Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Chocolate Army Stew
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Finely chopped green onions, mushrooms, various kinds of ham, and onions. Baked beans and kimchi piled right in the center.
It was ordinary army stew, no matter who looked at it.
If not for the chocolate poured on top.
"Here's how you mix in the sauce."
Choi Mi-seon stirred the ladle around a few times, and the black liquid began spreading through the broth. The red broth gradually turned black. It even seemed to get a bit thicker.
The scene was so shocking it was hard to watch with both eyes open.
I just stared blankly at what Choi Mi-seon was doing.
One thing was for sure. If this aired, the internet would be on fire.
PD Kim Hee-sung had some real foresight. That's why he wanted to film this place last.
'Is this some kind of surprise?'
I glanced over at the staff, entertaining that thought. Their jaws were dropped, so they must be seeing this dish for the first time too.
It didn't seem like they were pranking me. So what kind of thinking led to creating this horrific monstrosity?
I tried to steady my trembling voice as I asked.
"Choco...late. That's a really unique idea. What made you think of it? It's not a combination most people would even try."
Choi Mi-seon answered with a strangely proud look on her face.
"I figured if people were coming from far away, I couldn't just compete with ordinary stuff. Young people these days love sweet things, right? They make all sorts of things with chocolate. It was a change of perspective."
"......"
"It might look weird, but the taste is better than you think! I tried it many times to find the golden ratio. Just don't boil it too long or the chocolate burns—that's the only thing to watch out for."
This woman was serious.
It would've been better if she was just trying to mess with me. I could've gotten mad and stormed out.
But since Choi Mi-seon was sincere, I had to eat this dish and give it a proper review.
"Go on, try it. It's really not bad, I promise."
Choi Mi-seon scooped up a ladleful and handed it to me. The strangely murky broth made me lose my nerve.
This was a life-or-death crisis.
Thump, thump.
I could almost hear my heart pounding in my ears.
'I can't just dismiss it as weird food—my pride as a culinary researcher won't allow that.'
But taking even one bite? That didn't sit right either. Anyone would lose their appetite staring down army stew that looked like it could poison them any second.
"......"
No helping it.
Since this was a new menu item she'd researched in earnest, it was only right for me to treat it seriously.
I picked up the spoon with a trembling hand.
I scooped up a good mix of ham, onions, kimchi, and solids. The broth came along for the ride.
I hesitated for a long time, steeling myself, then finally shoved a big bite into my mouth.
Chew chew.
"......"
"H-how is it?"
Choi Mi-seon fidgeted, watching my reaction. I was too busy wrestling with the contents in my mouth to answer.
Chocolate army stew.
You'd think, what kind of insane dish is this? But there's that saying: 'Don't judge a book by its cover.'
You can't judge a food's taste until you've tried it.
So, how was the taste?
'...I'm gonna puke.'
Undissolved chocolate slithered slickly across my tongue. The salty harmony was utterly destroyed by the unwanted chocolate intruder.
'Spit it out or swallow. That is the question.'
If life ever feels too bitter, just add chocolate to your army stew.
You might decide bitter is better than sweet.
Gulp.
With iron will, I barely forced it down. Only then did my mouth feel free again.
I downed the glass of water in front of me in one go. Then I saw Choi Mi-seon clasping her hands tightly, staring at me with desperate eyes.
So earnest.
I almost snapped, 'Are you messing with me?' but hesitated.
"Ma'am, have you tried this yourself?"
"Yes, of course. I made it many times to find the perfect ratio."
"...Right?"
So it must not taste bad to Choi Mi-seon's palate. Sure, there are those 'anything-goes eaters' who like whatever.
Plus, after making it repeatedly, you get used to the taste, and rational judgment gets hard.
Even if Choi Mi-seon lost objectivity because it was her own creation, what about her son who was there with her?
"Park Jun-beom."
"Yes."
"Have you... tried this?"
"Yes."
"How was it?"
Park Jun-beom pondered for a moment before continuing.
"It'll probably be pretty polarizing, but I think more young people would like it."
"...Really?"
No way.
But with both of them saying that, I started to wonder.
'Is that so? Do young people like this stuff? ...I guess my tastes aren't like modern youth.'
My inner self was an old sly fox who'd aged like fine wine, so it made sense.
