Tastefully Yours Episode 2 recap opens with a brief flashback. Years earlier, Yeon-joo is shown a potential space for her restaurant by the landlady. She instantly falls in love with it and claims it without hesitation. The landlady, in a moment of affection, gives her sunhat to Yeon-joo as a gift to commemorate the new beginning.

In the present, Beom-woo continues trying to persuade Yeon-joo to accept Hansang’s acquisition deal. She tears up the contract but makes a counteroffer — she’ll consider it if he agrees to work at her restaurant for a month. Knowing that Hansang is starting to cut him off, Beom-woo agrees. They draft a new agreement: he will work there for one month, after which he will consider investing personally. The division of duties is made clear — Yeon-joo controls the kitchen, while Beom-woo takes charge of the dining hall.

But Beom-woo reveals his real plan to a colleague: he’s only doing this to steal Yeon-joo’s recipes and use them for a brand-new venture. Meanwhile, Yeon-joo is seen meeting a man in a shady alleyway — a scene that looks suspicious, almost like a drug deal. Beom-woo catches her in the act, but it turns out the deal is for locally grown chili powder. The man is actually the town’s grocer. Unfortunately, Yeon-joo can’t pay, so he takes the powder back.

Yeon-joo returns home in tears, overwhelmed by her financial constraints. Beom-woo tries to give her a business-minded pep talk, suggesting they hire someone to help. She rejects all of his suggested candidates and instead brings in Jin Myung-sook, a seasoned worker from a nearby gukbap restaurant. This choice infuriates Beom-woo, who gets into another spat with Yeon-joo. When she taunts him about his unfulfilled promise to provide new tables, he vows to deliver by morning.

He heads to a hotel to spend the night but finds that Hansang has revoked his corporate card and taken away his company vehicles. With no money, he ends up trading his luxurious coat to Sam-sik, an innkeeper, for a night’s stay — and leaves wearing Sam-sik’s football jersey.

In the morning, Beom-woo pawns off his expensive watch to buy two tables and chairs. He also reaches out to contacts in hopes of generating buzz for the restaurant, but no one is interested. Throughout the day, Beom-woo and Myung-sook clash repeatedly.

An opportunity arises when an influencer offers to promote the restaurant. However, a heated argument between Yeon-joo and Beom-woo about plating ruins the chance. Matters worsen when Myung-sook spills kimchi on the new tables. Beom-woo storms out, frustrated.

The grocer and the local butcher find him sulking and take him out for drinks. The grocer, wanting to cheer him up, hands him a mystery bag. Beom-woo returns to the restaurant and sees that Yeon-joo has cleaned the table and set out attractive plates. She even gives him a clean T-shirt to replace Sam-sik’s old jersey. Beom-woo gifts them the bag — which contains the coveted chili powder.

Soon after, the grocer and butcher return with their entire soccer team. Everyone enjoys the food, and the three restaurant employees agree to celebrate with a team dinner. But they are suddenly blocked by a car. Out steps Chun-seung, a young man who demands that Myung-sook return to her previous workplace. He accuses Yeon-joo and Beom-woo of offering her a chef’s position and a major raise, which isn’t true.

Later, during drinks, Myung-sook explains the truth: she had hoped her bluff would earn her a raise, but instead, they let her go after 15 years of loyalty. Chun-seung, it turns out, is the owner’s son. Yeon-joo, touched by her loyalty and skill, officially names Myung-sook as the restaurant’s chef. They toast to their new beginning.

Back at the restaurant, Yeon-joo and Beom-woo engage in a drinking contest. But Beom-woo’s mood shifts when he sees an article announcing that Chef Young-hye has joined Han Sun-woo’s restaurant, La Lecel. Furious, he calls and accuses her of betrayal. Yeon-joo overhears this and mistakenly assumes he’s arguing with a girlfriend.

To add to the chaos, a drunken Chun-seung reappears. When he touches Yeon-joo, Beom-woo jumps in to defend her. But Yeon-joo quickly handles the situation herself and turns to Beom-woo with a serious question: why is he really here?