Chapter 178

There was a reason why Cho Min Joon answered so sternly. It wasn’t because he hated molecular cooking. He actually had a favorable stance on molecular cooking. However…

“I still have a long way to go in traditional cooking. I only want to attempt once I master this one.”

If traditional cooking was basic, molecular cooking was technical. Cho Min Joon believed that he had to stay loyal to the basics first. Cho Min Joon looked at the other demi chefs and said, “Since the three of them seem to have more experience, I think it will suit them better.”

In response, Rafael met eyes with the other three. They all coughed and looked away. Rafael sighed and said, “I’m rejected once again.”

Rachel smiled bitterly and opened her mouth.

“In any case, I trust that you’ll work hard in class. From now on, you’ll all learn molecular cooking for the next 10 days. During those 10 days, you’ll have to come up with a molecular dish of your own. But no need for ice cream, of course.”

“… Will our sections be determined depending on how we do?”

“Yeah. Those who taste the dishes will take a vote, and those who get more votes will get to choose first. 2nd place will pick first, and 3rd place will pick second. As for 4th place, they don’t get to choose.”

Cho Min Joon tilted his head. Something seemed strange.

“… 1st place doesn’t pick first? Then when does 1st place…”

It was Rafael who answered that question, “They’ll be in charge of molecular cooking.”

***

“… Ew, this is gross.”

Ella stuck out her tongue in disgust. Havier made a crying face and asked in desperation, “Is it that bad? Try it one more time. It might be different!”

Ella shut her mouth. She glared at Havier and shook her head back and forth. Janet glared at Havier and opened her mouth.

“I told you it wouldn’t work on Ella. Do you really think a kid would like pasta made with espresso?”

“What’s wrong with espresso pasta? She loved the asparagus sherbet that the sous chef made.”

“That’s because the cherry added some sweetness, and the combination was good.”

“Ugh, the internet said this would be good, too.”

“Maybe it’s good for adults. But it’s too bitter for children. Besides, I don’t like your pasta either. You’re not purposely trying to dodge 1st place, are you?”

“… You caught me.”

In response, Janet’s eyes turned cold. Havier hurriedly added.

“I’m just kidding.”

“… Here, Ella. You can put that plate away. Do you want to try this?”

Janet gave her her dish. On the outside, it just looked like a barbecue pork rib. But if one look at it closely, it wasn’t smoked whatsoever. Havier looked wronged.

“Hey, it’s cheating to use souvide. That’s possible as long as you have time. I think you’re trying too hard for this competition.”

“I didn’t say I was competing with this. I was just…”

Janet looked back at Ella. Ella tried to cut into the rib with her fork, but she gave up and used her hands instead. Janet wiped off the sauce from her face with a napkin and smiled. It was a smile that she didn’t show anybody else in the kitchen.

“Is it good?”

“Yes. It’s as good as the bread my mom makes me!”

“That means it’s really good.”

Ella nodded and proceeded to eat the rib. Janet quietly mumbled, “If I had a kid, I’d only make them good food.”

“You can have one now. Go and find a boyfriend.”

Janet didn’t answer. She just looked happy watching Ella enjoy her food. And Cho Min Joon, who was watching from afar, whispered to Lisa, “Lisa, it looks like Janet might steal my spot.”

“That’s good. I feel like someone will be there to take care of Ella if I die.”

“Come on. Don’t say that.”

“You never know.”

Lisa shrugged. Seeing how she made it sound like a joke, she must have worried about it a lot. Cho Min Joon looked at Ella and whispered in a quiet voice, “I’ll promise you that if something happens to you, I’ll take care of Ella. So don’t worry about that. And don’t talk about it either, for Ella’s sake.”

“… Okay. Thank you for saying that.”

“Ahem.”

They heard a sudden cough. It was Rafael. He looked at Cho Min Joon and opened his mouth.

“Min Joon, it’s time to decide on your path. Have you decided on what to make and how to make it?”

“No. It seems like the best way to make molecular cooking is to use souvide… But that’s not appropriate to use for a competition.”

“What’s your favorite method outside competing?”

Rafael looked at Cho Min Joon with curiosity. He had a perfect palate. As a chef with that title, how would he use his abilities? Cho Min Joon thought for a moment. His eyes stared into space and his focus was lost. He didn’t look at the system window. He was just deep in thought.

Rafael personally liked Cho Min Joon’s gaze. The eyes of someone who was deep in his own world. Chefs were artists. And just like all artists, he believed that such unique traits was essential for chefs.

‘This field is full of serious and stubborn bastards these days.’

That was fine, too. After all,the world needed chefs who stayed loyal to traditional cooking. But Rafael found it much more fun to come up with new foods rather than making what was already made. Rather than digging a well deeper than anyone, he wanted to dig a few shallow ones and connect them together.