The guy who loved greasy fried food in his youth had vanished somewhere, replaced by someone seeking easy-to-digest, filling foods.
That pre-regression palate lingered, so unlike my body, my tastes skewed old-man style.
Since this was unfamiliar territory, I shouldn't judge rashly.
"What other new menu items do you have besides this?"
"Army stew with added coconut milk. It's smoother with a sweet, subtle flavor."
Another heavy hitter.
I gave up thinking. This wasn't my expertise.
'Guess there's no choice.'
Luckily, there was someone nearby whose tastes perfectly matched young people.
I looked into the camera linked to the control room and said.
"Do-kyung, come down here."
-"Do-kyung, come down here."
Do-kyung flinched at the sudden call. He glanced around, but everyone was staring at him.
"Me... you're talking to me, right?"
"Seems like it."
"Why me all of a sudden?"
While Do-kyung tilted his head, Song Wooyeonn continued to Choi Mi-seon and Park Jun-beom.
-"You two, head up to the control room."
-"Yes."
-"Got it."
-"Do-kyung, come down quick. Hurry."
"I-I'm going for now!"
Do-kyung shot up from his seat. He'd been too quiet today anyway and was worried about his screen time.
The store wasn't far, so he arrived quickly.
Swoosh.
The moment he opened the door, a weird smell filled the shop.
'What’s this smell?'
Curiosity didn't last.
The moment he saw the 'chocolate army stew' on the table, he knew it was the culprit.
The army stew scent mixed exquisitely with chocolate, creating a fragrance he'd never smelled before. That's why he hadn't noticed right away.
"Come sit here."
Song Wooyeonn pointed to the seat across from him. Do-kyung hesitated but sat down.
"Do-kyung, you said you like sweet stuff before, right?"
"Yeah? Oh, right."
Do-kyung was famous among fans for his small appetite. Naturally skinny and slim, he'd eat like a bird, claiming he'd feel bloated otherwise.
Typical elementary school kid tastes—snacks over rice.
Song Wooyeonn had indirectly picked up on it during stays at or group dinners.
"What about greasy stuff like chicken?"
"Chicken's delicious."
"Ice cream, chocolate—you eat that stuff fine?"
"More than rice."
"Pasta and pizza over bibimbap or gukbap?"
Song Wooyeonn's questions' meaning escaped him, but Do-kyung answered honestly.
"Spot on."
"You like SX, right?"
"Yeah. A ton."
"Perfect."
"Huh?"
What exactly?
Before Do-kyung could voice his confusion, Song Wooyeonn was a step ahead.
Song Wooyeonn scooped a big ladle of chocolate army stew into a side plate and said.
"Give it a try."
"......"
He'd half-suspected it. And here it was.
Do-kyung shot Song Wooyeonn a betrayed look.
Like a minister handed poison. Song Wooyeonn hurriedly added an excuse.
"No, my tastes aren't exactly like modern youth. But some people these days might like it. So I'm asking you to judge if it's good or not."
"...For real?"
He wasn't thinking, 'I can't suffer alone.' Song Wooyeonn wasn't that type, but staring at the chocolate army stew kept making him suspicious.
"Just try a little. Tell me if it's the style young people like."
"Sigh... Fine."
Do-kyung let out a small sigh, squeezed his eyes shut, and took a bite of the chocolate army stew.
And then,
"Ugh!"
He clamped his mouth like he was about to hurl it back up.
Song Wooyeonn shook his head and handed over a pre-prepared glass of water.
Looks like this one's a bust after all.
"It happens sometimes. You get too caught up in needing something innovative and go way overboard."
Choi Mi-seon and Park Jun-beom hung their heads at my words. They'd clearly realized the chocolate army stew and coconut milk army stew were failures.
"Not just Do-kyung—I had the production crew try it too. All young folks in their early to mid-20s, and not one said it was good."
"......"
"So this isn't 'love it or hate it.' It's just not tasty."
Sorry, but I explained it more firmly on purpose. Otherwise, they might pity their hard work and push flawed recipes.
Like adding it to the menu after some half-baked solution.
"...What do we do? Those were our only two new menu ideas."
"Don't worry. I brought some new menu items too."
I'd planned to hear their ideas first and only pull mine out if they were no good.
Luckily or not, no need to hesitate.
"I guarantee you."
I grinned and said.
"People will line up for this."