Chapter 150: Rival (2)
Chapter 150: Rival (2)
“What can I do? I can’t turn down a challenge like that.”
Jo Minjoon looked at Anderson with confident eyes. On an ordinary day, he might not have been this sure of himself, but today was different. The reason was simple: he had eaten Yamamoto’s tamago sushi the day before. It had scored 8 points, which meant Jo Minjoon had perfectly grasped the recipe.
Of course, without the sushi rice, the rolled omelette itself would not reach 8 points. But that was enough. Anderson’s rolled omelette had scored 6. Seven points should be possible. Jo Minjoon believed that much.
“Fine. Then we make them at the same time. We should compete under the same conditions.”
“Right. Let’s do that.”
The smile disappeared from Jo Minjoon’s lips. He stood before the kitchen counter with calm eyes.
He had not forgotten Yamamoto’s recipe. If anything, he had organised it even more clearly in his head. The only problem was the ingredients.
I have chestnut oil and pine-nut oil. But for the stock……out of everything in the original recipe, I only have kombu, anchovies, and bonito flakes.
If he failed to reproduce the recipe properly, there was no way he could recreate even half of its flavour. But he could hardly go shopping for missing ingredients in the middle of the competition.
Just then, Sera interrupted.
“Wait. Both of you, hold on.”
She approached with a mischievous expression and raised her smartphone.
“Competitions like this are better when lots of people can watch. It would also be useful promotion for today’s live broadcast. How about I film this and upload it online?”
“……You mean this?”
“Why? Is it too childish?”
“That’s not it…… Fine. Do whatever you want.”
Anderson shrugged as though he could not be bothered arguing.
Jo Minjoon barely listened to them. All of his attention was fixed on the problem in front of him.
Yamamoto’s rolled omelette alone had been worth 7 points. But with the limited ingredients available to him now, the version Jo Minjoon could reproduce only had an estimated score of 6.
The missing stock ingredients bothered him.
He had to think.
So he did.
What was the purpose of the recipe? What role did each ingredient play?
Why did Yamamoto combine those particular things? If I use only kombu, anchovies, and katsuobushi, why can’t I get the same result? Think back to the flavour of the omelette yesterday……
Jo Minjoon closed his eyes.
Just as system windows showing estimated cooking scores could appear endlessly before him, thoughts began unfolding one after another. One question gave birth to another question. One answer opened the path to another answer.
After a while, his eyes opened again, sharp and focused.
He looked towards Anderson.
“Ready?”
“Let’s do it.”
The two began by boiling water for their respective stocks, then cracking eggs.
From that point onward, their methods immediately diverged.
Jo Minjoon cracked the eggs with both hands in such a calm, deliberate rhythm that it almost looked ceremonial. The same was true when he mixed them. Anderson brought out a whisk and beat his eggs quickly, while Jo Minjoon used chopsticks, stirring slowly and carefully as though he were caressing the mixture rather than beating it.
Next, Jo Minjoon added the ingredients for his stock.
He placed anchovies and bonito flakes in a cloth pouch and steeped them in water already infused with kombu. Once the stock was ready, he mixed a measured amount into the beaten eggs.
The seasoning itself was simple.
Yuzu kosho.
(Translator’s Note: Yuzu kosho —A Japanese condiment made mainly from yuzu peel, chilli peppers, and salt. It is particularly associated with Kyushu, especially Ōita and Fukuoka. Despite koshō normally meaning “pepper”, in this regional usage it refers to chilli.)
A Japanese condiment made from citrus peel, chilli, and salt. Yamamoto’s tamago sushi had achieved balance through the seasoned rice, vinegar, and wasabi. Jo Minjoon intended to fill that missing space with yuzu kosho instead.
But that was not the only thing he added.
He took salted pollack roe from the refrigerator and mixed it into the eggs. Used this way, it would deepen the savoury flavour of the stock while adding a faint sweetness and heat.
Since the ingredients were already different, the amount of stock needed would naturally change as well. At this point, it was no longer the same dish at all. The only elements Jo Minjoon was directly borrowing from Yamamoto were the chestnut oil and pine-nut oil.
