Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Another Hit Broadcast
"Did a solid job this time too?"
Bong Kang-min grinned as he spoke.
"This broadcast, I mean. I watched it. Chef Jeong watched it too, right?"
"It was blowing up so much, I had to."
"What'd you think? I teared up watching it!"
Bong Kang-min gestured exaggeratedly, clearly excited.
"Especially that part after the accident, where he stubbornly insisted on getting discharged, saying it'd put his mind at ease...! Man. It got my heart racing for no reason. Like his feelings came through crystal clear."
Ah, that part really lit up the reactions. They edited it perfectly so viewers could feel Lee Hyung-bae's sincerity.
The soft, melancholic background music was the perfect finishing touch.
"Anyway, when Chef Song suddenly asked me to find a sushi master, I was wondering what was up~. If I'd known the story, I would've tagged along to help out!"
Jeong Ha-neul's eyes widened as she asked,
"Oh? Bong Chef arranged for that guy?"
"Yeah. Chef Song hit me up out of the blue, so I was surprised too. He's not the type to ask for favors like that. But he was so earnest about it, I reached out to some contacts and hooked him up."
If it weren't for Bong Kang-min, we'd have been sweating bullets to find a skilled sushi artisan.
Luckily, he accepted right away, and the sushi master we brought in had a great personality, so the solution session went off without a hitch.
"I was really grateful back then, Chef Bong."
I'd thanked him separately, but I gave him a proper one again. Bong Kang-min burst into hearty laughter and bellowed,
"What're you talking about! If Chef Song wants it, I could call in my eighth cousin by marriage! Just say the word~."
"You and your tall tales."
"Chef Jeong, you must not know. How hot our Chef Song is these days? Snap a photo together and post it on Insta, the likes pour in!"
"Insta? Not Facebook?"
"You don't know all the young folks are on Insta these days?"
Times like this, Bong Kang-min seems more tuned into trends than I am.
Influence is slowly shifting toward Insta, and he sensed it instinctively.
"On that note, Woo-yeon-ah. Mind taking a quick photo with me...?"
That's when it happened.
Swoosh—a shadow fell over the table. I turned to see a familiar face.
There stood Anderic, in his pristine white chef's uniform.
"Oh~. Who's this? If it isn't our Chef Anderic!"
Bong Kang-min eyed him like a predator spotting prey.
"Honored you made the trek here yourself."
"Is the food to your liking?"
Anderic ignored him familiarly and asked Jeong Ha-neul and me.
"Heh heh. We used to always meet at our restaurant. Now it feels like we've made it a point to gather at Chef Anderic's."
Jeong Ha-neul smiled warmly, sharing her feelings. Yeah, tell me about it. It's been about half a year since Anderic opened his new place...
"Ah, we gotta support you by coming here!"
Bong Kang-min joked.
Truth be told, more than that, the course menu was a great pick for chatting over a meal. Anderic's food satisfied all three of our palates perfectly.
Above all.
"You're so busy, Chef Anderic."
Since his new place hadn't been open long, he couldn't step away easily. So we three decided to hold our gatherings right at his workplace.
"Good to see your face like this. How's it going? Tough work?"
Jeong Ha-neul asked in a gentle tone, full of affection and warmth for her star pupil who'd just gone independent.
"Yes. It's better than I expected. ...Though it's still hard to step away from the restaurant, so finding time isn't easy."
"Right. You're still stabilizing the flavors. You're doing great."
Jeong Ha-neul nodded with a pleased smile.
Anderic bowed politely, then asked seriously once more,
"Is the food to your liking?"
Silence fell for a moment.
We're all sticklers for 'taste.' Even the first time we tried his course and gave feedback, some pretty sharp comments flew.
It was a private room separate from the dining hall, but I lowered my voice just in case it carried.
"I thought it was delicious. Seems like you incorporated the points I mentioned last time."
As soon as I finished, Jeong Ha-neul and Bong Kang-min nodded.
"I feel the same."
"Yeah."
"Of course, we haven't tried the main yet~. Too early to judge the place's level."
