Unique Flavor
| Unique Flavor | |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 天下第一味 |
| Hokkien POJ | Thian‑hā-tē‑it-bī |
| Genre | Taiwanese drama |
| Written by | Lin Jiuyu (林久愉) Huang Qinlan (黄沁岚) Ye Fengying (:zh:叶凤英 |
| Directed by | Fung Kai (冯凯) |
| Starring | Chen Chao-jung Chou You-ting (周幼婷) Mayko Chen (陈仙梅) David Wang (王耀庆) later stage Elsie Ye (叶全真) Jiang Hong-En (江宏恩) Vins Yi (伊正) |
| Opening theme | 离开 by 江宏恩 and 詹曼鈴 |
| Ending theme | 宝贝子 by Lin Shan |
| Country of origin | Taiwan |
| Original language | Taiwanese Hokkien |
| No. of episodes | 286 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Jiang Mingye (蒋明烨) |
| Running time | 105 minutes (with commercial breaks) 90 minutes (episodes 1, 134-138) 120 minutes (episodes 32, 251-273) |
| Original release | |
| Network | SET Taiwan |
| Release | 16 August 2006 – 19 September 2007 |
| Related | |
Unique Flavor (Chinese: 天下第一味) is a Taiwanese Hokkien television drama that began airing on SET Taiwan in Taiwan on 16 August 2006, from Mondays to Fridays, and ended on 19 September 2007, with a total of 286 episodes.
It is directed by Fung Kai, with advisor Zhou You (周游).
The slogan for Unique Flavor is Good, Interesting, True (好味、趣味、真情味).
Cast
[edit]The casts are classified according to the families they belong to in the drama.
Chens (Chef Wan's Traditional Flavours)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| No cast | Chen Qinghai | Father of Chen Wanzong Grandfather of Chen Huiwen, Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Most senior among the Top Five Chef Killed by Liu Mingfeng |
He did not appear at all. |
| Liao Jun | Chen Wanzong | Nicknamed as 'Wan' Known as Chef Wan Father of Chen Huiwen, Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Foster father of Liu Shengjie Son of Chen Qinghai |
He appeared in all the episodes. The signboard of Chef Wan's Traditional Flavours was removed in episode 32 and remounted in episode 286. |
| Di Ying | Lin Xiuhong | Wife of Chen Wanzong Mother of Chen Huiwen, Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Foster Mother of Liu Shengjie Friend of Cai Qiumin and Yang Huimei |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| Xie Lijin | Chen Shengfen | Youngest daughter of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Has a troll but cheerful personality Had a crush first on Zhou Qiang, then Yang Zhiyuan, and then Gao Shoushan |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| David Wang | Chen Shengchang | Second son of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Has extreme personalities Husband of Hong Xiaolin |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Mayko Chen | Hong Xiaolin | Only daughter of Hong Kunlong Has congenital heart defect Wife of Chen Shengchang |
She appeared in episodes 1-240 and later episode 286. |
Lius (Tai Mei Enterprise)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shi Feng | Liu Mingfeng | Second in terms of seniority among the Top Five Chef Father of Liu Wenhua and Liu Wenqin Godfather of Liu Chongren Grandfather of Liu Shengjie and Liu Junying Foster grandfather of Chen Huiwen Had a grudge with Chen Qinghai |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Xu Guiying | Zhao Jingyue | Mother of Liu Wenqin Grandmother of Liu Shengjie and Liu Junying Wife of Liu Mingfeng Foster grandmother of Chen Huiwen Childhood friend of Wang Yixiong |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| Josh Huo | Liu Wenqin | Son of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Father of Liu Shengjie |
He appeared in episode 1. He witnessed Yang Huimei plunged into the sea. He killed himself in episode 1 by doing so. |
| Ann Lee (before plastic surgery) Gail Lin (after plastic surgery) |
Yang Huimei Auntie Hao |
Nicknamed 'Hao' Wife of Liu Wenqin Mother of Liu Shengjie Foster mother of Chen Huiwen Mother-in-law of Chen Huiwen Daughter-in-law of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Younger sister of Yang Tiansong Aunt of Yang Zhiyuan Friend of Lin Xiuhong and Cai Qiumin |
