Chapter 186: The Return of the Legend (1)
Chapter 186: The Return of the Legend (1)
Los Angeles Cooking Competition.
The only qualification was that participants had to work at a restaurant in Los Angeles. Compared with an international competition that drew contestants from around the world, the scale might have seemed small, but in reality, that was hardly the case.
Within the Western culinary world, Los Angeles was said to have the greatest flair. California itself was famous as a melting pot of cultures, and Los Angeles was no exception.
To exaggerate only slightly, there was hardly a dish in the world that could not be found somewhere in Los Angeles. People from all over the globe lived there, and restaurants representing countless cuisines had taken root throughout the city. Naturally, that meant Los Angeles also offered an enormous variety of food. Perhaps the only place that could compare was Hong Kong, sometimes called a capital of taste.
Because of that, although the Los Angeles Cooking Competition was geographically restricted, the variety of dishes presented there did not fall behind that of international competitions. Add to that the fierce competition required for any restaurant to survive in Los Angeles, and it was obvious that the chefs participating would be highly skilled.
It was no surprise, then, that Javier’s expression had gone stiff.
“……Hoooo. I’m surprisingly nervous.”
“Don’t be. If anything, the other contestants are probably more nervous looking at us. We’re the soldiers of Rose Island.”
“Are we really that much the centre of attention?”
“There’s no ‘really’ about it. Wouldn’t it be stranger if we weren’t?”
Jo Minjoon answered casually.
Rose Island’s reputation. Rachel’s return. And the fame that Jo Minjoon and Anderson already possessed.
Put all of that together, and it would have been far stranger if they failed to attract attention.
Javier looked at him with admiration.
“You don’t seem nervous at all.”
“There’s no reason to be. We practised enough, and the recipe is perfect. All that’s left is for me to trust myself and trust all of you.”
“That trust is the hard part.”
Javier shrugged.
Jo Minjoon smiled and firmly squeezed his shoulders.
“Straighten your shoulders. We’re better chefs than we think we are. I trust myself, but I trust all of you even more. That’s why I can stay calm.”
“Be honest. Are you taking speech lessons somewhere? You’re too good with words.”
“Words spoken honestly sound better than prose.”
“That one’s pretty good too.”
Javier closed his eyes and quietly repeated Jo Minjoon’s words to himself.
Anderson, who had been listening to their conversation, glanced towards Janet.
She had her eyes closed and appeared to be praying.
Anderson watched her quietly until she opened them, then spoke.
“This is surprising. You’re nervous too?”
Janet did not answer immediately.
Her pupils slowly shifted towards the corners of her eyes as she looked at Anderson. Her gaze was as dark and cold as ever.
After making him wait, she finally spoke.
“Why?”
“Hmm?”
“Why is that surprising?”
“I thought you’d be like me. Confident to the point of arrogance. Was I wrong?”
“Yes. You were wrong.”
That was all Janet said.
She made no attempt to explain why she was nervous.
So Anderson pressed further.
“Why was I wrong?”
“Why do I need to explain that to you?”
“……Because we’re teammates?”
Even Janet could not hold it in.
“Pfft.”
A short laugh escaped her.
It was strange hearing such a cheesy line, something that could have come straight out of a children’s programme, from someone whose expression was colder than ice.
Perhaps that was why she answered honestly when she normally would not have.
“The only thing I can do is be nervous. If I weren’t even nervous…… I didn’t receive an incomparable culinary education like you did, and I don’t have Absolute Taste like Minjoon. Things that come easily to the two of you are difficult for me. Because of that……”
“It was never easy for me either.”
Anderson cut her off.
Janet’s eyes widened briefly in surprise before she lowered her gaze and nodded.
“……You’re right. Of course. It wasn’t easy for you either. Sorry. That was my mistake.”
“There’s no need to apologise. Don’t be so serious.”
Anderson answered awkwardly.
The atmosphere had become slightly strange.
He gave a fake cough and turned towards Jo Minjoon, only to grimace.
“……Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason.”
Jo Minjoon snickered.
It was the sort of laugh that made Anderson immediately feel uneasy.
Anderson looked away.
“You said Kaya was coming today, right?”
“I think so.”
“Will she cheer for you? Or for her own restaurant?”
Rather than answering, Jo Minjoon looked up towards the audience on the second floor.
He could not tell whether Kaya was there.
There were simply too many people.
Someone had once said that if you truly loved someone, they would be the only person you could see.