Anderson placed his pan directly over the gas burner.
Jo Jo Minjoonse differently.
He set a pan over an induction hob on low heat and allowed it to warm gradually. Yamamoto had cooked his omelette in a pan heated evenly over straw fire, explaining that balanced heat produced a smooth exterior without uneven colouring.
Jo Minjoon believed induction heat could reproduce that evenness.
……They’re taking this far too seriously.
Sera watched the two of them with an exhausted expression.
This was supposed to have been a light little competition. She had started filming with a playful mood, yet the seriousness of the two chefs gradually pulled even her into the tension.
Jo Minjoon’s omelette was made of extremely thin, delicate layers.
Anderson’s was comparatively thick.
It was still impossible to say which would be better. The only thing that was obvious was how precise both of them were whenever they tilted the pan and rolled the egg over itself.
Their hands looked almost like those of seasoned craftsmen.
Even after the omelettes were finished, neither dish was complete.
Jo Minjoon grated daikon and placed it over his omelette, then added a little garlic juice. Anderson fried spring onions and arranged them over his own.
Jeremy watched the whole thing and sighed.
He had only made a passing remark about comparing their rolled omelettes. Somehow, the two had turned it into a full-scale culinary duel.
They say the best way to eat something delicious is to make chefs compete against each other.
Anderson put down his plate.
“Eat this. Then decide which one tastes better.”
“Do we even need to decide? I’m going to win. Do you know how much time I’ve spent making rolled omelettes?”
His eyes were sharp with determination.
Jo Minjoon smirked.
“I’m confident too. It’s one of the things I used to make all the time even before I started learning cooking properly.”
“Try mine first.”
At Anderson’s words, everyone reached out with their chopsticks.
Jo Minjoon joined them.
Perhaps because it had just been made, or perhaps because Anderson had altered the recipe slightly, the flavour was a little different from the omelette they had eaten earlier. The layers were still clearly defined, but the texture itself was thicker and more substantial.
That was not a flaw.
Each bite felt rich and satisfying, while the overall sweetness gave the impression of eating a miniature roll cake. Taken as a whole, it was a Japanese rolled omelette that remained extremely faithful to the basics.
Jo Minjoon’s version was different.
Salted pollack roe itself was not an unusual addition. That combination was already fairly well known.
But yuzu kosho together with pine-nut oil and chestnut oil was another matter.
Rachel tasted it, then nodded.
“You modified the rolled omelette Yamamoto used for his tamago sushi.”
“Yes. I didn’t have all the ingredients, so I adjusted the recipe with what was available.”
“It’s difficult to say one is simply better than the other……but this is delicious. Truly.”
At Rachel’s praise, Jo Minjoon smiled brightly.
His rolled omelette had scored 7 points.
Considering the limited ingredients, it was an excellent result.
Anderson’s had scored 6.
Even so, that did not automatically mean Jo Minjoon’s omelette was objectively better. Anderson’s version was faithful to the fundamentals. Someone who preferred a simple, comforting flavour might easily enjoy Anderson’s more.
And that was exactly what happened.
Rachel and Emily chose Jo Minjoon.
Jeremy and Sera chose Anderson.
A tie.
Jeremy spoke first.
“As you get older, you start preferring comfortable flavours over stimulating ones. It might be different if this were the centrepiece of a meal rather than a side dish, but taken on its own, I prefer Anderson’s. His technical skill is good, yet he doesn’t show off with it. I like that.”
Rachel responded,
“I still preferred Minjoon’s. Food is most interesting when eating it feels a little like an adventure. Yuzu kosho and pollack roe made for a surprisingly fresh combination.”
“Thank you.”
Sera brought her smartphone closer and addressed the camera dramatically.
“Everyone, this competition still hasn’t been decided. If you want to find out who wins between these two, make sure you watch today’s live broadcast!”
With those words, her brief career as a camerawoman came to an end.
Jo Minjoon looked at her strangely.
“This competition is continuing?”
“Uh……it just felt like there should be a second part, so I said it without thinking.”
“Well, whatever. People probably won’t care that much.”
They did.