The version before plastic surgery appeared in episode 1 falling off a cliff. Saved by Zhou Yong and went for plastic surgery. The version after plastic surgery appeared in episodes 40-286. |
| Chen Chao-jung | Liu Shengjie Chen Shengjie |
Husband of Chen Huiwen Adopted son of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Grandson of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Son of Liu Wenqin and Yang Huimei Identity once swapped with Chen Huiwen Only successor of the "Top Five Chef" Leader of the new Top Five Chef He married Huiwen in episode 186. |
He appeared in all the episodes. He married Huiwen in episode 186. |
| Chou You-ting | Chen Huiwen Liu Huiwen |
Also known as 'Wang-wang' (when she lost her memory) Wife of Liu Shengjie Granddaughter of Chen Qinghai Daughter of Chen Wanzong and Lin Xiuhong Elder sister of Chen Shengfen and Chen Shengchang Adopted granddaughter of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Adopted daughter of Liu Wenqin, Yang Huimei, Liu Chongren and Xu Mingzhu Adoptive niece of Qiu Yonghe and Liu Wenhua Adoptive cousin of Liu Junying Adoptive niece of Yang Tiansong Granddaughter-in-law of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Daughter-in-law of Liu Wenqin and Yang Huimei Friend of Sun Qiaoqiao Identity once swapped with Liu Shengjie |
She appeared in all the episodes. She married Shengjie in episode 186. |
| Yang Ching-huang | Liu Chongren | Most junior among the Top Five Chef Godson of Liu Mingfeng Foster father of Chen Huiwen Father of Wang Ting Godfather of Sakurako |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Miao Ke-li (Wu Kang-Hwa) |
Xu Mingzhu | Wife of Liu Chongren Foster mother of Chen Huiwen Mother of Wang Ting Godmother of Sakurako |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| Wang Tong | Wang Ting | Nicknamed as 'Ting-ting' Daughter of Mingzhu and Chongren Adopted daughter of Wang Yixiong Later fell in love with Dachuan |
She appeared in episodes 216-286. |
| Ting Chen | Qiu Yonghe | Husband of Liu Wenhua Father of Liu Junying Married into the Liu family as a son-in-law Owed Hong Kunlong flavours due to his marriage |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Chao Yung-hsin | Liu Wenhua | Daughter of Liu Mingfeng Wife of Qiu Yonghe Elder sister of Wenqin Mother of Liu Junying Once owed a huge gambling debt at the illegal gambling house owned by Hong Kunlong |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| Lin Youxing | Liu Junying | Son of Liu Wenhua and Qiu Yonghe Grandson of Liu Mingfeng and Zhao Jingyue Once had a crush on Chen Huiwen Husband of Liao Shujuan |
He appeared in episodes 20-240. |
| Fang Bing | Liao Shujuan | Nicknamed as 'Juan' Taken care of by Zhou Qiang and his sister after her grandmother died Second daughter of Liao Jinsheng Wife of Liu Junying |
She appeared in episodes 88-240. |
Liaos (King of Soups)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Li Yufen | Auntie Man | Nicknamed as 'Man' Known as 'Auntie Man' Mother of Liao Jinsheng Raised granddaughter Liao Shujuan |
She appeared in episodes 88-115. She then died. |
| Xia Jingting | Liao Jinsheng | Third in terms of seniority among the Top Five Chef Son of Auntie Man Father of Liao Shujun and Liao Shujuan Ex-husband of Zhang Suru Specialises in soups and likes to gamble |
He appeared in episodes 94-286. |
| Tina Yan | Liao Shujun | Nicknamed as 'Vicky' First daughter of Liao Jinsheng Elder sister of Liao Shujuan Bargirl background; Later worked at Tai Mei |
She appeared in episodes 116-214. |
Zhous (Otsu-mi-ya)
[edit]Otsu-mi-ya is a Japanese restaurant in the drama with the name in Chinese characters/Kanji "乙味屋". It is pronounced as おつみや(otsu-mi-ya) in Japanese and Yǐ wèi wū in Mandarin. The Japanese pronunciation was never mentioned in the drama.
| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| No cast | Zhou Yong | Nicknamed as 'Yong' Fourth in terms of seniority among the Top Five Chef Father of Zhou Qiang and Zhou Jiayu Saved Yang Huimei who fell off a cliff |
He did not appear at all. |
| Scott Wang | Zhou Qiang | Nicknamed as 'Qiang' Known as Chef Qiang Husband of Li Yafang Head Chef of the Japanese Restaurant Otsu-mi-ya Son of Zhou Yong |
He appeared in episodes 32-286. |
| Joanne Lian | Li Yafang | Daughter of Li Shunxing and Cai Qiumin Once had a crush on Shengjie Later married to Zhou Qiang |
She appeared in all the episodes |
| Elsie Ye | Zhou Jiayu | Younger sister of Zhou Qiang Cheerful personality Girlfriend of Yang Zhiyuan |
She appeared in episodes 42-214. After a bidding competition with Yang Zhiyuan, they became a pair of quarrelsome lovers. |
Lis (Chang Shun Tea House)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wang Hao | Li Shunxing | Boss of Chang Shun Tea House Sworn brother of Chen Wanzong |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Lin Peijun | Cai Qiumin | Lady boss of Chang Shun Tea House Shrewd, plan carefully and a little petty Friends of Lin Xiuhong and Yang Huimei |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| He Yidong | Li Jintang | Son of Li Shunxing and Cai Qiumin Sticks with Chen Shengchang Boyfriend of Sun Qiaoqiao |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
Hongs (Jiu Long House Cuisine Group)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pang Xianglin | Hong Kunlong | Also known as 'Managing Director Hong' Triad leader Dotes on Xiaolin Holds Jiu Long House Cuisine Group |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Wang Zhonghuang | Lai Jinfa | Known as Chef Jinfa Counsin of Hong Kunlong Head Chef of Jiu Long House |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
Zhaos
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiang Guobin | Zhao Dachuan | Nicknamed 'Asthmatic Chuan' Police officer Elder brother of Zhao Wuzhong Later helped Wanzong's family Later fell in love with Wang Ting |
He appeared in all the episodes. |
| Yang Shiwei | Zhao Wuzhong | One of Hong Kunlong's men Younger brother of Zhao Dachuan Paralysed by Chen Shengchang |
He appeared in episodes 1-55. |
Yangs (Yang Guang Rice)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Li Tao | Yang Tiansong | Husband of Zhang Suru Elder brother of Yang Huimei Boss of Yang Guang Rice Father of Yang Zhiyuan |
He appeared in episodes 116-214 and later episodes 222-240. |
| Chen Yi | Zhang Suru | Wife of Tiansong Ex-wife of Liao Jinsheng Stepmother of Yang Zhiyuan |
She appeared in episodes 116-214 and later episodes 222-240. |
| Yi Zheng | Yang Zhiyuan | Son of Tiansong Disciple of Sato Boyfriend of Zhou Jiayu |
He appeared in episodes 127-214. |
Domotos (Domoto Fisheries)
[edit]Domoto (Japanese: 堂本; Romaji: Dōmoto) is a Japanese surname. Japanese surnames are in Chinese characters or Kanji due to Sinicization in Japan. In Mandarin, the surname is pronounced as Tángběn. All "Japanese" in this drama were in fact acted by Taiwanese actors.
| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fan Hung-hsuan | Tetsuya Domoto | Disciple of Wang Yixiong Father of Ryusuke Domoto and Norika Domoto |
He appeared in episodes 228-286. |
| Jiang Hong-En | Ryusuke Domoto | Elder brother of Norika The Japanese Huiwen met coincidentally when she lost her memory Superior of Yang Zhiyuan Son of Tetsuya Domoto Had a crush on Wang-wang/Huiwen but gave up knowing she was the fiancee of Shengjie |
He appeared in episodes 159-187, and later episodes 250-286. |
| Lee Yan | Norika Domoto | Younger sister of Ryusuke Daughter of Tetsuya Has a troll personality Known as the Troll Duo together with Shengfen Had a crush on Yang Zhiyuan |
She appeared in episodes 161-286. |
Wangs (Chuang Shi Ji Group)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xu Jiarong | Wang Yixiong | Cuisine King Master of Wang Ting, Gao Shoushan, Luo Ping and Tetsuya Domoto Founder of Chuang Shi Ji Group Jealous of Liu Mingfeng who married Jingyue |
He appeared in episodes 241-286. He killed himself in episode 286 by jumping into the sea. |
| Vivi Chen | Tian Ying | Younger sister of Wang Yixiong Later died of illness |
She appeared in episodes 276-286. |
Luos (Wagyu business)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kang Ting | Luo Guoqing | Known as 'Uncle Corner Shrimp' Father of Luo Ping |
He appeared in episodes 210-286. |
| On Xuebin | Luo Ping | Nicknamed as 'Ping' Boss of the Wagyu business Disciple of Wang Yixiong Godfather and senior of Wang Ting Previously framed by Hong Kunlong |
He appeared in episodes 205-286. |