But even that was only possible if you could actually spot them first.
The reason Kaya was sitting in the audience despite her restaurant participating in the competition was simple.
She was a head chef.
Her role was centred on developing recipes and serving as the face of the restaurant, rather than standing on the line and doing the actual cooking. Since the restaurant itself had been promoted through Grand Chef, one of the biggest things customers expected when they visited was to see Kaya Lotus, the winner of the competition.
Jo Minjoon looked around the auditorium where the contestants had gathered.
There did not seem to be many people who looked like head chefs.
According to Isaac, that trend had begun after Rose Island repeatedly won the competition with demi chefs.
The philosophy had been simple.
Since the demi chefs were the ones who actually cooked the food in the restaurant, the demi chefs should be the ones competing.
Rose Island had started it.
But because they continued winning with demi chefs, restaurants that sent sous chefs and head chefs instead began to suffer damage to their reputations.
Of course, that did not mean there were no head-chef-level participants.
If a head chef still worked directly on the line, there was nothing strange about them entering. The same was true for smaller restaurants without many staff.
To have enough influence to change the entire nature of a competition……
Jo Minjoon closed his eyes.
He could clearly feel his heart pounding inside his chest.
Whether the legend remained buried in the past or returned to the present depended on their hands.
When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with fighting spirit.
That was when he made eye contact with someone.
……What’s this?
Jo Minjoon hesitated as he looked at the other man.
He was Asian and seemed to be around Minjoon’s age. He was heavyset, with a round face, thick eyebrows, and double eyelids that gave him a strong impression.
Then the man started walking towards him.
“Annyeonghaseyo! Chef Jo Minjoon-nim.”
Jo Minjoon could not help but be surprised.
First, the voice did not match the man’s appearance.
Second, he had spoken to him not in English, but in Korean.
Jo Minjoon accepted the hand he held out, looking slightly nervous.
“Ah, yes. Annyeonghaseyo.”
“I’m sorry for approaching you so suddenly. I really wanted to meet you at least once.”
Only then did Jo Minjoon notice that the man’s eyes were practically sparkling.
Even the hand clasping Minjoon’s was trembling with nervousness.
The man moistened his dry lips and continued.
“I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Lee Tae Hoon. I run a small Korean restaurant in Hanta.”
(Translator’s Note: Hanta —Korean-American shorthand derived from Hanguk taun. The abbreviation is used particularly among Korean speakers in the United States to refer informally to a Koreatown district. In the Los Angeles context, it refers to Koreatown, whose modern Korean-American community expanded significantly following increased Korean immigration after the US Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.)
“I’m Jo Minjoon. But Hanta…… Ah, you mean Koreatown?”
“Yes. I really enjoyed the broadcast. And I’m very grateful. Thanks to you showing Korean food a few times on Grand Chef, my profits have gone up. A lot of people in Hanta feel the same. Everyone is grateful to Chef Jo Minjoon-nim.”
“Ah…… Is that so? I’m glad I was able to help.”
Jo Minjoon answered with genuine surprise.
He had never imagined his appearances could help Korean restaurants in the United States.
Especially since his Korean dishes had never produced particularly strong results.
Kimbap was similar to norimaki, and even that had not received an especially enthusiastic response.
“Please visit Hanta sometime. I’m sure you’d be welcomed more warmly than most celebrities. And I respect you. Your pioneering spirit…… really shocked me too.”
“Thank you very much.”
Lee Tae Hoon smiled brightly before returning to his place.
The other demi chefs stared at Jo Minjoon in disbelief.
“I keep forgetting you’re Korean.”
“What did you talk about?”
“Nothing much. He said I’m pretty popular in Koreatown.”
“Makes sense. You’re one of them.”
Anderson nodded as though he understood.
Jo Minjoon turned towards him.
“You’re from Los Angeles. Shouldn’t you be pretty popular too?”
“I don’t know……”
Anderson glanced to the side.
The demi chefs from Glouto, Amelia and Fabio’s restaurant, had been looking towards him. The moment their eyes met, they quickly looked away.
Anderson shrugged.
“Looks like my family’s restaurant sees me as a traitor.”
“You still manage to get rejected everywhere.”
Jo Minjoon smirked.
At that moment, whispers began spreading through the crowd.
Jo Minjoon looked towards the front.
A man and woman were walking onto the stage.
One of them was Matthew Cummings, famous in the entertainment world as an food critic.