Frank Bond: I didn’t know I could sweat watching an omelette competition. Why were they so serious?
Annabel Montgomery: I kind of get it. If it’s a friend, you want to lose even less. I like that kind of rivalry.
Isla Elias: I feel like I can imagine Anderson’s omelette immediately. But I have no idea what Minjoon’s would taste like. Anderson really does seem focused on fundamentals, while Minjoon leans more towards creativity.
Peter Downard: As a working chef, I agree. Anderson has more experience with precise manual technique, while Minjoon makes up for that through creativity and his understanding of ingredients.
Isla Elias: @Peter Downard Wait, you’re really a chef? I’m curious—are skills like theirs common at Minjoon and Anderson’s age?
Peter Downard: @Isla Elias Not at all. Experience and effort take time to accumulate. It’s extremely difficult to reach that level that young. And Minjoon is even more unusual because of his absolute sense of taste.
Teagan Holdcroft: But what would they even compete in next? Cooking? Judging by the last broadcast, maybe it’ll involve tasting.
Olive Jerram: Who’s going to beat Minjoon at tasting? He’s basically the best in the world right now.
Teagan Holdcroft: @Olive Jerram He has the most sensitive palate, sure, but does that automatically mean he’s the best at tasting? He’s still young. No matter how broad his knowledge of flavour is, age has to limit him somehow.
Qamar Putthoff: @Teagan Holdcroft But wouldn’t his palate let him overcome the limits of age much faster? If the hardware is that good, the software should install faster too.
Deka Khela: @Teagan Holdcroft Forget absolute taste. I think it would be fun if they competed over who can eat more.
The reaction was not explosive, but only ten minutes after the video had been uploaded, viewers were already discussing what Jo Minjoon and Anderson should compete in next.
Jo Minjoon looked towards Anderson with a bitter expression.
“I think this is the first time since Kaya that I’ve been paired with someone and turned into a topic.”
“……Why did that someone have to be me?”
“What can I do? We’re together all the time. People are going to treat us like best friends.”
“Don’t say things like that. We’re not schoolgirls.”
Anderson flushed.
Sera looked awkward.
“I’m sorry. This happened because of me……”
“What does it matter? Now that things have turned out this way, we might as well compete. The question is, what do we compete in?”
“I don’t know. You think of something.”
“……Guessing ingredients?”
Anderson turned and glared at Jo Minjoon with icy eyes.
Jo Minjoon scratched his head awkwardly.
“If you don’t like that, suggest something else.”
At those words, Anderson fell into thought.
After a while, he looked towards Martin.
“Where are we going today?”
“Yes?”
“Where are we going?”
“……That’s a secret.”
“You need to tell us if you want us to think of something appropriate to compete in. Can’t you give us at least that much?”
Martin rolled his eyes, visibly troubled.
Eventually, he sighed.
“We’re going to a restaurant.”
“……A restaurant. You mean somewhere for proper fine dining, right?”
“Uh……something like that. One thing I can promise is that whoever goes there will be impressed.”
“It’s a three-star restaurant.”
Jo Minjoon said it immediately.
Everyone turned towards him with expressions that plainly asked, What?
Then they all looked back at Martin.
Martin maintained a calm expression.
Jo Minjoon, however, noticed that his hands had clenched slightly tighter.
Martin spoke.
“Come on. Three-star restaurants aren’t exactly common.”
“They are in Japan. And it’s about time we visited one. It would be disappointing if the season ended without us going to at least one. Thank you, by the way. This will be only the second three-star restaurant of my life, and I get to visit it because of you.”
“I told you, it isn’t a three-star.”
“Martin. I have a sensitive palate. I can tell what lies taste like too.”
Martin shut his mouth.
He could not let Jo Minjoon drag him into revealing anything.
Unfortunately, Jo Minjoon had already pulled out his smartphone and started searching.
Martin clicked his tongue several times, feeling his mouth grow dry.
A little while later, Jo Minjoon smirked.
“There is one. A three-star restaurant near here that serves a course menu.”
“I……”
Martin stared at him with betrayal written across his face.
“I believed you were my fairy.”