have stood on your own two feet.
-But they…
Disappointed by Yoo Tae-woo’s feeble attempt to excuse himself, Elder Yoon changed the subject with a dismissive laugh.
It seemed pointless to waste further breath on it.
-Well, these general remarks are fine actually. Let’s talk just about the cooking. Your cooking lacks depth, and it’s not your own. That’s just an imitation of Baek Seok, not Yoo Tae-woo’s original creation.
-But…
-It seems you don’t understand fully. Alright then, let me show you. Secretary Kim, do you have it?
-Yes, Elder.
-Then bring it out.
Secretary Kim fetched a large case following Elder Yoon’s instructions.
Inside were two impressive Chinese chef knives, their grandeur revealed.
With both Chinese knives in his hands, Elder Yoon marched confidently into the kitchen.
-Let me show you. My Stones.
Elder Yoon’s knives began a dazzling dance.
Though in form it was Baek Seok’s Stones Premium, the cooking method, from ingredients to preparation, was entirely different.
Where Baek Seok’s Stones Premium was a Korean adaptation of French cuisine, Elder Yoon’s Stones was an original recipe with a Chinese twist.
This was Elder Yoon’s recipe, infused with his soul and originality.
Watching such overwhelming skill, reminiscent of his mentor come to life, Yoo Tae-woo remained speechless.
-Taste it.
-This is impossible. How…
-The lesson I have for you is one: first, hone your craft. That’s the start of finding your true self.
And with that, Elder Yoon left the scene, leaving behind a shaken Yoo Tae-woo who collapsed on the spot.
“Ah, perfect! That’s exactly what we needed!”
As the scene wrapped up, Director Yoo broke into a joyful hum and cheered.
He seemed quite pleased with this scene.
“Actor Baek, I must say, I envied it immensely!”
“What is it?”
“Actor Baek’s Chinese knives. Whoa! The kn*fe skills are amazing. That’s what I call a performance!”
Director Yoo seemed rather fond of the Chinese kn*fe performance showcased in Promo Restaurant.
That’s why, even where merely verbal guidance would suffice, a Chinese kn*fe scene was added out of the blue.
Though incredibly surprising, with Elder Yoon suddenly wielding two Chinese knives to cook, it worked because the director was pleased.
There’s going to be an inevitable clash with Writer Min, but that’s not really my concern.
As long as I manage to create a scene that generates some buzz, I’ve done my job.
Of course, I’ll contact Writer Min ahead of time.
One can be as terrifying as a director, and that’s the writer.
Since there’s no telling if or when I’ll work with Writer Min again, it’s best to show proper consideration.
“Wow, the kn*fe skills are really impressive.”
“Actor Baek has so many talents.”
“It was quite perplexing when the kn*fe appeared, but look how they brought it to life!”
The staff seemed pleased too.
They weren’t exactly supportive at first, questioning the out-of-the-blue addition.
But despite the oddity, the scene was convincingly executed, and by the end of the sh**t, everyone appeared satisfied.
“Ah, though it feels sort of absurd… it’s surprisingly not bad… that kind of feeling.”
“Is it?”
“Perhaps if it weren’t for our junior here, we wouldn’t have pulled off this scene so well. I was trying hard not to laugh at some moments, especially when the two knives appeared.”
Even Kim Juyeon, the seasoned actor who played Secretary Kim in this scene, seemed somewhat amused by the sequence.
There wasn’t much for her to do, but having Secretary Kim present was an unwritten rule whenever Elder Yoon was on screen.
Lucky for us, she graciously stepped in for this cameo despite having no other commitments, and it seems she too found the scene somewhat amusing.
Seeing that this scene might not have worked without me suggests my performance was at a decent level.
Of course, I was aware of the stakes and gave the scene my full concentration and intensity.
“I guess now, Director Yoo will take over from here.”
By delivering even such an unexpected scene to this level, I’ve done my part.
The remaining steps are now in Director Yoo’s hands.
While I had a cameo appearance in Absolute Taste, Yoo Tae-woo, other actors also ventured into various projects for cameo roles.
Heavenly Yuah appeared in a detective drama on TVA as an investigator.
Nam Hyun-ho took on the role of an ex-boyfriend in a romance drama on SBC.
Even Moon Suyeon managed to land a cameo.
She played the idol everyone aspires to in an OTT original drama focused on idols.
This opportunity came entirely through our agency’s connections.
They contacted Phoenix Productions, with whom we have a good relationship, and through them, secured these roles from other production companies.
Since our actors are well-received for their performances, it was relatively easy to arrange these guest roles.
The challenge, however, was deciding on the projects.
Nam Hyun-ho, in particular, stumbled badly during the selection phase when he chose an SBC production.
Not knowing exactly what kind of production it was, the issue stemmed from the fact that it was broadcast on SBC.
After all, the issues with SBC over Restaurant Promo* are well known.
Working with TS in a less-than-ideal collaboration and then neglecting further investment even after the drama’s success, leading to a decline in the quality of the final episode—SBC was directly responsible for this misstep.
Technically, involving TS is somewhat understandable.
Broadcast networks operate this way.
But after successfully pulling off a drama under such difficult conditions, one would expect them to honor some basic commitments, which they failed to do.
“But I didn’t know that!”
“Lack of knowledge doesn’t make one a hero.”
“Man, this sucks.”
“Isn’t this a bit unfair? After all, Nam Hyun-ho won the bet.”
“True, but upon winning the bet, one should exercise more caution. Nam Hyun-ho seemed rather indifferent.”
Not just me, but Heavenly Yuah and Moon Suyeon also jumped on Nam Hyun-ho, criticizing him with gusto, leaving him surrounded on all sides.
Perhaps, for them, this was a small form of payback for losing the bet.
Watching Nam Hyun-ho’s misfortune after joining a problematic cameo project seems to be a great stress reliever.
There’s truly no better remedy than critiquing someone—especially when you’re not the only one being critiqued.
Ultimately, the issue of Nam Hyun-ho’s cameo selection was declared a reckless decision on his part.
Though he protests claiming ignorance, one should have done thorough research before committing to a project.
“Anyway, let’s move onto the next step.”
Participating in various projects as cameos should somehow aid in promotion, but it lacks direct measurable results.
That leads us back to variety shows.
Yes, inevitably, it all circles back to variety shows.
Now isn’t the time to explore other networks for variety show appearances; that would not be a good decision.
Most importantly, relying on unreliable broadcasters is absurd.
However, if we can create and deliver our own message in our preferred form, wouldn’t that be acceptable?
In our self-produced format, at least.
Our intention is not to concoct anything grand.
Just small yet regular videos, showcasing daily life.
Given the unique traits of our agency’s artists, even this simple effort could prove sufficient for promotional purposes.