As for the woman……
“I understand now why Chloe Jung is called the sexiest chef……”
Javier stared blankly.
In the past, Jo Minjoon had always thought Chloe was cute. He had never really considered her sexy.
But today, at least, he could understand the description.
Perhaps it was because this was a formal event, even if it was not a television broadcast.
She looked so strikingly beautiful that it was difficult to connect her to her usual appearance. Her long hair flowed neatly down her back, and her makeup was light yet vivid.
Anyone who did not know better might have assumed she was an entertainer rather than a chef.
……Well, in a way, she is an entertainer.
In fact, Chloe might even be earning more money than Kaya.
Considering how much Minjoon himself had been paid for appearing on Hunger Trip, it was certainly possible.
Chloe had now become famous enough to serve as the MC for a competition of this scale.
Reporters from various news outlets immediately began taking photographs.
Amid the flashes, Matthew raised his voice.
“Welcome, chefs responsible for feeding the people of Los Angeles! This year marks the fifty-third annual Los Angeles Cooking Competition! My name is Matthew Cummings, and I’ll be your MC today.”
“My name is Chloe Jung. Chef, entertainer, and part-time mascot.”
Laughter spread through the auditorium.
Chloe smiled brightly as she looked around, then her gaze stopped somewhere.
She had spotted Jo Minjoon.
Seeing the gentle smile on his face made her feel even more excited.
Her voice became noticeably brighter as she continued.
“We have contestants here who have participated many times, as well as some entering for the very first time. I’m sure there are chefs who have held the trophy before…… and I believe there’s even a team here that people call a legend.”
It was obvious that the final comment referred to Rose Island.
Jo Minjoon looked directly at Chloe.
Their eyes met briefly.
Chloe smiled before continuing.
“I think today’s competition will end in one of two ways. Either a new star will rise, or the legend will live up to its name. And perhaps…… we might even see both.”
“Chloe. Is there a team you’re personally rooting for?”
“Matthew. An MC isn’t supposed to favour certain contestants.”
“Doesn’t it feel good to do what you’re told not to?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t think it would feel good enough to justify paying a penalty.”
Chloe answered with a smile.
Matthew snickered as he looked over the contestants.
“Before we begin, each restaurant will have a chance to introduce itself. First up…… is probably the team everyone has been watching most closely today. Personally, I’ve wanted the chance to call this name as the MC of this competition at least once.”
Matthew took a deep breath.
“Rose Island!”
The auditorium erupted.
Cheers and applause filled the space.
The audience on the second floor, the gathered reporters, and even the competing chefs themselves turned towards Rose Island and clapped.
They could hardly do otherwise.
The Los Angeles Cooking Competition carried a completely different weight depending on whether Rose Island participated.
In fact, during the ten years Rose Island had been absent, many restaurants had chosen not to enter at all.
Jo Minjoon felt his face growing hot.
He knew the applause was not really for him.
It was for the name Rose Island.
Even so, his heart trembled.
Matthew spoke again.
“Rose Island. The undefeated champion of Los Angeles until Rachel Rose retired as a chef ten years ago. I’m sure many of the teams here today came specifically hoping to defeat that name.”
“Yes. I’m not from Los Angeles myself, but I’ve heard countless stories about Rose Island’s main branch. If you have even the slightest interest in the culinary world, it’s a name you can’t avoid. That’s why I’m even more excited than usual today.”
“Ever since I debuted, one of the things on my bucket list has been standing here as a judge while Rose Island competed. Unfortunately, the main branch closed right around the time I debuted…… but it seems I finally get to fulfil that dream ten years later.”
Matthew did not sound as though he were reading from a script.
His eyes were filled with genuine anticipation and delight.
He and Chloe approached Rose Island’s team.
“I imagine all of you must be very nervous right now. The legend Rose Island has preserved until today is in your hands. How do you feel?”
At Matthew’s question, the four demi chefs looked at one another.
There was only one person who could step forward as their representative.
Three pairs of eyes turned towards Jo Minjoon.
In the end, he spoke.
“We prepared a great deal for this. Chef Rachel’s recipe is perfect, and we’ve practised enough. That’s why we have no confidence.”
For a moment, Chloe and Matthew stared at him in confusion.
No.
Not only them.
Everyone who had heard him looked bewildered.
Matthew asked anxiously.
“The recipe is perfect and you’ve practised enough, so why do you have no confidence?”
Jo Minjoon smirked.
“No confidence that we’ll lose.”