In that sense, Rafael liked Cho Min Joon. From what he had seen in the last few days, he instinctively felt it. That he and Cho Min Joon were of the same kind. To put it nicely, they were geniuses, and to put it frankly, they were just crazy.

‘People like him can’t be satisfied with traditional cooking. He has to make it his to be satisfied…’

Cho Min Joon had refused to participate in molecular cooking for now, but that was because he still had much he wanted to learn. Once he learned just how much choices he would face once he tried molecular cooking, Rafael was certain he wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation.

Cho Min Joon continued to think for over 5 minutes. Normally, he wouldn’t have thought about someone’s question for so long, but there were times when Cho Min Joon was like this. He forgot the passage of time, and Rafael liked that. Cho Min Joon opened his mouth.

“The taste of the ingredients.”

“The taste?”

“Beyond using molecular cooking, my favorite cooking is like this. Every single ingredient not hiding their true taste. When it comes to cooking, each dish has a main star. And the other ingredients on top are just supporting characters… I like dishes where every ingredient is the star. I want to do that without any of the flavors interfering… making for the perfect dish. Am I talking nonsense?”

“No, not at all. Keep going.”

“The most charming quality of molecular cooking is that you can make a liquid sauce into powder, carbonize ingredients, and even make syrup. Some might think that the texture is the only thing that changes, but that’s not true. Depending on how it meets the tongue, the taste changes, too. Just like how the same actor is different in each character that he plays… That difference is the same while also producing a completely different flavor. That… is beautiful.”

Cho Min Joon’s voice was shaking as if he was touched by the thought of it. Rafael stared blankly at him. Cho Min Joon definitely wasn’t interested in molecular cooking. No, he had no intention to work on it.

But the fact that he could get so worked up by talking about it… meant that he truly loved food and cooking. And what surprised Rafael the most was that he talked about the taste, not texture when talking about molecular cooking.

“T-taste.”

“Is that weird?”

“It’s not bad for a chef to be weird. You actually have to be almost crazy in order to produce a dish that’s outstanding. I don’t know about average family restaurants, but what people expect from this place isn’t just taste. It also has to be fun.”

This was the rule that Rafael had about cooking. Make fun food that tastes good. No matter how good a food is, if it’s boring, customers will never crave it again. Just like how well-made movies that weren’t interesting didn’t do well. Rafael continued, “Of course, there’s that underlying basic flavor. But I’m surprised. You’re only 21… How could you think in such a way at that age? The changes that the texture poses on the taste… Did you hear that from someone?”

“I’m… not sure. I don’t remember. I just thought of it.”

Many people influenced the way he thought about food. And of course, he was largely influenced by Kaya, but that didn’t mean he was just like her.

Rafael opened his mouth.

“You should aim to get 1st place. Just because you’re in charge of molecular cooking doesn’t mean you don’t learn other things. You don’t have to worry about not learning about traditional cooking.”

“Are you sure?”

Rafael’s eyes shook. He spoke in an unconfident voice, “… I think so?”

***

Ever since Kaya came, Cho Min Joon’s life changed. Normally, he would’ve laid down in bed at home, but he was now running on the beach in Santa Monica. Of course, it wasn’t just to get exercise. He could only spend time with Kaya at night, and this was the best way they could enjoy their time together.

Not long after Cho Min Joon started running, a woman began to run alongside him. It was Kaya. Kaya looked over at him. He saw the tight exercise outfit she was wearing underneath the streetlights. Cho Min Joon knitted his brows.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

“What?”

“It’s too tight. There are lots of people here.”

“This is what you wear when you exercise.”

“No, it’s not.”

“… You never said anything to Chloe.”

Cho Min Joon smacked his lips without a word. That was because his heart sank when he heard Kaya mentioning Chloe. Kaya still didn’t know that Chloe confessed her feelings to him. Cho Min Joon looked away and grumbled, “Put on a vest next time.”

“It’s not like people look at us anyway. Why are you acting so picky? And vests are uncomfortable. That’s just more to wash. If you don’t wash them after working out, they get smelly.”

“Oh yeah, how are you handling your chores? Do you do it yourself? Or does your agent do it?”

“I can’t stand the thought of someone else touching my underwear. Don’t you?”

“… I don’t know.”

“Well, you should. With me, too. If you make me do your laundry, I’ll kill you.”

She talked so naturally like they were going to move in together that Cho Min Joon didn’t even realize it was weird. Cho Min Joon looked at Kaya, And Kaya made an effort to avoid his gaze and grumbled, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just curious.”

“About what?”

Cho Min Joon smirked and answered, “I just want to see the face of the woman who’ll do my laundry from now on.”