8.2 /10 1 Votes
Also known as 食為奴 First episode date 10 February 2014 Number of episodes 25 Program creators TVB, Siu Long | 4.1/5 Genre Historical fiction Final episode date 14 March 2014 Language Standard Cantonese | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Created by Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited Written by Yeung Song Bo 楊松柏
Ho Sai-kit 何世傑
Wong Cheng-man 黃靜雯 Starring Wong Cho-lam 王祖藍
Ben Wong 黃智賢
Joey Meng 萬綺雯
Nancy Wu 胡定欣
Louis Cheung 張繼聰 Opening theme Loyal Subject 忠臣
by Wong Cho-lam 王祖藍 & Stephanie Ho 何雁詩 Cast Wong Cho‑lam, Joey Meng, Wong Chi‑yin, Nancy Wu, Louis Cheung Similar Lady Sour, Raising the Bar, Storm in a Cocoon, Noblesse Oblige, Always and Ever |
Gilded Chopsticks (Chinese: 食為奴; Jyutping: sik6 wai6 nou4; Cantonese Yale: sihk waih nòuh; literally "Eat to be Enslaved") is an 2014 Hong Kong historical fiction television serial produced by TVB. Set during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor in the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, the serial follows the adventures of a lazy but gifted "golden-tongued" imperial chef Ko Tin-po (Wong Cho-lam), whose clumsy activities lead him to befriend the Yongzheng Emperor (Ben Wong) during an imperial struggle for the Qing throne. The story is inspired by Jin Yong's wuxia novel The Deer and the Cauldron.
Contents
- Synopsis
- Cast
- Main characters
- Imperial household
- Imperial kitchen staff
- Imperial government staff
- City folks
- Cameo appearances
- Casting
- Filming
- International broadcast
- References
Helmed by executive producer Wong Wai-sing, 25 episodes of the serial were produced. Production began in Hong Kong in March 2013. The serial was also shot on locations at Hengdian World Studios.
Synopsis
Ko Tin-po (Wong Cho Lam) has tasted many delicacies since he was young. He can easily distinguish between good and bad dishes. Unfortunately, his family’s financial woes have left him and his servant Lee Wai (Jack Wu) homeless. They resort to selling buns for a living. Consequently, they meet a street performer Kei Mo-suet (Joey Meng), the city’s most beautiful lady Nin Yeuk-bik (Nancy Wu) and young chef Mai Siu-yu (Stephanie Ho). By chance, Tin-po also comes across the Yinzhen, the Fourth Prince played by Ben Wong), whom he instantly gets along with.
Tin-po is invited to be a chef in the palace, where he encounters his greatest rival Choi Hok-ting (Bob Lam). He is unexpectedly brought into the royal succession battle started by Yinsi, the Eighth Prince (Louis Cheung). Tin-po turns out to be Yinzhen's lucky star, helping Yinzhen defeat Yinsi time and time again. However, an accidental marriage contract quickly changes his circumstances...
Cast
Note: Some character names are in Cantonese romanisation.Main characters
Originally from a rich family but due to the government seizing all of his father's assets he has to resort to selling "salted fish" buns in his small rented restaurant. The Fourth Prince Yinzhen sorts him out because the Kangxi Emperor has a craving for his "salted fish" buns. He is later personally invited to be a chef in the Forbidden City by the Kangxi Emperor. Yinzhen is his ally, friend and protector at the palace when he is bullied by the head imperial chef Choi Hok-ting.
Officially Prince Yong (雍親王), the Kangxi Emperor's fourth son. Yinzhen later succeeds his father and becomes the Yongzheng Emperor, but his right to the throne is tested. He's a kind hearted person who treats everyone fairly. He befriends Ko Tin-po when the Kangxi Emperor loses his appetite and seeks out food outside of the palace. He invites Tin-po to cook his "salted fish" buns at the imperial kitchen, who initially thought he was a imperial servant in the beginning. He has no means of wanting to succeed the emperor but is pitted against his eighth brother Yinsi when the crown prince position becomes available,
Imperial household
Imperial kitchen staff
Imperial government staff
City folks
Cameo appearances
Casting
A 60-second sales production trailer of Gilded Chopsticks, which was then known as Food for the Slaves, was first unveiled at TVB's Jade Drama segment at the Programme Presentation 2013 on 8 November 2012. The trailer starred Raymond Lam as Yongzheng, Ron Ng as the imperial chef, Fala Chen as Lu Siniang, Nancy Wu as her accomplice, Sharon Chan as Imperial Noble Consort Nian, and Susan Tse as Empress Dowager Renshou. Although the sales presentation cast was only signed on to film the trailer, Tommy Leung, director of TVB's dramatic production department, expressed that the characters in Gilded Chopsticks were written with the sales presentation cast in mind.
In early December 2012, Raymond Lam turned down his role, citing scheduling conflicts. Wong Wai-sing was subsequently announced to be the serial's executive producer days later.
Wong Cho-lam joined the cast in late December 2012. Following the announcement, both Ron Ng and Sharon Chan were reported to have turned down their roles due to a schedule clash. Fala Chen, burnt out from the long filming schedules of Will Power, did not want to pick up another project too quickly and turned down her role. Wong then offered Chen's role to Linda Chung, who turned it down as well. Wong finally settled down with casting Joey Meng as Lu Siniang. As both Meng and Wong Cho-lam were starring cast members in Wong's Inbound Troubles, Wong proceeded to bring the rest of the Inbound Troubles cast over to Gilded Chopsticks, which included Louis Cheung, Bob, and May Chan. Essentially, Roger Kwok was by default set to portray the role of Yongzheng, but as Kwok was booked to film Lee Yim-fong's new Qing Dynasty drama during the production period of Gilded Chopsticks, he had to turn down the role. In late January 2013, Ben Wong was announced to take the role of Yongzheng. In early February 2013, Nancy Wu was confirmed to star as Nian.
Filming
A costume fitting press conference was held on 26 January 2013. The serial began filming in Hong Kong's TVB Studios in early March 2013. Production will be relocated to Hengdian World Studios in later months.