This review may contain spoilers
Food is love :)
It was such a refreshing story, the visuals were amazing, the cooking was scrumptious and the actors did a good with their respective characters. An Older woman and a younger man, not your conventional love story. Often times, people forget that even older/widowed women are worthy of love and recognition. Usually it is the older man and younger woman story that gets airplay, so this was indeed a surprising treat (no pun intended). There is also a subtle hint of feminism incorporated amidst the traditional Japanese society.The background with cooking all the dishes were very well executed. Even I want a Madeline! The end credits with extra scenes and song were smooth.
The subtle chemistry between the leads was just perfect because it was meant to awkward and sweet, each thinking if they should have feelings. As an older woman, her dilemma of having a younger husband thinking practically because of her age and position as widow made her felt unworthy of him. While he on the other hand, found her resilience to be attractive and yes food is definitely the way to a man's heart as he saw how she tried to get him to try the dishes as well as seal of approval. (taste of the food) But I think Amane liked Ichika from the first day he met her after she called him Aoto.
I would rewatch it because it is warm, cozy and sweet.
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Forget romance—this kitchen serves equality with a side of soy sauce
I have mixed feelings about this drama, not because of the large age gap between the two main characters, but how it’s being presented.We learn that, in order to save their restaurant, Ichika’s family arranged a marriage of convenience for one of the daughters. In the beginning, it was Ichika’s younger sister who was supposed to enter that marriage, but at the last minute, she backed out because 1) she was also older than the groom 2) she did not want to be stuck in a loveless marriage 3) somebody else who liked her proposed to her. All good reasons NOT to agree to a contract marriage.
But then we see Ichika agreeing to this contract marriage because of her outdated (and perhaps believable) concepts compared to her younger sister, who had a more idealistic view of the world. Being a widow in 50s Japan, Ichika basically consigned herself to a lesser role in the kitchen despite her excellent culinary skills. Her belief that a woman in a patriarchal society will never amount to being a head chef, let alone operate a business, is one that is valid considering what is the norm at that time. However, just because society has traditionally accepted a certain thought does not mean it couldn’t be changed for the better. And this is where Amane, her new husband, comes in.
Despite his young age, Amane is very sensible and has the business acumen to support Ichika in her dreams of managing her own cuisine. He quietly does things for his new wife without her awareness. Amane’s contribution to Ichika’s efforts later came to fruition when she finally salvages her family restaurant from ruin.
If you are expecting romance from this drama, don’t. This show is mostly about the food and how one woman’s dreams came true despite the obstacles in her way. Amane’s growing affection for Ichika looks very one-sided to me. I am not sure if it’s because of how the characters are written or the lack of chemistry between the two actors is the reason for this. The most I can see between Ichika and Amane is like how a big sister dotes on her much younger brother.
This drama is more like a PSA for food or for feminism, or both.
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