God of Cooking

Man-gil continued, “For the past several decades I’ve been trying to put a little more delicious dishes on the table without worrying about flavor combination. That’s not going to change overnight.”

Min-joon could understand what he said. But at the same time, he didn’t want to understand it. It was just sad to realize that as someone who could create such a beautiful and perfect dish, he could not properly develop the basics such as food matching. He could make food more delicious than anyone else, but he didn’t know how to feed them deliciously.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you achieve your dream of completing Korean food.”

“Why do you think so?”

“If I have to look for a reason, there are so many. As I told you, I’m busy, and I’m not as talented in cooking as you think. And above all, you can’t complete Korean food.”

Man-gil had no choice but to harden his face at Min-joon’s statement that he could not complete Korean food. He could not ignore it lightly because the rest of his life and his aspirations depended on it. No matter who he was, including Min-joon, they were not supposed to mention before Man-gil that it was impossible for him to realize his dream.

Man-gil asked in a heavy voice, “Why do you think I can’t complete Korean food?”

“Because food is relative.”

“I know that. But, relative or not, there should be the most fundamental orthodox way of cooking Korean food. And I want to complete Korean food in that orthodox way.”

“Of course I understood exactly what you mean. I don’t want to say that your method is worthless. I don’t want to say that you are not competent. You’re by far the best Korean chef I’ve ever seen in my life. You make great dishes.”

He thought to himself, ‘She is too greedy,’ then he suddenly smiled. Come to think of it, his dreams were also too grand in the eyes of others.

“I like you in that respect. I think it’s really cool that you have such an unusual dream, and you try to achieve something that others don’t even think about. But…”

Min-joon blurred a bit then continued, “I know it’s very hard for you sometimes. Sometimes, you look like a great mountain, but sometimes, I feel you might collapse anytime soon. I think it’s because you’re too greedy.”

“I know. Greed sometimes lifts the spirit of people, but sometimes, it shakes them.”

“I don’t think my immature and inexperienced observation can affect your path.”

“Do you really think so?”

Man-gil burst into laughter. Hearing it, he realized that Min-joon was twenty-four years old.

Of course, just because he was older than Min-joon didn’t mean he was more mature than Min-joon, but Man-gil thought that what Min-joon said was very mature and wise for a young man at that age. The reason Man-gil listened to him was not because he was a famous or smart genius chef, but it was because what he said was correct.

“I’m very envious of Chef Rachel who has you as her student.”

“You also have good students here..”

Man-gil stopped at that moment. Then he said with a gentle smile, “Yes, I do.”

“Anyway, this is my opinion, sir. You are too ambitious, and I’m not that qualified to advise you.”

“I see.”

“But, as for the dishes on the table, I think I can give you my own opinion from a customer’s standpoint.”

Man-gil looked at him while Min-joon smiled at him.

Min-joon said, “I have to go back to America soon, but if you come up with any good ideas about food matching, please feel free to tell me. I’ll give you feedback in one way or another. I can promise you that.”

“Really?”

“I have never made any promise that I don’t intend to keep.”

“Then, let me…”

“Oh, not now…”

Min-joon picked up his smartphone. It was already 10 pm.

“Because it’s time to go home.”

<hr />

“Well, after all is said and done, we have come to have good networking in Korea.”

When they got home, Kaya sat on the couch and opened her mouth in a calm voice.

Min-joon smiled and nodded.

“I hope we can continue to maintain our good relationship.”

“Unless the other party is a whacko, anybody who gets connected to you will benefit from you a lot.”

“Hope so,” he said then typed something on the laptop.

She glanced up and opened her mouth.

“Are you posting another recipe?”

“Nope. I’m just checking their comments.”

“What comments?”

“You know they broadcast the episode about our post-Grand Chef activities. I’m checking out the viewers’ feedback here and there.”

“Oh, come to think of it, I couldn’t even take care of that because I came here.”

As if she remembered it, she pushed his head into his chest then began to read all the comments. Normally, there was supposed to be some bad comments no matter how good the program was, but there was almost nothing this time.

Kaya muttered as if she felt strange about it.

“Since I announced that I was dating you, I think the number of bad comments decreased.”

“You know they have a good impression of me, so I think they also have a good perception of you.”

“If anyone hears that, they might think I had a very bad perception.”

He did not answer. But she was looking at him sharply as if she didn’t like his reply.

At that moment, he changed his expression for some reason.

She complained, looking at him, “Why are you making a straight face? What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I noticed a very strange comment.”

“What’s that?”

“Look at this.”

She raised her head when he pointed at the comment. Then she slowly began to read it.

<Hey. I was just in Venice a moment ago, but Rose Island head office was on fire. Now fire engines are racing toward that restaurant like crazy.>

“What the heck is this? Is it real fire?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t received any text messages about it. Maybe it’s bullshit.”

“How come fire broke out at Rose Island all of a sudden? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, I was worried a bit because there were lots of kids who were on drugs at night near our restaurant… But I don’t think fire broke out there.”

Min-joon laughed awkwardly as if he tried to shake off the anxiety. Kaya couldn’t say anything, so she just patted him on the shoulder. He looked at the smartphone with an anxious expression.

Since it was very early in the morning in Los Angeles, he would wake up his staff and Rachel Rose if he called them. However, be it fortunate or unfortunate, he didn’t have to call them.

A video was uploaded. He clearly saw a building on fire at dawn when the smoke and fog settled down. It was Rose Island.