Gilded Chopsticks


Gilded Chopsticks is a 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, whose clumsy activities lead him to befriend the Yongzheng Emperor during an imperial struggle for the Qing throne. The story is inspired by Jin Yong's wuxia novel The Deer and the Cauldron.
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 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 homeless. They resort to selling buns for a living. Consequently, they meet a street performer named Kei Mo-suet, the city’s most beautiful lady, Nin Yeuk-bik, and young chef Mai Siu-yu, 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. He is unexpectedly brought into the royal succession battle started by Yinsi, the Eighth Prince. 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

Main characters

  • Wong Cho-lam 王祖藍 as Ko Tin-po — Male age 26
  • Ben Wong 黃智賢 as Yinzhen, the Fourth Prince — Male age 32
  • Joey Meng 萬綺雯 as Kei Mo-suet — Female age 26
  • Nancy Wu 胡定欣 as Nin Yeuk-bik — Female age 24
  • Stephanie Ho 何雁詩 as Mai Siu-yu — Female age 20
  • Louis Cheung 張繼聰 as Yunsi, the Eighth Prince — Male

    Supporting characters

Imperial household

  • Elliot Ngok 岳華 as the Kangxi Emperor — Male
  • Rosanne Lui 呂珊 as Consort Tak — Female
  • Power Chan 陳國邦 as Yinreng, the Crown Prince — Male
  • Derek Wong 黃建東 as Yintang, the Ninth Imperial Prince - Male
  • Matthew Ko 高鈞賢 as Yin'e, the Tenth Imperial Prince — Male
  • Owen Cheung 張振朗 as Yinti, the 14th Prince — Male
  • Ricky Wong 王俊棠 as Sok Ngak-to - Male

    Imperial kitchen staff

  • Jack Wu 胡諾言 as Lei Wai — Male age 26
  • Bob Lam 林盛斌 as Choi Hok-ting — Male age 30
  • Vincent Cheung 張漢斌 as Tsang Shing - Male
  • Chun Wong 秦煌 as The Great Chef - Male
  • Eddie Ho 何偉業 as Siu Fuk-chi - Male
  • Jacky Cheng 鄭家俊 as Siu Luk-chi - Male

    Imperial government staff

  • Dickson Lee 李家聲 as Fung Ying - Male
  • Jimmy Au 歐瑞偉 as Nin Kang-yiu — Male
  • Yu Tze-ming 余子明 as Lee Tak-chuen - Male
  • Yu Yang 于洋 as Cheung Ting-yuk - Male

    City folks

  • Ram Chiang 蔣志光 as Wu Si-to — Male
  • Helen Ng 吳香倫 as Kei Chau-kuk - Female
  • May Chan 小寶 as Siu To - Female

    Cameo appearances

  • King Kong 金剛 as Bunmatsu gorō - Male
  • KK Cheung 張國強 as Chin Tak-choi - Male
  • Suet Nei 雪妮 as a palace lady in episode 10, and 24. She has a relationship with the Great Chef.

    Production

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 would be relocated to Hengdian World Studios in later months.

Viewership ratings

International broadcast