Spread-out Wings (4)
As soon as Jo Minjoon’s appearance was confirmed, Kang Byungyoon went around bragging about it to people he knew.
If it had been any time in the past, people would have looked at Kang Byungyoon and shook their heads. Because they would have wondered why he was making such a big fuss over something they did not consider a big deal.
However, things were different this time. Anyone who had anything to do with the television industry was aware of how Jo Minjoon’s worth had risen these days. Since the one envied the most by young Korean chefs was none other than Jo Minjoon.
The PDs who wanted Jo Minjoon but ultimately could not get him said anxiously, “You really need to express it well. Make it awesome. You know what I’m saying?”
They were telling him not to ruin Jo Minjoon’s marketability by somehow obsessing over something like reality. Granted, Jo Minjoon was not immediately accessible to them, but who knew if they would be able to work with him in the future.
In this business, a cast member with that much popularity was like finding a diamond in the rough. There were those waiting to possibly become a PD who could work on a piece with said gem.
Kang Byungyoon, of course, relished their worries, and also found their worries completely unnecessary. Whether it was in fiction or in reality, Jo Minjoon and Kaya were consistent in being cool people. At the very least, from what he had experienced that was how they seemed. It may be a bit rash to make such a judgment call based on such a brief encounter with someone, but he felt he could at least make such a judgment based off of their products.
Jo Minjoon and Kaya were excellent chefs and characters. Anyone would find their thoughts and lives appealing.
The employees of Lotus Bridge did not think all that differently, either. While being interviewed, each of them poured out their thoughts on Jo Minjoon and Kaya.
“Those two are chefs by their very nature.”
Those were Lee Minwoo’s words.
“They are always thinking of cooking, and when they are cooking, they are always thinking of how they could make their customers happy through their food instead of thinking about their own satisfaction. In that sense, this is what sets pros apart from amateurs, I believe. For normal chefs, thoughts of their customers have left their heads. Instead, they cook with what they think seems awesome in their own minds, but… head chefs treat that as fundamental and then calculate their customers’ reactions on top of it.”
While talking about Jo Minjoon and Kaya, his eyes were filled with longing and admiration. His feelings were clearly visible even when captured on camera. Seeing this, Kang Byungyoon felt a renewed sense of awe. Not only were Jo Minjoon and Kaya young, they had completely enraptured the hearts of the chefs working under them. It was something possible because they possessed overwhelming skills. They also possessed an attitude that matched those skills.
“I can truly feel that the two of them do things for our sake,” Gwen said with a slightly awkward expression.
“They always ask us whether we had a new recipe for them that day, if we’ve had a new inspiration, or if there was anything we found difficult. Honestly, from their point of view, I don’t think they would need to be asking us anything. Recipes are already pouring into every country via Irregular Lab. Same for inspiration. I haven’t worked at any other restaurant, but I know that, at the very least, this type of kindness is not common.
“It’s difficult.”
Jill looked to be both a bit excited and discouraged.
“There are times when I look at the two of them and feel that the gap between me and them would never decrease for the rest of my life. I realize it’s meaningless to compare oneself to someone else. However, I do want the day to come where I can be perfect as a chef. The fact that that I fall short of them, or anyone, basically means I haven’t reached perfection yet… Honestly, I’m not really sure what I’m saying right now. It’s difficult to talk about this logically. I just… instinctively feel I’ve suffered a huge defeat. Ah, I guess it’ll be hard for me to look them both in the eyes after having said this.”
While interviewing the workers, Kang Byungyoon had a thought-provoking moment. It occurred to him that to these workers, Jo Minjoon and Kaya’s existence was not that of a mere superior’s. The two of them were their role models. There was not a single person in the restaurant who said they did not want to become like Jo Minjoon and Kaya.
That was not due to the success of the two of them. The two of them just had that kind of resonance. Resonance with a chef’s soul. The very existence of these two people was equivalent to having the right answer. As a chef, one would not be able to bear turning away from the real deal. Everyone in the kitchen understood instinctively that the path these two were taking was the best one.
That was why Kang Byungyoon was wondering.
First question.
“…Who’s the better chef? Come on, what kind of question is that? That’s like asking if you like Mom better or Dad better, isn’t it?”
Kang Byungyoon liked Dad1 better. Jill let out a scoff at his words and became lost in thought.
“Well, whose skill is better…? When I first came to this restaurant I would have said Chef Jo Minjoon without a doubt. And that Chef Kaya’s true value may ahve been overshadowed. However, that’s not true, at all. Actually, if you look closely, you’ll see that Chef Minjoon is actually the hard-worker… and Chef Kaya’s actual talent is unbelievably high. Even from just watching them craft recipes, the one who provides the starting point for a recipe is actually Chef Kaya. If that’s the case, then it’s Chef Minjoon who completes the recipe over the course of days to perfection. It looks like they have their strengths and weaknesses… Sorry? Between the two of them, which chef do I want to be like?”
Jill looked askance at Kang Byungyoon.
“I would love to live like Chef Kaya. Watching her on the side, she’s no joke. Chef Kaya is just like an idea bank. Even if you eat the same dish again, you’ll experience more than one or two new things.
We can get inspiration from just glancing at something. This type is honestly very convenient to be. It’s not like you don’t put effort in, but Chef Kaya’s talent minimizes the time needed for that effort.”
When asked if Jo Minjoon was not as talented as Kaya, she thought a bit and responded like this.
