Tastefully Yours Episode 1 opens with a look at Hansang Group, a major culinary conglomerate operating multiple restaurants. We meet Han Beom-woo, a cold, business-minded director with little patience for failure. As a man protests him publicly with signs accusing him of recipe theft, Beom-woo shows no signs of remorse. When one of his employees fails to secure an abalone restaurant, Beom-woo intervenes himself.

At the seaside eatery, he meets the son of the elderly restaurant owner and threatens to expose his gambling habit unless he persuades his mother to sell. Beom-woo then heads to Motto, a fine dining restaurant under Hansang’s banner, to inspect its upcoming menu. There, Head Chef Jang Young-hye is giving a promotional interview. Beom-woo interrupts to scold her for not finalizing the menu’s centerpiece: truffle neobiani. When she defends her creative approach, he shuts her down, emphasizing that she should follow the curated recipes he’s collected nationwide and secure a coveted three-star review.

Beom-woo and Sun-woo: A Family Rivalry Ignites

Back at Hansang headquarters, we’re introduced to Han Sun-woo—Beom-woo’s rival and biological brother. Their mother, the Chairwoman, presides over the family and the business with an iron will. During a private dinner where she casually fires a chef, she declares that whichever son earns three stars for their restaurant will become the next heir to Hansang.

Beom-woo soon hits a major roadblock when his junior discovers that another restaurant is already serving truffle neobiani—a major blow, considering Motto’s identity hinges on exclusive cuisine. The rival eatery is located in Jeonju, prompting Beom-woo to travel there personally.

A Knife, Cabbage, and an Unexpected Chef

Beom-woo’s journey leads him to a humble countryside restaurant. Upon arrival, he accidentally tramples some cabbages in a garden, prompting a woman to swing a kitchen knife at him. After the chaos settles, he realizes she’s the owner, Yeon-joo. When he brings up the truffle neobiani, she clarifies that her dish is actually seopsanjeok—and she refuses to make it, citing the lack of a key ingredient: beef rump from Mawon Farm.

Beom-woo ventures to the local butcher, who laughs at his request. Determined, he buys an assortment of beef rump cuts anyway. Meanwhile, Yeon-joo makes her own supply run, humorously gathering eggs from a chaotic henhouse after the farmer’s wife falls ill.

Returning with his haul, Beom-woo tries to pass off fake Mawon Farm labels—but Yeon-joo sees through it instantly. Fortunately, one package turns out to be genuine, prompting her to finally prepare the dish.

Cooking, Clashing, and a Changing Heart

Yeon-joo invites Beom-woo to hike with her into the mountains in search of a specific mushroom. Back at her restaurant, she begins to cook. As Beom-woo samples her cabbage kimchi, memories of his grandmother come flooding back. Despite the similarities in appearance, her dish tastes distinct from Motto’s version—and he’s deeply impressed.

He immediately offers to buy her restaurant, but Yeon-joo refuses without hesitation. She criticizes his profit-driven mindset, questioning his true passion for the culinary world. He fires back, arguing that love for food alone isn’t enough to survive without money. The next day, her landlord delivers bad news: Yeon-joo has one month to pay her overdue rent.

Meanwhile, Beom-woo learns that the man he previously blackmailed has attempted suicide and is now hospitalized.

Downfall and Betrayal at Hansang

Back at Hansang, Beom-woo is officially removed from his director role. Despite his fall, he visits the hospital to offer an apology—only to overhear the man speaking with Sun-woo. It dawns on Beom-woo that his brother orchestrated the incident to sabotage him.

He immediately calls their mother, expecting outrage—but she dismisses his concern. She tells him Sun-woo will take over Motto and advises Beom-woo to find a different path to redemption.

Final Thought

The episode closes with Beom-woo arriving at Yeon-joo’s door, humbled and vulnerable, asking if she’ll hear him out. Tastefully Yours Episode 1 sets the stage for an intense clash of ideals, ambition, and values, as Beom-woo begins to question everything he’s built his life on—and Yeon-joo emerges as the unexpected force challenging his entire worldview.