Cook Up a Storm

When Tian Ci was ten, his father Gao Feng abandoned him and left him with Uncle Seven in the old area of Hong Kong. Uncle Seven trains him at Seven Restaurant, shaping his culinary foundation. Gao Feng claims Tian Ci lacks talent, which becomes the seed of their long rivalry.

Spending twenty years under Uncle Seven, Tian Ci perfects his southern Chinese techniques and earns fame as a master chef. The long apprenticeship deepens his loyalty to traditional cooking and his neighborhood. He eventually becomes Seven's acclaimed head chef.

Paul Ahn swears to become a great cook to honor his dying father and builds a career across Europe as a Michelin-starred chef. He hones refined techniques in top European kitchens. The reputation travels back as he returns to Hong Kong with ambition.

Paul returns to Hong Kong to run Stellar, a restaurant that positions itself as a modern rival to Tian Ci’s Seven. The new venture threatens the neighborhood’s traditional dining scene and fuels a fierce competition for top ingredients and customers. The two chefs stand on opposing sides of a changing culinary landscape.

Li Management Group begins buying up properties in the old sector, clearing space for new development and casting Stellar as a target. The influx of redevelopment intensifies the rivalry as they fight to preserve craft and clientele against corporate pressure.

Tian Ci and Paul agree to a duel for the best fish, pitting Tian Ci's salt-baked duck against Paul’s foie gras sorbet. The competition is fierce, with both chefs displaying precision and artistry. The judges' verdict leans to Paul’s superior presentation, giving him the win.

Immediately after the victory, Mei You and the Li Group pressure Paul by revealing his taste limitation and announcing she will replace him. Mei You admits she never loved Paul and only aligned with him to rise; Paul is betrayed and leaves Stellar, angry and confused.

Tian Ci finds Paul drinking at an event stadium and they share their burdens, recognizing a mutual goal to reach the culinary pinnacle. They decide to team up, merging their strengths to challenge the status quo.

Paul and Tian Ci publicly announce their partnership at Seven, challenging the Li Group’s grip on the neighborhood. Uncle Seven resists signing away his restaurant, and Paul retaliates by headbutting the Li Group manager, signaling a united front.

Paul trains under Tian Ci to learn Chinese cooking while Tian Ci helps broaden Paul’s palate, blending molecular technique with traditional craft. They prepare for the international stage, weaving their different backgrounds into a new culinary approach.

At Studio City Casino in Macau, they face a French team, Indian team, a Japanese chef, and Mei You. Mei You is in the competition thanks to bribery, adding a layer of tension to the event. Paul and Tian Ci blend Paul’s tasting instincts with Tian Ci’s traditional craft to create a deconstructed mapo tofu and win the event.

Before the final round, Paul notes that only one chef can face Gao Feng Ko, and he recognizes Tian Ci’s personal stake in beating his father. He grants Tian Ci the chance to confront Gao Feng, while the judges allow any dish to represent the highest expression of cooking.

In the final, Tian Ci faces Gao Feng Ko. Gao Feng presents a sugar lava display, while Tian Ci serves a personal noodle dish that echoes his childhood. Moved by the gesture, Gao Feng acknowledges his son’s talent as the judges await the verdict.

Some time later, Seven prepares a poon choi feast for the neighborhood’s Chinese New Year. The staff celebrate, and the film closes with a hopeful nod to 2017 and the Year of the Rooster.