God of Cooking Chapter 14:
The unique aroma only a well roasted eel had, tickled his nose . The people observing Kaya’s dish unconsciously gulped . And no one could see her dish with cold eyes . It was unavoidable . If you possessed a nose and a tongue it was unavoidable to gulp . It was that kind of dish .
Kaya sliced the eel and put it on the mimosa salad . Jo Minjoon could vaguely imagine that taste . The lemon peel’s that were used instead of sugar, caramelized on top of the fire and could bring out the flavor even more . It was refreshing and erased the fishy smell at the same time, and the white wine’s aroma that was used could still be felt .
The combination of the mimosa salad was difficult to imagine . Eggs, mayonnaise, and mustard, would that flavor be able to mix well with eel? If you were slightly off, the egg was felt fishy . But because it was Kaya Lotus,she handled it easily . He removed the fishy smell to the flavor he was imagining .
And after that it was perfect . The tasty eggs and the eel’s deep flavor, it was as if you mixed fish with meat and that flavor was even deeper . The onions and the cucumbers saved the freshness in your mouth, and the lettuce was to compensate for the lack of chewing sensation . It was a well balanced dish . The combination of the eel and the mimosa salad was perfect . And the result of that was also shown on the system .
[Mimosa salad and grilled eel]
Freshness: 85%
Origins: (Too many ingredients to know)
Quality: High (Average ingredients)
Cooking points: 8/10
Jo Minjoon looked at those points dumbfoundedly . 8 points . This was a scam . Of course it was Kaya’s own work, but for it to be 8 points… . Didn’t that mean that it could be a dish served in a Michelin restaurant?
‘She’s not on the level to be participating on Grand Chef . ’
Jo Minjoon laughed without any strength . And there was one camera that was recording Jo Minjoon . It was recording Jo Minjoon’s eyes not being able to put off of Kaya’s . And the one that was holding the camera wasn’t the cameraman but the PD that took the camera from him .
‘A man’s pureness always ends up being a prize . ’
The PD smiled and zoomed on Jo Minjoon’s face . It didn’t matter what thoughts that man was having, what the camera was recording right now was the sight of a man that was staring amazed . The meaning varied from how the viewers interpreted it . And just inserting subtitles to the screen was enough to persuade the thoughts of the viewers easily .
Kaya put the dish on the cart and went to meet the judges . The audience, dazed, looked at the leaving Kaya’s back . However there was no need to wait that long . It hasn’t been a while and Kaya already came back from the room where the judges were .
Of course, with a badge on her chest .
“You were staring intently at Kaya a while before . ”
During the interview, those words came out of nowhere . Jo Minjoon opened his eyes widely and looked at the PD . The PD’s name was Marin Osburn . Hhe was 31 years old, and the smile he had was enough to make everyone well disposed of him .
“You are 21 right? It’s a good age . When I was also your age I had quite a few crushes . ”
Theoretically speaking he was indeed 21 . Because it hasn’t been his birthday yet . Jo Minjoon replied with a trembling voice .
“I think you are misunderstanding something . ”
“Am I? I didn’t look clearly and interpreted it like that . ”
Maybe it pinched him a little but Jo Minjoon let out a sigh .
“Her cooking skills were really outstanding today . I was just admiring her skills for a moment . ”
“If you say it was outstanding, do you mean she’s better than you?”
Marin asked jokingly . Jo Minjoon hesitated a moment . His thoughts were clear . He was still lacking compared to Kaya . And that difference wouldn’t get shorter in a short time . However saying it himself was like a humiliation . Jo Minjoon replied resignedly .
“She was the best participant today . She was more than anyone I had ever seen . And probably will be the best from this competition . ”
When Jo Minjoon was thinking that he replied well, Marin thought of something funny . What if he cut the part where Jo Minjoon said she was the best and uploaded it like that? Of course, that was rather excessive . Marin opened his mouth while having all kinds of thoughts .
“Saying that she is be the best from this tournament . Does that mean that you think she will win?”
