Royal Feast / Imperial Cuisine 尚食 [2022]

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Royal Feast 尚食

 

Chinese Title: 尚食 / Shang Shi
English Title: Imperial Cuisine / Royal Feast

Genre: Historical

Episodes: 50

Director: Wang Wei

Broadcast Network: MangoTV

Broadcast Period: February 22nd, 2022

 

Cast:

Xu Kai as Lu Xingqiao
Wu Jin Yan as Yao Zijin
Wang Yi Zhe as You Yifan
He Rui Xian
Zhang Nan
Wang Chu Ran
Wang Yan
Zhang Zhi Xi
Hong Jian Tao
Yu Rong Guang
Liu Min
Lian Lian

 

Synopsis:

Set during the Ming dynasty, the drama revolves around the food bureau of the imperial palace. To host diplomatic corps and government intelligence agencies from around the world, the Yongle Emperor decides to recruit women who are talented in cooking to the food bureau. After a tough selection, Yao Zijin manage to enter the food bureau as a palace maid. She meets Lu Xingqiao, a former beggar and Su Yuehua, a genius cook. The three of them work together and encourage one another, coming up with unique cuisines which incorporate Chinese medicine, and also re-creating old classic famous dishes. Yao Zijin slowly works her way up in the food bureau, and also improving her craft at the same time. Finally, she realizes the real meaning of "food" and decides to give up competing for the position of "Shang Shi", instead deciding to leave the palace and spread the beauty of Chinese cuisine among the ordinary folks. (Sources: dramawiki)

 

 

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[Tofu]

I hope this get released soon because look at all the beautiful foods!! 

 

[Tofu]

This drama is confirmed to air on Feb. 22nd. It's on MangoTV, so I won't be tuning in because there might not be subs. 

 

Airing Schedule.

 

[NiteWalker]

so many drama base on foods recently lols....new stills released

 

 

 

[40somethingahjumma]

I'm thinking of watching this one because of the promise of food porn. Plus the set pieces look amazing. Costumes are visually stunning but look oversized in some cases even for the Brocade Guards. Not sure how I feel about how brown some scenes look. Normally I like sepia but for this show... it feels bogged down and dreary. 

 

I notice that the first 6 episodes have already dropped. But it seems like they only drop 3 episodes a week??? I like Wu Jinyan but I'm not sure about Xu Kai. 

 

Trailer:

 

 

Not a lot of food in the trailers...

 

BTS featuring the leads.

 

 

 

Music Video

 

 

[NiteWalker]

5 minutes ago, 40somethingahjumma said:

I notice that the first 6 episodes have already dropped. But it seems like they only drop 3 episodes a week??? I like Wu Jinyan but I'm not sure about Xu Kai. 

 

er JinYan is a pretty decent and good artist...

 

XuKai so far i only watch him in Falling into Your Smiles and some snippets of him in Ancient Love Poetry....he seems decent? hahhahaa 

 

but then i dont put high expectation most of the times hahaha...

[NiteWalker]

XuKai for Live stream event

 

 

 

[Tofu]

@40somethingahjumma Are you watching and is there food porn? Hahaha! The English subs for this drama is auto translated so it has to be at least somewhat good for me to sit through those kind of subs. 

[40somethingahjumma]

1 hour ago, Tofu said:

@40somethingahjumma Are you watching and is there food porn? Hahaha! The English subs for this drama is auto translated so it has to be at least somewhat good for me to sit through those kind of subs. 

 

Haha, Yes, I am. Started a few days ago and it's gradually getting better after a wobbly start. The food porn is terrific actually -- might be even better than Cupid's Kitchen. 

 

I'm enjoying the kitchen politics more than anything else in the show. The romance started well but it's hit a bit of bottleneck. There's too much baggage between the leads especially because of his hot and cold consort.

