He really meant it. He wondered what he could do to build a reputation that surpassed a winner like Min-joon who flew every day to show his face to world-famous chefs. It would be impossible for him unless he could make a terrific recipe like Min-joon’s Cho Reggiano.
When he thought about it, it was difficult for him to tell Gwen that winning the Grand Chef competition was not a big deal for her, for it was certain that if she won, she could get a better start in her career.
“I’ve been lagging behind other chefs all my life. Even if I take one step further than others, I’m still about a hundred steps behind average chefs. Peter, that’s why I can’t take even that one step carelessly,” Gwen replied.
Since her voice was so melancholy, Peter couldn’t say anything. You can lift a rock, but you cannot lift up the heart of a distressed man. Since he had the experience of not even standing up, pressed by a heavy heart, he understood her feelings more than anyone else.
“Well, even if you say that, I won’t take the fall,” he said.
She laughed at his conceited bluffing and replied, “You don’t have to take the fall because I am going to beat you.”
<hr />
A full-course mission had always been the theme of the finals of all Grand Chefs until now.
For the full course mission was actually the best to check the limits of the participants’ capabilities. Through the full course, the judges could evaluate the participants by checking how well they understood everything ranging from appetizers to desserts, or how much three-dimensional perspective they showed in composing their dishes.
Of course, from time to time, there were viewers who suggested that even though it was good to have the final mission a full course, the full course should have something like a cooking theme.
But those who made such a suggestion knew only one side of the story. Since the theme of the full course was free, it rather entrapped the participants in a more frustrating way.
‘I think I know it now.’
Standing in the judge’s seat, Min-joon got sentimental silently. Looking back, he didn’t find himself in many situations where he had to make the full course properly. So, when Kaya said she had the hardest time when she was in the final match, he even got perplexed because he could not understand why she found it hard. In his mind, he would have rather enjoyed the full course the most. Full course? Wasn’t making one’s own full course the dream of all newbie cooks who dreamed of becoming a great chef?
As a matter of fact, it was the dream of not only newbies but also established chefs. There were many chefs in this world who had their own kitchens, but there were not many restaurants that could serve a full course. This was particularly the case in America. Although there were a lot of white people from the West there, they already have an Americanized taste, so they didn’t like the way their dinner was served in a full-course style for a long time. Because of that, it was common to have the three courses of starter, main, and dessert. Even this three-course meal was more than enough for them.
Because of such a situation, there were not many restaurants that could serve full-course dishes unless they were really good high-end restaurants. Even those high-end restaurants were generally serving only three courses, so the meaning of a full course could not be overemphasized.
So, that was what the finalists in this Grand Chef competition were supposed to make. Even though Gwen and Peter were not competent enough to be called professional chefs, they were required to make the full course. In fact, it was a huge opportunity for them. At the same time, however, this was a big trial for them.
‘Man, I really had a hard time coming up with a full course idea for the finals,’ Min-joon thought to himself.
In fact, he was far better off than Peter or Gwen. For he could think about the full course idea with Kaya and also seek advice from those around him. Besides, he had more time. He did not need to complete the full course as quickly as the two who were supposed to complete their full course within a week.
While working at Rose Island, Min-joon also learned and felt enough about how to make a good full course. In that respect, he was definitely a big contrast to Gwen and Peter who had never had a full course meal before.
Min-joon quickly looked around. He saw Kaya’s face for a moment and then other faces next to hers. They were not just Joseph or his staff. Numerous chefs in cooking uniforms were sitting around the table with serious expressions on their faces.
Watching them carefully, Min-joon was pleasantly surprised to find that he had already talked to most of them before. Of course, he had the opportunity to meet many chefs when he worked for June, but he was really surprised that he already knew most of the participants here.
‘Well, this means I must have spent a lot of time in this country.’
Even though he didn’t feel it at the moment when he was building blocks, what he thought was a small house suddenly became a castle soaring into the sky. Feeling a strange pleasure out of it, he looked at them again.
The composition of this mission was the same as before. Gwen and Peter were required to present their full course to the chefs from all over America for their evaluation. It was simple, but that was why they have to compete only through their cooking skills.
“Who do you think will win?” Min-joon asked quietly.
There was a microphone attached to his clothes, but he didn’t care. Martin would decide whether or not his question was appropriate for the broadcast.
Kaya answered immediately, “I think Gwen’s going to win.”
“Gwen? Why?”
“Because she is more accustomed to western cuisine.”
What Kaya wanted to say was that given Peter was from India, he would not be able to satisfy the universal sentiments of chefs in that area. Her reply was a very calculated and logical analysis.
Nodding at her reply, he opened his mouth.
“Then let me cheer for Peter.”
“What are you talking about? You want to bet on this?”
“No, what I mean is I want to see him beat her with a dish that is not familiar to him.”
At that moment, Kaya shut up.
She correctly remembered what made him fail in the Grand Chef.
Back then, he made a Korean full course, which was quite unfamiliar to the American judges. Actually, that was the main reason why he was eliminated from the finals.
Come to think of it, it was a pretty unfair mission because the mission was already given, regardless of whether he would be able to show his cooking skills fully or not.
“I wish Peter could bring out the unique feel of Indian cuisine,” Min-joon said quietly.
Honestly, Min-joon felt he would feel greatly disappointed if Peter gave up the uniqueness of Indian cuisine and made a dish common to a typical western cuisine. He would not be disappointed with Peter, but the reality of this country.
America was a predominantly white society. In a country where most of the leading roles in Hollywood were taken by whites, and even a white man took the role of Genghis Khan a few decades ago, it was a pretty idealistic idea to expect Peter to impress the judges by bringing out the unique features of Indian cuisine.
But that was what Min-joon expected Peter to make. At the same time, that was what Min-joon aimed for because he was determined to lead a life where he struggled to win something instead of coming to grips with reality.
Since Peter was already sick and tired of the absurdity of this world, Min-joon wanted him to fight and win in this world nicely.
Soon, Peter and Gwen entered the kitchen.
Min-joon, Kaya, and Joseph soon passed the tables where many chefs were sitting and went to the podium. While walking there, Min-joon felt strange. The chefs here could be called the best chefs in the country. Although he was passing by them in his capacity as a judge of the Grand Chef competition, the atmosphere here was cool enough for him to get carried away with a strange sense of euphoria.
And he did not want to lose this sensation. He wanted to walk on the red carpet forever. He wanted to make the red carpet everywhere he was walking. And he wanted people around him to step on the carpet with him.
He turned his back. He saw Peter and Gwen’s tense expressions. This was their final challenge. So, it was the most important challenge for them.
Who was going to win at the end of the day?
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