“Now that I say it, it sounds strange to say the chef famous for being the most talented in the world is less talented than Chef Kaya… Well, that’s actually not true. When Chef Minjoon becomes absorbed in something, he won’t ever lose his focus on it. I just told you. Chef Kaya comes up with the idea and the one who mainly refines it is Chef Minjoon. I think of it like this. The reason why Chef Kaya doesn’t refine the idea, the reason why she doesn’t put that effort in, is because she doesn’t have the ability to put that effort in. Even when she’s sitting at her desk to come up with recipes, she can’t focus completely on it. That is why when Chef Kaya shines, it’s when she’s inspired. On the other hand, when she’s not inspired, she’s just an ordinary chef.”
He asked if Jo Minjoon was different. Jill nodded her head.
“Chef Minjoon has this power that enables him to never stop thinking wherever or whenever. That is why the time he invests into it always provides good results. However, that is an exhaustive approach. Chef Minjoon is an excellent chef, but I honestly can’t imagine how dedicated one must be to build up such habits to even approach such a level of a chef. However, even if I wanted to receive inspiration like Chef Kaya does, it’s not like I can just get inspired… In the end, I’m using Chef Minjoon as my goal because I at least have the capability of pursuing it. Although, I can’t imitate his absolute sense of taste, of course.”
Amusingly, the other people’s opinions were similar to Jill’s. Of course, there were few others who could speak to their opinions as well as Jill could. That is made possibly only from having built up experience2 in cooking and is irrespective of how smart or dull one is.
However, there was just one person and only one person whose reaction was slightly different from the others’.
“There’s no point in looking at the two of them separately.”
It was Gwen. Kang Byungyoon eyes sparkled. Even he knew quite well that Gwen had the most complicated relationship with the head chefs out of anyone in the restaurant. She had entered Grand Chef because she wanted to become like Kaya, but she had actually formed a deeper bond with Jo Minjoon instead. He had been wondering who she would say was more impressive, but she had tossed back a response he had not expected at all.
“Whether it was Minjoon or Kaya, if only one of them was here, he or she would not have been able to make Lotus Bridge as excellent as it is. Of course it wouldn’t have been just some ordinary restaurant, but it wouldn’t have been able to even dream of the success it is achieving now. This is because the two of them are together. The moment when the two of them are cooking is when it feels the most complete.”
So, there is no point in dividing the two of them?
“If you see each of them separately, they’re both geniuses, but when they’re together, even calling them geniuses would be falling short. To the point where I have to wonder whether or not I could even keep up. It’s world-changing. They’re like chopsticks. You need both chopsticks for it to be complete. You can look at the two of them like that.”
Gwen’s words left a deeper impression on Kang Byungyoon than he had expected. He had thought Kaya was simply Jo Minjoon’s wife who had skills. Of course, he had heard enough stories of how her skills were not inferior to Jo Minjoon’s, but he had never really thought she would surpass Jo Minjoon.
However, from what the people there said, there was a high possibility that Kaya was the more remarkable chef. That was not all, either. Whether Kaya was better or Jo Minjoon was better could be chalked up to a matter of preference, but the opinion that their skills, when combined, far exceeds each of their individual skills was the overwhelming one.
It was not a matter of the concept that 1+1=2. It was not a matter that they could make good recipes with both present. However, despite that, Jo Minjoon and Kaya had reenacted that unbelievable arithmetic relationship within themselves. Their skills overlap, add, and enhance like the math.
After coming to that realization, Kang Byungyoon began shooting with a focus more on the relationship between Jo Minjoon and Kaya. He wondered what kind of bond could have made the two of them so special like that. It was not hard for him to figure it out.
It was something he normally could not feel. Normally, when he looked at them, he only got the impression they were a loving couple. However, when they were cooking, it was different. Their conversation felt more like a lofty communion, more than anything. Each and every word of theirs had their thoughts, lives, and cooking reflected in it and came back around again.
It was a part he could understand because he knew cooking. It was a part he could capture because he knew cooking. Kang Byungyoon desperately made an effort to express the communion between those two. It was during this that the best opportunity presented itself to Kang Byungyoon.
“This can only go in a cod dish.”
“The taste of cod is too light. Its lightness may leave a superficial impression. The guests may end up only feeling the intensity of the sauce.”
“I know. However, I’m not saying to go with cod to try and show off our cooking skills. It’ll enhance the flavor of the cod.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“Looks like you get it.”
The two of them were having a conversation that only they could understand. What had sounded like a long dispute suddenly broke out into giggles and mirthful words once again. Ideas, each of which would have been worth thousands of dollars alone, exploded. Kang Byungyoon felt this strange atmosphere of theirs, and his palms began sweating. While it seemed ordinary, the atmosphere surrounding them was not ordinary.
Maybe it was because of the radiance emanating from their faces. Kang Byungyoon could read that radiance. That radiance could only be expressed by having passion and love for one’s path. That radiance made Kang Byungyoon shiver.
The two of them exchanged opinions for several hours. They even went to the kitchen to mix spices together passionately and taste them. They fried cod with butter and determined the difference between cod pieces that looked the same.
And so dawn passed in such fashion.
“…It’s perfect!”
Hearing Kaya’s exclamation, Kang Byungyoon swallowed dryly and looked at the scene being captured on his camera. After curing the cod, whose bones had been completely removed, it was fried with butter and topped with a dried tomato pesto. It was accompanied by a broth made from olives and tomatoes. It appeared to be a simple dish, but the look Kaya had on her face while looking at it was not one of someone looking at a simple dish.
She looked at Kang Byungyoon with the brightest smile he had ever seen. Her hair was disheveled and her face looked very tired, but Kaya looked the most beautiful she has ever been at that moment.
She asked, “Would you like to try some?”
Kang Byungyoon nodded his head as if bewitched.
CREDITS:
Original author: 양치기자리
Translator: Comic Seoul
Proofreader: Potato