Bong Kang-min grinned playfully.
"But I get why Michelin talk is already buzzing. It's totally understandable."
Ho? What's this intriguing tidbit?
'Opened early this year, and already rumors like that are circulating?'
Word in the industry must be that Anderic's skills are no joke.
"Just rumors."
Anderic brushed it off, but Bong Kang-min wouldn't let go.
"Come on~. What're you saying? Every chef meetup I go to, this place comes up nonstop. Lots of chefs have been in and out, right?"
"......Yes."
"See?"
Chefs aren't always gourmet experts, but they sure taste way more variety than average folks and can discern subtle differences.
They love good food, after all.
When a new contender emerges, word spreads quietly among chefs.
"Michelin in Seoul always announces in November, right?"
Jeong Ha-neul subtly broached the topic.
Do the math, and it wasn't impossible for this year.
'Chef Anderic made a name early. The evaluators must've had eyes on him from the start.'
Folks probably flocked soon after opening.
"No repeat regulars? Could be an evaluator, so stay sharp~."
"That's nonsense. They send multiple evaluators short-term, multiple times. To check consistency."
"Oh, really?"
Bong Kang-min's eyes went wide.
And he's a Michelin one-star holder himself, yet he didn't know?
"New places can falter easy, so Michelin scrutinizes them closely."
Even as Jeong Ha-neul said it, a glint of subtle expectation shone in her eyes.
She knew the high bar in quality, service, consistency.
Yet she believed Anderic could deliver near-'perfect' answers in this short time. That firm trust underpinned it.
Anderic just dismissed it.
"Michelin is an honor, but that's all it is."
That's so Anderic. While others obsess over one star.
He continued nonchalantly.
"Whether they're Michelin or not doesn't matter. We always give our best to every guest here."
What a model answer. More exciting than saying he studied textbook-only with perfect prep and review.
Yet knowing it was utterly sincere made it all the more astonishing.
We were at a loss for words, silent for a bit, but Anderic didn't mind and turned to me.
"How's your health?"
"Hm?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
He always starts with well-wishes whenever we meet. Things have been hectic lately, though.
"Yeah. All good now."
"......"
Anderic stared at me intently, then abruptly turned away.
What? Looked like he was about to say something.
But he's not one to mince words or watch others' reactions. Probably my imagination?
As I tilted my head,
Rattle.
"The main course, sir. Cantonese-style... with plum sauce... Uh?"
The waiter spotted Anderic and looked startled.
Anderic silently stepped aside. The waiter, flustered, wheeled in the tray.
"Main course at last!"
"Delicious last time too. Looking forward to it."
Tap, tap, tap.
The main was set promptly, and as the waiter started to explain, I stopped him.
"No need for the explanation. Thank you."
He bowed immediately, said 'Enjoy your meal,' and left.
Hard to explain dishes in front of the owner. Like a sudden test.
'Wait, no. The one getting tested... is Anderic?'
Eating the course pinnacle right under the chef's nose. Curious for honest feedback, he stayed by the table instead of leaving.
"Shall we try a bite?"
Bong Kang-min cut into the Cantonese duck first with his knife.
Not to be outdone, I lifted my knife and fork.
Crisp!
The signature crunch sounded as the knife touched. Tender inside, with sweet harmony from honey and soy glaze.
But the star was the special plum sauce.
'Like last time. Just incredible.'
Sweet with a tangy edge, enhancing the duck's savoriness.
Dip in the plum sauce and one bite—heavenly...!
'Hm?'
Chew chew.
Even while eating, something made me tilt my head. Not bad.
Definitely delicious. But...
'Was it always like this?'
Puzzled, I silently cut another piece. Same thing. That odd dissonance lingered.
'Is the plum sauce off today?'
The Cantonese duck alone was fine. So I tasted just the sauce.
"...Ah."
I knew right away.
'The flavor's changed.'
Not an upgrade or feedback tweak.
This subtle sourness coating the tongue.
No way it's intentional.
'The ingredients have spoiled...!'