[NiteWalker]

XuKai and Wu JinYan promoting their Royal Feast together in the palace setting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[40somethingahjumma]

The lack of good subs are undoubtedly the reason why the uptake of this drama is on the slow side. But once you get past the first few episodes and navigate the world building here, it actually develops into quite a decent drama. Of course I can't guarantee that they will screw up the last act which has become characteristic of many C dramas over the years.  From what I've heard, this is a hugely popular drama on the mainland and is chalking up big numbers. My feeling is that this is a well-written drama and the inner workings of the palace kitchen seems to be fairly authentic. 

 

It's clear that this is a drama primarily about the women of the Inner Palace. Although the show features the reign of three emperors, the women are really at the heart of the storytelling. Cat fights are to be expected because it's often the case of the "survival of the fittest" for women who have very few options. However this drama also shows that even the men have to play the game even if the person at the top of the food chain is a man who calls the shot. But even he has to be careful with all kinds of trouble nipping at his door.

 

Even if romance isn't front and centre here, it is still an important part of the landscape. The talented Zhu Zhanji (Xu Kai) is in search of a wife who won't just be someone who gives him progeny but to be a pillar of support as he casts his eye on the throne. His present consort Hu Shanxiang isn't really someone who fits the bill. She's not only a reluctant addition to the palace but she's not particularly outstanding (certainly not enough to play the game well) so she inevitably creates a void which the far more talented Yao Zijin (Wu Jinyan) is destined to fill. In fact, according to the narrative here, Hu Shanxiang is the usurper because Zijin was the original choice, raised and nurtured to be future consort from a young age. She is much more the equal of Zhu Zhanji. 

 

It's not surprising that Zhu Zhanji takes note of Zijin's abilities immediately and it doesn't take him very long before he falls for her without even knowing her background. She's a natural fit for the gifted and intelligent Zhanji who immediately wants to reinstate her to be by his side. Zijin, however, is reluctant about coming in between the pitiful Hu Shanxiang and Zhanji but also she's been burnt before by the fickle nature of palace politics. She rejects Zhanji's overtures and this leads him to a "cold war" between them. I suppose he could compel her to be his concubine but he really wants her heart more than anything. He too has been burnt already by having Hu Shanxiang as his very reluctant consort. For him, the rejection is causing him a lot of angst even though he is keeping an eye on her at a safe distance. 

 

Of late the current empress wants to reinstate Zijin not as consort but as concubine. It's become a bone of contention. Zijin steadfastly refuses preferring to stay put in the kitchen where she's rising through the ranks and doing a lot of good work improving the quality of the kitchen offerings. However, she is just far too outstanding and it's widely known that the present crown prince is head over heels with her. The present empress is frustrated that her son isn't maintaining the bloodline so she believes that since he actually likes Zijin, they might actually get to the bedroom at some point to start producing offspring.

 

She also catches the eye of the head of the Brocade Guards or Jin Yi Wei, You Yi Fan (Wang Yizhe) who is grudging in his admiration of her even while he pretends indifference. They do have a fascinating dynamic but he's too much shrouded in darkness to be a contender for her affections.

 

It's hard to believe that there can be so much angst over food but yes, even there there are power plays to curry favour with the right woman. Meanwhile, the food porn is absolutely amazing. I heard in an interview with the leads that there are over 1000 dishes featured here. There's even a durian dish on the menu. Heh.

 

 

@NiteWalkerThere's a typo with the title. It should be "feast" not "fest". Thanks.

[NiteWalker]

1 hour ago, 40somethingahjumma said:

 

 

@NiteWalkerThere's a typo with the title. It should be "feast" not "fest". Thanks.

 

 

thanks for the alert dear, updated.

[NiteWalker]

XuKai and Wu JinYan in black n white photo during one of the promotion even for their currently airing drama 'Royal Feast'

 

 

 

[gween97]

Now watching this drama, hope it will happy endingbecause the last time they in the same drama in yanxi palace xu kai and wu jin yan can’t be together