Beginning its 20 episode run with a rating of just over 12%, Pasta went on to gain over a 21% rating by the airing of its final episode. And that makes complete sense. This 2010 Korean drama has everything a good, entertaining love story needs – the plot is engaging, the acting is top-notch, the characters are lovable, the directing is solid, the food looks mouthwateringly delicious- what more could you ask for?
Seo Yoo-Kyung has been working as the kitchen assistant at fancy La Sfera Italian restaurant for three years, anxious for the day she can join the other cooks in creating delicious pasta meals for their diners. The day before her long awaited dream comes true she meets, and falls for, the irresistibly charming man she thinks will be taking her place as the new assistant to the cooks, Choi Hyun-Wook. Imagine her surprise when he is introduced the next day as the restaurant’s new head chef, brought all the way from Italy to take over La Sfera’s kitchen. You wouldn’t think that would be a problem but when Chef Choi refuses to allow women in his kitchen and instantly begins to cleanse it of the four females there, sweet Yoo-Kyung’s dreams just may end up on the chopping block!
Although Choi Hyun-Wook is a brilliant, talented, and highly skilled chef he’s also arrogant, egotistical, difficult to please, and downright mean. He rules with an iron fist and a loud voice – definitely not someone you’d dare cross. However, in spite of his irritating character flaws, he can be irresistibly charming and quite sexy. (Think Kim Joo-Won in Secret Garden, Dok Ko-Jin in The Greatest Love, Joo Hong-Bin in Blade Man, and Hwang Tae-Kyeong in You’re Beautiful – that kind of guy.) Once we discover a bit of Hyun-Wook’s personal history, his distrust of female cooks begins to make sense.
Seo Yoo-Kyung’s desire to be a pasta chef at La Sfera stems from a memory she has of being with her mother just before she passed away. Yoo-Kyung comes from a cooking family, her father having his own modest spicy noodles restaurant. Darling Yoo-Kyung is so sweet, it’s no wonder she’s had a secret admirer for the past three years. What will happen when “Mr. Cactus” finally reveals his true feelings to “Miss Cook”?
La Sfera is secretly owned by handsome Kim San. After posing as a La Sfera customer for years he finally decides to go public, reveal he’s really the owner, and take over as the president. He is everything Chef Choi is not – quiet, understanding, even tempered, patient, complimentary, and it doesn’t hurt at all that he’s rich!
Oh Sae-Young is a famous chef with her own TV show and cookbooks. She’s beautiful and happens to be Yoo-Kyung’s idol. As fate may have it, Chef Oh and Yoo-Kyung become roommates and end up competing in a pasta competition. Yoo-Kyung is thrilled when Sae-Young begins working at La Sfera but Chef Choi is livid! Although he’s definitely not happy at having another chef in his kitchen it goes way beyond that. Just what, exactly, does Chef Choi have against lovely Chef Oh?
There are several supporting characters that have big roles in this Kdrama. The many members of the kitchen staff began to feel like my friends and I truly became involved in their happiness.
I was thrilled with the main cast of Pasta, watching one of my favorite actors and one of my favorite actresses working opposite each other is always a treat.
Kong Hyo-Jin is beautiful as well as talented. I can’t recall a single thing she’s done that I didn’t think she was perfect in. I, personally, think her best work is in It’s Okay, That’s Love but I absolutely adore her in this role as well. She made me love her the second I saw that shy smile while asking Choi Hyun-Wook, a total stranger, to feel around in her pockets for her keys. Perfect!
Lee Sun-Kyun oozes sex-appeal in his role of Chef Choi. How can someone make arrogant and rude seem so sexy? Is it that seductive smile, or his twinkly eyes? Although he’s been in loads of feature films, Sun-Kyun’s last TV drama was too long ago, Miss Korea in 2014. He’s a wonderful asset to the Kdrama world. I hope he has something planned for 2016.
The food that is prepared on this show is amazing. I kept on licking my lips, wanting to try all of the various dishes we get to see being created. I’m craving the sounds and smells of an Italian restaurant right now!
The soundtrack is subtle, nothing really stands out but instead meshes beautifully with the story. My favorite song is entitled Listen… to You, performed by Kyuhyun of Super Junior. The man’s voice is totally unique and wonderfully suited for that particular uptempo ballad. It’s a wonderful song that is used over and over throughout the entire show. Listen for it when the characters are inside stores and restaurants, places like that.
A huge chunk of the show is set inside the luxurious La Sfera restaurant. Although you may think that sounds monotonous I didn’t mind it at all. The characters are there so much it began to feel comfortable, like it was where I, personally, worked. And the audience gets to see so much wonderful, delicious looking food being prepared that, although it’s in the same place, it feels like different scenery every time they are in the kitchen.
A love story that flows smoothly, captures your heart and imagination, and keeps you happily entertained for 20 hours. Interested? Then grab this Pasta and delight in its deliciousness!
Score: 8.5
The Good:
Refreshing love story
Not often used setting – restaurant
Great writing
Even flow of storyline
Fantastic actors/actresses
Characters you love and care about
Good directing
Fabulous food
The Bad:
Nothing that I noticed
Heart and Seoul 