Netflix turns up the heat with a hot featurette serving juicy, behind-the-scenes insights into the authentic culinary skills of Thai actors-turned-chefs in a feast for our eyes.

Hunger features the battles and journey of two culinary powerhouses driven by their own appetites in various situations with food being a metaphor for human desire and ambition. You might eat all you want, but you can still be hungry for love, fame, and acceptance.

This is the story of Aoy, a young woman who prepares roadside stir-fried noodles. Unexpectedly, she receives an invitation to join Hunger, Thailand’s leading chef’s table team led by culinary genius chef Paul, which means stepping away from the family business. Aoy struggles to adapt from street food to the cutthroat world of high-end gastronomy, and as chef Paul’s dark side unfolds her future is unclear. 

Director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and producer & screenwriter Kongdej Jaturanrasamee feature dishes in the film that reflect the characters’ thoughts and mood. 

Previously seen in Thai movies Faces of Anne and Die Tomorrow, Aokbab Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying makes her Netflix debut playing the lead role of Aoy. Peter Nopachai Chaiyanam also a Netflix debutant plays chef Paul. Best known for his role in Thai drama Yutthakan Salat No, Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya plays Tone, a junior sous chef in Paul’s team and key to introducing Aoy and chef Paul to each other.

Chef Chalee Kader, of100 Maheseth restaurant, guided the actors helping to ensure the cooking scenes were authentic. The cast took numerous workshops where they learned cooking skills and how to create dishes in kitchens that essentially become battle arenas. 

HUNGER is like a finely cooked dish that has many layers to it. Whether you are into watching cooking shows, documentary series like Chef’s Table, or the recent hit The Menu, this might be something to whet your appetite too. 

Hunger will be released worldwide on April 8 on Netflix.

Watch the trailer now: