AFTERTASTE
Having burned all his bridges, volatile chef Easton West (Erik Thomson) finds himself with one more chance in a high-end Shanghai restaurant. But when opening night turns into a pig slinging disaster, the subsequent social media tsunami washes Easton ashore in the Adelaide Hills.
Arriving like a pariah to a dysfunctional family he abandoned 30 years previously, it’s only his outspoken 19-year-old pastry cook niece, Diana (Natalie Abbott), who shows any interest. Easton realises that Diana represents everything he’s not – young, female and fresh – and takes her under his wing in an effort to crawl his way back to relevance. But what price is Diana willing to pay to work with her notoriously difficult and belligerent uncle?
6 x 30 episodes
P R O D U C T I O N C R E D I T S
A Closer production for the ABC, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and financed with support from the ABC. Producers: Rebecca Summerton, Matthew Bate and Erik Thomson. Executive Producers: Julie De Fina and Rachel Griffiths. ABC Executive Producer: Rebecca Anderson. International Distributor ABC Commercial.
SERIES PREMIERE
6-part comedy-drama series starts Wednesday 3 February at 9pm
Starring Erik Thomson, Natalie Abbott and Rachel Griffiths, the six-part series.
Aftertaste, is a dark, edgy comedy-drama with some heart and soul…food.
Having burned all his bridges, volatile celebrity chef Easton West (Erik Thomson) finds himself with one more chance in a high-end Shanghai restaurant. But when opening night turns into a pig-slinging disaster, the subsequent social media tsunami washes Easton ashore in the Adelaide Hills.
Arriving like a pariah to a dysfunctional family he abandoned 30 years previously, it’s only his outspoken 19-year-old pastry cook niece, Diana (Natalie Abbott), who shows any interest. Easton realises that Diana represents everything he’s not- young, female and fresh- and takes her under his wing in an effort to crawl his way back to relevance.
Together, Easton and Diana set off on their quest to create Australia’s next great restaurant. But with no money, an anger management problem, and a volatile family literally built upon the skeletons of the past, Easton West is going to find his comeback a little more difficult than he thought. Things are bound for disaster - but at least it’ll be a tasty one.
Production credits: A Closer production for the ABC, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and financed with support from the ABC. Producers: Rebecca Summerton, Matthew Bate and Erik Thomson. Executive Producers:Julie De Fina and Rachel Griffiths. ABC Executive Producer: Rebecca Anderson. International Distributor ABC Commercial.
Episode One:
Washed up celebrity chef Easton West winds up on the doorstep of his sister Denise’s house in the Adelaide Hills - the LAST place on earth he ever wanted to return to. But, after a meltdown at his fancy new Shanghai restaurant went viral and left hima flat broke pariah, there’s literally nowhere else to go other than his hometown.
Unfortunately, Denise has been carrying a 30-year chip on her shoulder after Easton abandoned her with their hoarder, drunk father Jim years ago, and throws him out of her house. Easton winds up having to stay with said hoarder, drunk father, whose hoarding and drinking has increased and then some.
There is some hope, however- andit lies in Easton’s 19-year-old fan-girl, baking wunderkind niece Diana. Like Easton, she takes inspiration from Easton’s dead mother June to conjure up her mind-blowing authentic cake sensations, and she has a hell of a lot of potential. Perhaps what she needs is some guidance…a mentor…someone to take her career to the next level. What she needs - is him. Or at least, that’s how he spins it.
The preview tape from ABC for Aftertaste is in anamorphic format aspect ratio.
Are people going to want even wider screens in the future?
ABC is thrilled to announce that the delicious six-part series Aftertaste premieres Wednesday February 3rd at 9pm on ABC and ABC iview. Aftertaste is a comedy-drama about food, family, second chances and secrets. It is guaranteed to whet your appetite, tickle your funny bone and touch your heart.
Erik Thomson and newcomer Natalie Abbott lead an impressive line-up of stars, including Rachel Griffiths, Wayne Blair, Susan Prior, Peter Carroll and Remy Hii.
Having burned all his bridges in restaurants across Europe, volatile celebrity chef Easton West (Erik Thomson) finds himself with one more chance in a high-end Shanghai restaurant. But when opening night turns into a pig-slinging disaster, the subsequent social media tsunami washes Easton ashore in the Adelaide Hills.
Arriving like a pariah to a dysfunctional family he abandoned 30 years previously, he finds his outspoken 19-year-old pastry cook niece, Diana (Natalie Abbott), is the only person who shows any interest in his return. Diana represents everything he’s not – young, female and with her finger on the pulse – so Easton takes her under his wing in an effort to crawl his way back to relevance.
Together, Easton and Diana set off on their quest to create Australia’s next great restaurant. But with no money, an anger management problem, and a volatile family literally built upon the skeletons of the past, Easton West is going to find his comeback a little more difficult than he thought.
I’ve checked out the preview episodes of Aftertaste and it is absolutely brilliant. Prior to Gordon Ramsay, MasterChef and MKR some of the scenarios might have seemed OTT. However, given that background, the expletive laden dialogue from the celebrity chef played by Erik Thomson seems totally real. While this has plenty of drama from the dysfunctional cast it also features some of the funniest scenes for a modern Australian comedy. Foodies will enjoy it for the restaurant aspects and the Adelaide Hills backdrop is also a plus.
Glad to hear it. Looking forward to it.
ABC critics are hard to please. Some people just see what they want to!
Bizarre view.
I thought all the characters were really well created and can’t wait to see where they go from here. Particularly loved his niece and her grandfather bantering.
