M. Barquin

Replacing Chef Chico is one of the more bingeworthy Netflix TV series today. It highlights Filipino food presented in a fine dining atmosphere invoking a sense of pride in every Filipino. It presents cultural and social issues that Filipinos must confront and resolve. Marriage, death, family expectations, fidelity, same sex relations, growing old, assertiveness, homophobia, and misogyny are tackled in an introspective (albeit, at times, melodramatic) manner. In addition, it reminds viewers of the plight of the majority of the Filipino population. As Rye (Don Melvin Boongaling), the bartender/prep cook, pointed out to Chef Chico (Sam Milby): to the owners, Hain, is just a business; to the employees it is their livelihood. This echoes the reality of 90% of the country's population who are dependent on a fixed income and who may be living from paycheck to paycheck. It should be noted that unlike many Filipino telenovelas that focus on the love life of the main characters, Replacing Chef Chico centers around Ella, the Sous Chef (portrayed effectively by Alessandra di Rossi) and her passion for cooking. Her mission to provide a meaningful gustatory experience to the patrons of Hain, the fictional restaurant, motivated her to become her own person. The ending is definitely a tribute to women all over the world.