Gaos (Sushi expert)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qiu Naihua | Gao Baozu (Zu) |
Nicknamed as 'Zu' Mother of Shoushan |
She appeared in episodes 205-207. |
| Charge Hsueh-liang Pu | Gao Shoushan (Gao Ye) |
Sushi expert Son of Gao Baozu Disciple of Wang Yixiong Senior of Wang Ting |
He appeared in episodes 200-286. |
Zhangs (First Hotel)
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| No cast | Zhang Tianfu | Great-grandfather of Zhang Xiaoping Grandfather of Zhang Mingquan Master of the Top Five Chef |
He did not appear at all. |
| Jeannie Hsieh | Zhang Xiaoping | Executive Chef of First Hotel Great-granddaughter of Zhang Tianfu |
She appeared in episodes 250-286. |
| Ma Ju-feng | Zhang Mingquan | Boss of First Hotel Prison officer during Wang Yixiong's imprisonment Uncle of Zhang Xiaoping |
He appeared in episodes 241-286. |
Others
[edit]| Cast | Role | Character / Relationship / Career | Episodes appeared / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chen Liqin | Sun Qiaoqiao | Assistant and friend of Chen Huiwen Girlfriend of Li Jintang |
She appeared in all the episodes. |
| Huang Yuxin | Sakurako | Friend and personal bodyguard of Wang Ting | She appeared in episodes 215-286. She was mistaken as the daughter of Liu Chongren and his wife. Wang Yixiong didn't want to reveal Wang Ting's identity as their daughter. Thus he switched their hairs. She was later adopted as their goddaughter. |
| Yang Shaowen | Wu Jianhong | Assistant of Tai Mei Enterprise Assists Yonghe to seize the company |
He appeared in episodes 1-240. |
| Huang Youxi | Huang Siwen | One of Hong Kunlong's men | He appeared in episodes 1-55. |
| Gao Mingwei | Uncle Fu | In charge of Hong Kunlong's owned illegal gambling house | He appeared in only episode 26. |
| Yan Weili | Wu Zhongyi | Police officer Subordinate of Dachuan |
He appeared in episodes 32-240. |
| Yang Lie | Koichi Sato | Gourmet who awarded Otsu-mi-ya three-star rating Friend of Zhou Yong |
He appeared in episodes 48-55. |
| Xu Cuixue | Xiao-xia | Manager of Chef Wan's Beef Noodles | She appeared in episodes 180-240. |
| Lin Yicheng | Xiao-wei | Younger brother of Xiao-xia | He appeared in episodes 127-138. |
| Li Fei | Ken | Ken Personal assistant of Ryusuke |
He appeared in episodes 161-199. |
| Liang Younan | Ye Jinfeng | Nicknamed as 'Feng' Known as 'Auntie Feng' Once had a crush on Wanzong Left after being misunderstood by Wanzong Ex-wife of Tetsuya Domoto; later divorced |
She appeared in episodes 182-286. |
| Zhang Hong | Peipei | Likes Zhiyuan Originally assistant of Jinfeng Actually the biological daughter of Ye Jinfeng born in Japan Identity later revealed Father unknown |
She appeared in episodes 182-221. |
| Si Fang | A-bu-la | An assistant of Luo Ping on the surface In actuality, sent by Wang Yixiong to monitor Luoping's men in the Wagyu business |
He appeared in episodes 215-221. |
| Chen Guoqing | Xiao-chen | One of Wang Yixiong's men | He appeared in episodes 241-285. |
| You Yaoguang | Yang Jiawen | Requires wild black eel as a supplement for Yuhua Got involved with Liu Shengjie due to this |
He appeared in episodes 262-273. |
| Lin Yuqing | Yuhua | Wife of Jiawen Final-stage cancer patient |
She appeared in episodes 262-273. |
| You Shun'an | Shun | Childhood friend of Tian Ying Likes Tian Ying |
He appeared in episodes 281-286. |
Taiwan broadcast
[edit]As of June 2011[update], the show airs in Taiwan, country of origin of the drama every weeknight at prime time (20:00) with episodes which have ranged in length from 135 to 150 minutes including commercial advertisements. The producers received funding from the Government Information Office to produce the series in high definition.
International broadcast
[edit]Singapore
[edit]Due to local broadcast laws prohibiting radio or television broadcasts in Chinese dialects the show was dubbed into Mandarin when it aired on MediaCorp Channel 8 thus making it the first channel to broadcast the show in Mandarin. It was the third Taiwan drama to broadcast the show in Singapore.
Vietnam
[edit]The Vietnamese dub "Thiên hạ đệ nhất vị" was broadcast on Vinh Long Television Station Channel (THVL) (Vietnamese: Truyền Hình Vĩnh Long) and is streamable on YouTube. The show was aired on Vietface TV from 1pm-2:30pm (PT), however, it was fully aired as it was replaced with Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann. The show is also currently airing on E Channel.
Malaysia
[edit]The drama is broadcasting now in 8TV in original Hokkien language under the English title Unique Flavor for two episodes with one hour each from Monday to Friday, at 11:30 MST and 14:00 MST with a 30 minutes break of its Midday Mandarin News at 12:30 MST.[1]