She is the standout performer in this show along with Remy Hii. He deserves his own show too.
Aftertaste had its international premiere at the Berlinale Series Market last Friday (March 5). It was one of 15 series from around the world to participate in the event as part of the Series Market Selects, which highlights outstanding content with a strong market potential.
Season 2 information from ABC Upfronts 2022
6x30
After throwing away his last chance at fame, Easton West (Erik Thomson) has settled into obscurity rather well. Telling himself he’s far happier away from the kitchen and a ‘PC’ world gone mad, he’s living a quiet life with his sister Denise (Susan Prior) and her far too forgiving partner Brett (Wayne Blair) on the old family property.
When Brett and Denise decide to make things official and tie the knot, however, it coaxes back the prodigal pastry chef Diana (Natalie Abbott) from her new life in London.
Still furious with her family’s secrets and lies, Diana’s desperate to prove to them how much better off she is without them. But old tensions rear their ugly heads, and soon Easton and Diana are bickering, wrestling, and wielding a shotgun.
As this family tries to negotiate its awkward reunion, the past will once again throw the West family into more chaos.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
A Closer production in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and financed with support from the ABC. Producers: Rebecca Summerton and Erik Thomson. Co-producer Matthew Bate. Executive Producers: Julie De Fina and Rachel Griffiths. ABC Executive Producer Rebecca Anderson. International Distributor ABC Commercial.
Aftertaste season 1 will premiere on Acorn on February 14.
ABC cooks up more Aftertaste
ABC is pleased to announce that filming is underway in Adelaide on the second season of ABC’s food-filled comedy Aftertaste . Embraced by audiences and critics alike, the series features the much-loved Erik Thomson as celebrity chef Easton West, and rising star Natalie Abbott as his niece and pastry chef extraordinaire Diana.
They’ll once again be joined by an exceptional ensemble cast including Rachel Griffiths ( Total Control, Finding The Archibald), Wayne Blair ( The Sapphires, Irreverent ), Susan Prior ( Glitch, Frayed ), Remy Hii ( Harrow, Spider-Man: Far From Home ), Kavitha Anandasivam ( The Tourist, The Hunting ) and Justin Amankwah ( Fat Pizza vs Housos ), while Lynette Curran ( Cleverman, A Few Less Men ), Julian Maroun ( The Secrets She Keeps ) and Syd Brisbane ( Stateless ) join the cast for season two.
Erik Thomson said: “I’m so thrilled to be heading back to the beautiful Adelaide Hills for another season of Aftertaste . It’s a privilege to work with Closer Productions and the ABC, as we deconstruct our relationship with food and fame, through the antics of the dysfunctional West family.”
Season two picks up with Easton West (Erik Thomson) living his life out of the public eye and concentrating on being a better man, until his new-found peace is shattered by the return of his niece Diana (Natalie Abbott) to Adelaide, flaunting her successful career and love life in London. But both must put their troubles aside when a secret from the past throws the West family into more chaos than ever.
Written by Julie De Fina, Matthew Bate and Matt Vesely, produced by Closer Productions ( The Hunting, F! #cking Adelaide, Animals* ) and directed by Reneé Webster ( How To Please A Woman ), Aftertaste will film across Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills region and will premiere later this year on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Production Credits: Aftertaste is a Closer production for the ABC, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and financed with support from the ABC. Producers: Rebecca Summerton, Matthew Bate and Erik Thomson. Executive Producers: Julie De Fina and Rachel Griffiths. ABC Executive Producer: Rebecca Anderson. International distribution by ABC Commercial.
ABC dishes up a second course of Aftertaste in July on ABC TV and ABC iview
The delicious second series of Aftertaste is guaranteed to whet your appetite when it premieres Wednesday 20 July at 9.10pm on ABC TV with all episodes available to binge on ABC iview.
Following a much-loved first season, Erik Thomson returns as celebrity chef Easton West, and rising star Natalie Abbott as his niece and pastry chef extraordinaire Diana.
After throwing away his last chance at fame, Easton (Erik Thomson) has settled into obscurity rather well. However, Easton’s new life out of the public eye is shattered by Diana’s (Natalie Abbott) return to Uraidla, as she flaunts her successful new London career and love life. Still furious with her family’s secrets and lies, Diana is desperate to prove how much better off she is without them.
Emotions – and pre-heated ovens – run high between Easton and Diana, but both must put their troubles aside when a secret from the past throws the West family into chaos.
Series two features an exceptional ensemble cast including Rachel Griffiths ( Total Control, Finding The Archibald), Wayne Blair ( The Sapphires, Irreverent ), Susan Prior ( Glitch, Frayed ), Remy Hii ( Harrow, Spider-Man: Far From Home ), Kavitha Anandasivam ( The Tourist, The Hunting ) and Justin Amankwah ( Fat Pizza vs Housos ), while Lynette Curran ( Cleverman, A Few Less Men ), Julian Maroun ( The Secrets She Keeps ) and Syd Brisbane ( Stateless ) join the cast this season.
Aftertaste is written by Julie De Fina, Matthew Bate and Matt Vesely, produced by Closer Productions ( The Hunting, F! #cking Adelaide, Animals* ) and directed by Renée Webster ( How To Please A Woman ).
Production Credits: Aftertaste is a Closer production for the ABC, in association with the South Australian Film Corporation and financed with support from the ABC. Producers: Rebecca Summerton and Erik Thomson. Co Producer: Matthew Bate. Executive Producers: Julie De Fina and Rachel Griffiths. ABC Executive Producers: Rebecca Anderson and Todd Abbott.