Replacing Chef Chico

What a lovely series!!! A great story which will warm your heart. The food is beautiful and tantalizing, as the chefs prepare a selection of appetizing dishes which compliment this series. Well acted and presented, lovely scenarios of the customers who frequent the restaurant. The scenes are vibrant, yielding superb food and entertaining miniature stories centred around the restaurant and Chef Ella. I love it!!! Praying for another series of happy ever afters.

Thank you to cast, producers and directors. To the colourful wardrobe and professional makeup.

A brilliant, delightful show, thank you to all.

What an empowering, thoughtful and wonderful show! It's both gentle and captivating and I enjoyed every episode. L I loved how all of the characters gained depth and nuance as the show progressed and I especially loved seeing Chef Ella find her voice and own her talents. I also really enjoyed how each episode centered on a specific event happening in the restaurant showcasing tender-hearted stories from all walks of life. There is some verbal/emotional abuse from the chef that Ella steps in to replace but it is shown to be as such and the show deals with it in an appropriate and healing way. I highly recommend it if you enjoy thoughtful storytelling with a gorgeous soundtrack.

So, I believe I am on the third episode. How absolutely repellent and gross. We live in a modern world, and it has been so for decades, but perhaps the men in your country don't understand or accept what that means.. It is entirely unacceptable to treat a female professional, a genuis, in this manner. You cannot simultaneously laud the success of a chef, and gutter it at the same time. I suppose that as a male dominated country, you hope to turn back time. I have seen people in my own country who hope to do the same. This attitude is ARCANE.

There is not a woman I know who would subborn this type of behavior. It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever visit your country.

Overall I think it's a missed opportunity to be something better. I like the focus on the customers and how it shows why Hain is special and not just a restaurant serving good food and fine dining. The perspective is really nice, a nice back and forth focus between the kitchen and the customers, but the delivery was pretty cringey. The love stories and the conversations were sometimes just too long and unnecessary. The constant background music was also pretty annoying. This is a typical kind of Filipino telenovela/drama which is not something necessarily negative, but I have my doubts it will be popular for the good characteristics in the west.

The series is commendable for its authentic representation of Filipino cuisine, which serves as a cultural touchstone, inviting viewers to explore the rich culinary traditions of the Philippines. It's a celebration of heritage and provides a sensory experience that is often underrepresented on screen.

The narrative threads of women's empowerment are particularly poignant. The series portrays strong, multidimensional female characters who navigate a variety of life's challenges. This portrayal not only inspires but also reflects the shifting societal norms towards gender equality.

The stories of various groups-families, women, the marginalized-are interwoven to create a tapestry of human experience that is both unique to the Filipino context and universal in its themes of struggle, resilience, and the fight for equality.

While the series excels in many areas, it falters in its repetitive use of scenes depicting smoking, cursing, and verbal-violence. Such portrayals, if not handled carefully, might risk normalizing these behaviors, especially if they are not critically framed or challenged by the narrative.

The actors deliver compelling performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. However, there seems to be a disconnect between the talent of the cast and the strength of the script. The series would benefit from a script that avoids clichés and develops its plotlines in more innovative and nuanced ways.

I wished the series Introduced more variety in conflict resolution without relying on aggressive behaviors,developed subplots that challenge the status quo and provide constructive discussions around the issues of smoking and verbal aggression, enhanced character arcs to show growth and change, especially in their coping mechanisms and lastly utilized the strong performances by giving the actors more challenging material that requires a range of emotions and depth.

Overall, the series is a significant step in the right direction for representing Filipino culture and highlighting important social issues. With some adjustments to avoid glorifying negative behaviors and a stronger, more original script, the series has the potential to not only entertain but also educate and inspire its audience.