Delicious Rendezvous: Your Very Own Recipe Book

Without a doubt, food has been our number one friend during quarantine. You’ve got more than enough time to kill in the house, so why not try making at least one proper meal? 

Check out SBS’s Delicious Rendezvous, the ideal entertainment show you’ve been looking for. Aiming to lend a helping hand to various productions in the domestic market, Delicious Rendezvous introduces and promotes local specialties. The cast reinforces the program’s purpose by presenting thorough introductions and sharing original recipes using the products. Ultimately, the show seeks to disseminate diverse local ingredients to the public and assist in the rise of domestic consumption.

Meet the Farmvengers

It’s time to meet the dream team, or the Farmvengers. Consisting of five members, the cast presents incredible chemistry that you definitely don’t want to miss! 

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A renowned chef garnering attention through his easy and approachable cooking tips, Paik Jongwon is the main chef and thus the central figure in Delicious Rendezvous. His many years of expertise in the food industry fosters a striking nature in his approach to invigorate local productions in decline; cautious yet adventurous, the cast member utilizes his deep understanding and knowledge of various agricultural and marine products to develop delicious recipes using the ingredient of the week. 

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Famous comedian Yang Sehyung takes the official title as the show’s number two chef (and the best chef out of Paik Jongwon’s four co-hosts). Obtaining many skills through prior cooking show experiences such as 집밥 백선생3 and 백파더 (both which he comes out with Paik Jongwon), the entertainer showcases his remarkable mastery in cooking with unceasing interest in improving his skills. When cooking, he definitely emits a contrasting seriosity and sets his usual playful character aside, overall highlighting his passion for cooking. Also called “양선배,” a nickname created during the show, Yang Sehyung sets forth entertaining conversations with his lively energy that brightens up the atmosphere of the show.

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The third member of the Farmvengers goes by the nickname “Star of the Universe.” Super Junior’s Kim Heechul captivates guests, viewers, and co-hosts alike with his witty remarks. Although he started off the program as a “요린이” (an abbreviated word of 요리 (cooking) and 어린이 (child) that refers to a beginner cook), his perseverance resulted in noticeable progress, even rewarding the actor with the title “칼희철” (칼 (knife); 칼희철 is a nickname created to emphasize on Kim Heechul’s quality cutting skills). With his characteristic amiability, Kim Heechul plays a crucial role in guiding the guests to adapt to Delicious Rendezvous’ environment throughout their exploration of various local specialties.

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All round entertainer Kim Dongjun fulfills the role as the fourth member in Farmvengers and as the program’s professional promoter. Unlike his businessman character in KBS’s More Than Friends, the star manifests his casual and friendly nature by initiating interactions with his co-hosts and engaging in humorous, lighthearted, and meaningful exchanges. Although the youngest in the crew, Kim Dongjun showcases his genuine interest in carrying out the purpose of the show; he often accompanies Paik Jongwon on the pre-investigation trip to explore the product of the week and uses the newly obtained knowledge such as nutrient information about the local specialty to promote and help increase the number of purchases.

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Last but not least, welcome entertainer Yoo Byungjae! As the newest addition to the Farmvengers dream team, the star is considered the “youngest” status-wise. Still, it is pretty impressive to see that he performs quite a few positions in the show––assisting, serving, and cooking––despite being recently recruited as an official member of Delicious Rendezvous. The entertainer’s unique character adds an extra spoon of humor in the show, crafting a dynamic mood with blooming chemistry among the cast. Plus, it would be a shame to not mention Yoo Byungjae’s spontaneous acrostic poems of each local speciality; he definitely has a knack for saying the most clever phrases! 

Especially with the current decline in exports and profit due to the pandemic, this program plays a more significant role in aiding and encouraging all farmers, workers, and owners. Collaborating with one of Korea’s biggest retailers, e-mart, Delicious Rendezvous’ production team and the Farmvengers have already sold a great amount of ingredients in stock through efforts such as creating and releasing new products in the format of simple food kits in markets. Furthermore, the team is utilizing online media platforms to communicate with viewers via live commerce as a convenient and efficient method to sell products and appeal to viewers by showing different simple recipes using the products.

In essence, Delicious Rendezvous functions as an extremely effective promotion show, synthesizing the unique and appealing traits of local speciality ingredients into weekly episodes. Utilizing the impact of the broadcasting network to save numerous markets in decline has proved to be vital in guiding discouraged workers to reach their turning points and find hope once again. Although purchases are restricted to domestic residents, tune in to join for a good cause; stay informed on the issues on consumptions of domestic productions, learn a couple of new recipes each week, and plant hope in the disheartened spirits of many farmers.

Photo Credits: SBS