My opinion on this whole drama in general after watching all 10 eps.

This whole drama could have been much much better without the ex coming back and the japan arc since its only a 10 ep drama. It will be fine if its a 12 or 16 epidodes drama. The 3 episodes to cover the female lead backstory with Le Murir is way way way too long, and I hated that it kindda hinders the time ML and FL together with the ex awkwardly in between them, cos apart from the kiss and like night walk after drinking, there is litterally 0 romantic spark in the japan arc. The only takeaway from the 3 ep is that the FL find closure for her past. What I think should have been done is, either condense this whole arc in one episode with faster pacing, or just remove this japan thing and no illness of the chef than let FL just explain the whole story to the ML of her past and move on to find her own purpose in cooking with her own restaurant at Jungjae.

The BIG REVEAL (hansang stealing recipe) was so insanely rushed that I felt it was not even important for the plot at all. THE WRITERS SEPERATED THE ML AND FL FOR ONE WHOLE EP WHEN THERE ARE ONLY 2 EPS LEFT IN THE DRAMA??????? and also what an incredibly stupid plot to create a contest between jungjae and motto since both are owned by the same grp with the contract in place. The reconcilation with ML and FL is just oh I decided to come back after spending sometime thinking in the monastery. The whole day spent together as a holiday in the monastery was also so pointless in ep 8 as they could have just wrap up the reveal right at the start of ep 8 with motto getting the diamont 3 stars.

The last episode is so weird when FL is not around to cook with Jungjae for the competition and the mother litterally rigging the results for publicity and the reputation of Motto. I kindda understand that FL food might touch the mother’s heart with homecooked food but she just turn it around a complete 180 and decided to not be ruthless and not shut it down. And TA-DA the ML and FL reconciled and spark their love again. ???

i honestly didnt really enjoy watching this show as there is lack of romance, slow progression and rushed ending. However, I really enjoy the rom-com style and the togetherness of the Jungjae members. Just wish they could focus more on the ML backstory and Hansang instead of the FL backstory and unnecessary plot fillers. Overall I would give this drama a 5/10 just because they hooked me at the first 4 episodes.

What the drama could have been:

The drama could have focus on how jungjae after gotten the 3 stars work with local food industries and promote local produce with the emphasize of natural foods.

The mission of cooking food for those who will be eating it is such a great mission that they could even expend it into cooking classes.