The world of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” was brought to life by Cuisine.K in a special pop-up experience that allowed attendees to taste the iconic fusion dishes of the hit K-drama
The tvN drama “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” concluded amid a surge of popularity, achieving a peak viewership rating of 17.1%. The series follows Ji-young, a French chef who time-slips to the Joseon Dynasty, where she meets Yi Heon — a king with an extraordinary palate. Blending fantasy and romantic comedy, the drama captivated global audiences in every episode with its visually stunning dishes and the cast’s passionate performances.
Keeping the momentum going, CJ CheilJedang’s next-generation Korean cuisine talent program, Cuisine.K, hosted a special pop-up dining event, “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’: A Feast by Ji-young,” from November 2 to 4. Despite a short two-day application period starting October 28, the event drew an overwhelming number of applicants, resulting in a staggering competition rate of 1,200 to 1, demonstrating the drama’s remarkable popularity.
CJ Newsroom visited the pop-up event, where drama fans were treated to an unforgettable experience.
Stepping into the Drama: An Immersive Journey Beyond Time and Space
In the heart of Gangnam, the grand “Gateway to the Royal Feast” from the drama was brought to life as a full-scale installation — serving as the entrance to the world of “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty.” Stepping through the gateway, visitors were transported into a restaurant styled after a royal kitchen from the Joseon era, truly making them feel as though they had crossed into another time and place.
The set was brought to life with perfectly arranged drama props, including walls decorated with stunning paintings and cushions and aprons patterned like royal robes. Even the chefs were dressed in the same period costumes as the actors, creating a strong sense of immersion as guests were welcomed into the world of the drama
As the multi-course meal began, guests received photo cards with images of each dish as well as detailed menu descriptions. The cards also included the very lines spoken by Chef Ji-young describing each menu item to King Yi Heon in the drama. Guests reminisced about their favorite scenes as they perused the cards and shared stories with their dinner companions.
Dishes Worthy of a King
Young chefs at the event reinterpreted the drama’s iconic dishes, presenting creations such as Haute Cuisine-Style Beef Tartare and Beef Schnitzel, Pea Potage, Doenjang Pasta, Wild Ginseng and Black Chicken Samgyetang, Beef Bourguignon with Wild Grape Wine, Signature French Bibimbap with Doenjang Soup and Black Sesame Macarons.
Each time a dish that had appeared in the drama was brought to the table, guests eagerly raised their phones to capture the moment. The Beef Bourguignon infused with wild grape wine, the Doenjang Pasta enriched with a savory sauce and the Signature French Bibimbap enhanced with brown butter especially stood out, enchanting guests with complex flavors that perfectly matched what they had seen on screen.
“It was amazing to see the flavors I had only imagined while watching the drama come to life before my eyes,” one guest remarked. “The moment I took a bite, I felt as if I had become a character in the story.”
The pop-up event also featured executive chef Shin Jong-cheol of The Ambassador Seoul-A Pullman Hotel, who served as the drama’s culinary advisor and mentor for the project. In addition, five young chefs from Cuisine.K were selected to research and reinterpret traditional royal cuisine for the event, creating innovative fusion dishes for the occasion.
“Recreating the dishes exactly as they appeared in the drama, from presentation to flavor and texture, was no easy task,” said Lee Kyung-won, the head chef of the event and a first-generation Cuisine.K alumnus. “We constantly asked ourselves what kind of taste viewers might have imagined while watching the drama, and that challenge inspired every dish we created.”
Beyond Immersion and Experience: Showcasing the Allure of Korean Cuisine to the World
This pop-up went beyond simply recreating scenes from the drama — it became a platform to share the limitless potential of Korean cuisine. “’Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’ was also very popular in Japan,” shared a guest from Japan. “I was thrilled to finally taste the dishes I saw in the show, and this experience deepened my appreciation for Korean food.”
The menu featured familiar Korean dishes such as beef tartare, doenjang soup, bibimbap and samgyetang, all reimagined through Western culinary techniques to create new fusion dishes. This balance of tradition and modernity delighted both Korean and international guests, showcasing the universal appeal of fusion Korean cuisine.
The Doenjang Pasta in particular received an enthusiastic response, with many guests even requesting that it be released as a product. Several attendees also approached the chefs on-site to ask for the recipe, eager to recreate the flavors themselves. International guests enjoyed the dishes with ease, discovering the charm and accessibility of Korean cuisine.
By bringing together K-drama and K-food, Cuisine.K showcased Korean cuisine as an evolving form of gastronomy — a living, ever-progressing culinary experience. With its driving spirit of creativity and experimentation, Cuisine.K continues to expand the possibilities of Korean cuisine, sharing its diverse and captivating flavors with the world.
