Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Exquisite Handmade Burger
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The half-melted cheese sparkled like jewels.
Clear grill marks stood out vividly on the plump patty, looking utterly mouthwatering. The bun was perfectly toasted to a golden brown, and the smoky aroma infused into the patty made saliva pool involuntarily.
It was so flawlessly made that it could have been a display model. The craftsmanship was almost inhuman.
I examined the handmade burger closely with admiring eyes.
The composition was simple.
‘Bun, patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, sauce, and bacon.’
No fancy tricks. Yet this single dish looked utterly magnificent.
While I was scrutinizing the handmade burger, Choi Min-hyuk and Choi Jun-hyuk had headed to the control room. Thanks to that, I could let my admiration show freely.
“Wow. The key here is really how they grilled this patty.”
I muttered as I picked up my fork and knife.
I grabbed one side of the handmade burger and cut it in half, revealing a clean cross-section.
Juices flowed out in a steady stream. It was proof that it had been cooked at just the right temperature to keep the inside moist.
Sniff sniff.
The savory aroma of meat and fat tickled my nose. Saliva gathered in my mouth on its own.
The moment I took a bite.
“...!”
A variety of textures danced in my mouth. The patty’s crispy exterior and soft interior, juices that seeped out with every chew, rich cheese adding depth to the flavor, and then tomatoes and lettuce cutting through the richness just right.
It felt like I hadn’t chewed much, but the first bite was already gone before I knew it. I couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret.
“Wow.”
I let out a short exclamation before immediately reaching for another bite. To savor more of the handmade burger.
Munch munch.
Only after taking another bite did I come back to my senses a bit.
“This... is incredibly delicious.”
It wasn’t just delicious. It was the real deal, something I hadn’t tasted in a while, and the excitement wouldn’t fade.
I spoke rapidly, a bit faster than usual.
“The patty’s doneness is perfect. Not too dry, not overly juicy. That takes real finesse. If it always tastes this consistent, I’d gladly come back and pay for it anytime.”
The cameraman looked shocked at my rare effusive praise.
“Temperature is crucial for the patty. Cook it too long, and the moisture evaporates, leaving it dry. But this one’s moist inside—see the juices pooling here.”
I showed the juices flowing from the burger’s cross-section, and the camera hurriedly zoomed in.
“That’s why it was so delicious. Owner, where did you learn to make handmade burgers like this?”
My question was met with a brief burst of static, followed by a response over the walkie-talkie.
-I learned while working in the US.
“You opened your shop in Korea after that?”
-Yes, that’s right.
No wonder it didn’t seem like a beginner’s work.
“You’re using the exact recipe you learned there?”
-No, not exactly. I tweaked it to my own style.
I liked that part too.
‘People who consistently work hard and experiment don’t stick to one recipe forever. Adapting it to his own style is praiseworthy.’
Of course, blindly messing it up out of stubbornness without knowing better would deserve criticism. But the result here was outstanding.
“Thanks for the meal, Owner. Sincerely. It was so delicious.”
-Thank you.
“The aftertaste lingers so much that I’m almost hesitant to eat anything else.”
I dabbed my mouth with a napkin. If I could, I’d make this burger my whole meal.
But there were plenty of other shops to visit afterward, so that wasn’t an option.
No wonder Choi Min-hyuk had been so confident.
Now that I’d tried it, I could see his confidence was well-founded.
-Thanks for the meal, Owner. Sincerely. It was so delicious.
Waaah!
Exclamations erupted from the staff as well. Im Hye-eun immediately clapped in celebration.
“Congratulations, Owner!”
“Song CEO rarely says things like that. This is impressive.”
Do-kyung chimed in, and Choi Jun-hyuk sat there dazed before his eyes welled up with tears.
“Th-thank you. Thank you, thank you...”
By the end, his voice was choked with sobs. He’d tried to play it cool at first, but he finally broke down, tears streaming.
Do-kyung hurriedly handed him tissues, and Choi Jun-hyuk wiped his eyes as he stammered out his feelings.
“I... I really wanted to hear that... I thought it was delicious, but customers just wouldn’t come...”
“Bro, I told you it’s really good. See?”
Choi Min-hyuk fidgeted beside him, comforting his brother.
“I know better than anyone how hard you’ve worked. I believed someone would recognize it properly. Congrats, bro. I’m so relieved.”
Choi Min-hyuk’s voice trembled with emotion too.
Choi Jun-hyuk nodded silently.
“Song CEO! So, does this place need any food solutions?”
At Im Hye-eun’s question, Song Woo-yeon replied immediately.
-Yes. No need to touch the food itself. But you should practice to maintain this quality even with more customers.
“Yes! I’ll work on it!”
Choi Jun-hyuk shouted right away.
-The menu could be streamlined to just the handmade burger... Honestly, I think selling just the basic one would be enough?
Song Woo-yeon explained that once the shop’s name spread, crowds would flock unlike before, and since frying takes time, a diverse menu would make things busier.
-But that feels a bit unsatisfying, doesn’t it?
“Yes?”
-No, other places get recipes and all. Your basic burger is already perfect—no notes from me. Feels unfair if you’re the only one without something extra.
“N-No, it’s fine!”
-Really? Hmm. Well, a unique signature dish would be nice. Let’s brainstorm that.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Choi Jun-hyuk’s eyes sparkled. Not only had he recognized his true worth, but he was even offering to develop a recipe just in case he felt left out.
‘I really hit the jackpot.’
He hadn’t fully grasped it even when he heard about the show appearance.
But hearing Song Woo-yeon’s tasting notes changed everything.
‘He read my intentions perfectly.’
Every detail he’d obsessed over, every intentional tweak to the recipe—nothing escaped notice.
Reading a chef’s intent from the finished dish wasn’t easy without deep expertise.
Just as Song Woo-yeon had tasted the food and recognized Choi Jun-hyuk’s skill, Choi Jun-hyuk heard the critique and recognized Song Woo-yeon’s depth.
‘Honestly, I figured even a successful franchise CEO couldn’t match a chef’s cooking skill...’
Why hadn’t he realized?
Not every critic makes films as well as the director. Not every coach runs better than the players.
In that context, Song Woo-yeon’s cooking skill was anyone’s guess, but reading food and giving direction was entirely possible.
‘I’m excited. What kind of flavor will we create together?’
Choi Jun-hyuk couldn’t hide the smile spreading across his face at the rare thrill.
His gaze landed on Choi Min-hyuk right beside him.
If Min-hyuk hadn’t leveraged their old classmate connection to get the PD’s attention, he might have missed this golden opportunity.
‘This guy isn’t one to name-drop connections like that. He went out of his way for me.’
The guy who hated the spotlight had pitched the show and even applied himself—surely hoping his brother’s talent would shine.
“Thanks, man.”
Choi Jun-hyuk roughly slapped Choi Min-hyuk’s back.
“?!”
Like a bolt from the blue, Choi Min-hyuk looked utterly bewildered.
“Chef An.”
Jeong Ha-neul’s face was filled with worry. Derek An stood before him, his expression as impassive and unflappable as ever.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes. I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Phew. Alright, if it’s you, Chef An, you’ll pull it off.”
Jeong Ha-neul let out a deep sigh, then continued as if it had just occurred to him.
“Did you tell Chef Song?”
“...”
“Oh. Guess not.”
“...Yes.”
“Well. I thought you two were close.”
Jeong Ha-neul’s lips curved in a mix of concern and amusement.
“You won’t regret it later?”
Derek An shook his head at the question.
“I’ll be fine.”
And...
Derek An swallowed the rest inwardly.
‘It only means something if I do it with my own hands.’