La cocinera de Castamar

A lovely spanish series that ticked all of the boxes. The characters were well cast and well acted, the leads had good chemistry. The storylines were well developed and just the right amount of too much. Costuming was very well done throughout.

I found this series by accident and I've quite enjoyed watching Clara and Diego fall in love over food. I love the scenery, the costumes, the supporting cast, and the plots that keep me wanting more. This is a delightful show. So many twists and turns.

Why can't we have more engrossing television like this?

The plot keeps one entirely engaged. The setting is beautiful. The customs are historically accurate. The food scenes are to die for. The music is exquisite. The directing is very well conceived. The acting is perfect for this kind of historic melodrama. The behavior in the film is in keeping with the nature of this aristocratic world. Congratulations to all who made this possible to be seen on Netflix! A strong recommendation for those who appreciate quality historical melodramas. (Rating 9/10)

If you like period pieces, this series is worth the watch. That said, keep in mind that unless you speak Spanish you will need to rely on English subtitles. Most of the characters are typical archetypes (villain, clueless do-gooder, envious maid, etc.). However, the series was quite engaging though also very predictable and drawn to an obvious conclusion. The biggest hurdle for me was the casting which was way off, and the main reason I gave the series 6 stars. Roberto Enríquez, who played the role of Diego Duke of Castamar is a good actor. However, he should NOT have been cast as the lead romantic role for the series. Even with make up, he looked closer in age to an older brother (or even possibly Clara's father). This makes sense since there is an 18-year age difference between Roberto Enríquez (the Duke) and Michelle Jenner (Clara Belmonte). A better option for the Duke's role would have been Maxi Iglesias, who sadly was relegated to playing Francisco Marlango. There were other casting mishaps too, though not quite as egregious as the main romantic leads. If you want to be entertained, and don't mind watching a May-December romance, then this series is well worth your time.

I just love the chemistry between Clara and Diego, it feels so natural. I fell in love of their love story!

I do agree the end feels rushed, wish they had at least 1 more episode to explain.

This show makes me want to learn Spanish so I can read the book! Hopefully someone will translate it into English and REALLY with for another season!