“If nothing out of ordinary happens, she will . And I hope to become the one to upset that . ”
Jo Minjoon’s speech was unexpectedly professional . He wasn’t brought up in an english talking country, but the words and phrasing he utilized surpassed that of natives . In truth, it couldn’t be helped to be like that . Because Korea’s way of teaching was to teach difficult english instead of usual ones . Sophistically speaking, knowing difficult english denominations but not knowing how to reply was normal for a Korean .
Of course, knowing difficult words didn’t make your speech more professional . The reason Jo Minjoon’s words seemed more sublime was because Jo Minjoon had already thought of what to say beforehand . It’s fault was because it wasn’t his native language, but also because he didn’t want to be someone who casually said things .
“It’s a good ambition . Personally I want you, Jo Minjoon, to win the tournament . ”
“…… . I get the feeling that you have already said that to those you already interviewed . ”
“Busted . ”
Marin said that and smiled . Then continued speaking .
“I heard from the company that came with you a brief story . It seems that as soon as you came to the US you went through a big incident . ”
“I don’t want to talk about that . ”
“Minjoon . A good story makes good results . Of course, this program puts more emphasis on cooking, but think if there’s a case where food tastes the same . Based on your story, the judges may or not favor you . Because they are also people . ”
“…… . I would prefer getting disqualified . I don’t want winning with a story instead of my cooking . ”
“You said that you wanted to make this your stage . Minjoon, is your resolution only this much?”
At Marin’s words Jo Minjoon’s gaze grew sharper . Resolution? What kind of resolution was he talking about? The resolution of making the Dean’s family’s tears a light gossip? He said with a very aggravated tone . It seemed as if a pariah dog was going to growl .
“My resolution is making a delicious dish . That’s all . ”
Marin didn’t reply and just looked at Jo Minjoon . Jo Minjoon didn’t avert his eyes as if he didn’t want to lose . Marin said with a bitter smile .
“You are a good person . A good chef . ”
He said that sincerely . While living as a PD of Grand Chef, Marin had met all kinds of people and talked about various things . Although it was a cooking program, it looked to stimulate the viewers rather than the quality of the dish . The PD’s seeked at least a little more of an appealing story from the participants . And the participants even made up stories sometimes .
The reason the broadcast altered reality was simple . So there were more viewers . And there was also a reason for the participants to do that . They wanted to get sympathy . They wanted to fill their dishes with tears and emotions .
Saying the truth, that was rather effective . If the dish was on the same standards, the PD asked the judges to give the participants that had a more preferable story or could become a star . Of course, the judges didn’t like that, but when they were presented dishes on the same level, they had a rather difficult time choosing . At those times, even they didn’t have chance but to favour those star participants . They wouldn’t be choosing willingly but certainly, the effectiveness was obvious .
And they guy in front of him was trying to give up on his story . Of course, Jo Minjoon’s story wasn’t any bad . An asian college student having the passion to become a chef, and crossing to the other side of the world for that purpose . However, the emotion on that story was a bit lacking .
“……You may regret it . Minjoon, your story in New York with the Dean family may become a really heavy weapon . A PD like me guarantees you that . Even so, are you unwilling to mention your story?”
“Yes . I’m not doing so . ”
Marin shut his mouth for a moment . Soon, when he opened his mouth, a smile just like the first time could be seen .
“Good . Minjoon . I believe on your decision . This program is one that you win with your cooking skills . Only then can you do so in a place like this . ”
“…… . Thank you for understanding . ”
Jo Minjoon replied while loosening his expression . Looking at that Jo Minjoon, Marin said seriously .
“I hope you become the winner . ”
It was the second time he heard that . However it’s meaning was completely different from the first time . Jo Minjoon smiled .
“It seems I got a reassuring fan . ”
< Grand Chef preliminaries, and… (5) > End
Translator’s note: Okay, so here’s your early regular chapter!
Regulars being on: Tue, thurs, sat and sun
Translator : Subak
Proofreader : Maled