Chapter 189: The Return of the Legend (4)
Chapter 189: The Return of the Legend (4)
Once they finished tasting Rose Island’s dishes, everyone there was certain.
The scales of victory had already tipped.
There was no other way to see it. Even the audience could tell that the judges were not merely impressed, but completely overwhelmed.
The four dishes Rose Island presented were flawless. Every detail had been carefully considered, and the plating was clean. It was difficult to believe that all of it had been completed within thirty minutes.
Most impressive of all was the synergy between the four dishes.
A course meal was not eaten all at once. Because of that, each dish could easily feel as though it existed in its own separate territory. But Rose Island’s course completely overturned that idea.
The opening salad jelly was not there merely to round out the assortment. The fresh flavour of the greens cleansed the palate of whatever had been eaten beforehand. But that was not all. The flavour lingered until the diners bit into the carrot gnocchi and shrimp balls, only beginning to fade as they moved on to the main course of grilled eel.
Then, just as the powerful flavour of the eel seemed ready to remain on the tongue, Jo Minjoon’s white chocolate pasta with strawberry sauce filled the mouth with sweetness and acidity at the same time, cleansing the palate so thoroughly that there was no need even to pause for water.
The composition was simply too good.
It was the kind of course that would make anyone who knew food start salivating.
Chloe closed her eyes and let the lingering flavours carry her thoughts away.
This…… Minjoon made this.
The dessert itself was incredible, but even more surprising was the fact that Jo Minjoon had executed such a complicated molecular gastronomy dish without making a single mistake.
The structure of the course, the sophistication of the recipes, and their playful creativity were all remarkable.
For the first time, Chloe felt she truly understood what kind of person Rachel Rose was.
And Jo Minjoon was learning directly beneath someone like her.
While Chloe stood in front of cameras, Jo Minjoon stood beside the greatest chef of this generation.
“……Amazing, Minjoon. No, the entire Rose Island team. You really made something incredible. I’m jealous, and I think all of you look very cool.”
“Thank you very much.”
Jo Minjoon answered briefly.
Chloe was not disappointed. If anything, saying much more in response to a compliment might have sounded arrogant.
Matthew, who had also been lost in thought, slowly spoke.
“I’ve failed as an MC. Miss Chloe, you have too. How could we eat an entire four-course meal without saying a single word? Just look at how frustrated the audience is.”
“Ah. I really do feel sorry for them. It’s such a shame they can’t taste this.”
“Hmm, hmm. Miss Chloe, perhaps you should ease up on the praise. As an MC, you shouldn’t favour one team.”
“Right. I’m supposed to be impartial. But these dishes make even an MC forget about being impartial. Ah…… I’m genuinely amazed. I never realised the order of dishes could create this kind of experience. I wish my words could somehow turn into flavour and reach everyone’s tongues. Judges, don’t you agree?”
Chloe looked towards the judges.
Most of them were in no condition to answer.
One was still sniffling, lost in thought. Another simply stared blankly at the empty plates.
The only person who managed to speak was Emily.
“Yes. I agree. This is the first time in my life I’ve had this much trouble describing a flavour. Molecular gastronomy in the hands of Chef Rachel Rose…… It feels completely different from anything I’ve eaten before.”
“What exactly feels different?”
“I suppose it’s the feeling you get from…… No. Even that isn’t enough to explain it. It feels like I’m being told a story while I eat. If I had to criticise most molecular gastronomy restaurants, I’d say many chefs still aren’t completely familiar with how to compose molecular gastronomy dishes. It can’t really be helped. Molecular gastronomy has only been around for about ten years in its current form. Even so-called experts would have no more than roughly ten years of experience.”
“Then…… are you saying Chef Rachel Rose has completely mastered molecular gastronomy?”
“That’s difficult for me to answer. But one thing I can say for certain……”
Emily pointed towards the empty plates.
Her voice was filled with admiration, awe, and excitement. It was difficult to believe that the same woman had been delivering icy criticism to chefs only moments earlier.
“Of every chef I’ve met, Rachel Rose has the deepest understanding of molecular gastronomy. And she uses it better than anyone else. I’m sure everyone here today felt that. That’s why none of them know what to do with themselves right now.”
At Emily’s words, Chloe looked around at the other chefs and food critics.
Emily was right.
They all seemed restless, unsure how to process what they had just experienced.
Chloe finally understood.
Rose Island had not simply made a perfect, delicious course.
They had shown something fundamentally different from every other dish presented that day.
While everyone else had been admiring the view from the summit of a mountain, Rose Island’s dishes had lifted them high enough to see the entire sky.
They made it so…… you experienced the food with your whole body.
A one-bite dish could only give you one bite.
Rachel had overcome that limitation through the course itself.
Instead of making diners experience many flavours in a single bite, she had made them experience one continuous flavour through several different dishes.
That was the sensation still lingering in everyone’s mouths now.
And the truly astonishing thing was that she had accomplished it not through traditional cooking, her greatest strength, but through molecular gastronomy—a field in which she supposedly had little experience.
The fact that Rose Island had not been the final team to serve was disastrous for both the judges and the competitors who remained.
The judges could no longer respond positively to the later dishes.
It was not that those dishes tasted bad. In fact, many were good enough to draw genuine admiration.
But after experiencing Rose Island’s course, the others barely felt like courses at all.
The difference was as obvious as looking at an adult beside a child.
Ten years ago, Rose Island always went last in this competition.
That had happened for a reason.
Whenever Rose Island served earlier, the anticipation surrounding the remaining teams simply vanished.
After ten years without Rose Island, perhaps everyone had forgotten.
From now on, they’ll have to remember again.
The island everyone had believed sunk beneath the water had risen to the surface once more.
Now everyone would have to look towards it again.
They would dream of setting foot on that island.
Jeremy snickered to himself, as though the thought amused him.
“The chefs are going to get busy.”
*
“The winner is…… Rose Island!”
No one was surprised when Matthew announced the result.
Everyone had expected it.
Of course, some people had hoped for an upset, but watching a legend return was somehow even more satisfying.
Nearly everyone was smiling.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of claps filled the auditorium.
The competing chefs joined in as well. They all turned towards Rose Island and applauded sincerely.
Jo Minjoon did not begin walking immediately.
He closed his eyes and engraved the glory of that moment into his memory.
The thunder of applause that did not merely enter his ears, but seemed to reverberate through his entire body.
The thousands of eyes fixed upon them.
The cheering that filled the auditorium.
Jo Minjoon slowly opened his eyes and turned towards his teammates.
“Let’s go.”
“……All of us?”
Janet asked in surprise.
Jo Minjoon answered calmly.
“We cooked together. We should receive the trophy together too.”
Then he started walking.
There was no red carpet.
But walking between rows of chefs applauding for them felt far more glamorous and magnificent than any red carpet ever could.
Chloe and Matthew waited on the stage.
Matthew spoke slowly.
“Everyone longed for the legend and wondered whether it was real. Thank you, chefs of Rose Island. You’ve proven that the legend still exists. From this moment on, it is no longer merely a memory. The legend is here among us again!”
“Congratulations to the winners of the fifty-third Los Angeles Cooking Competition. If possible, we’d like to give every one of you a trophy…… but unfortunately, there’s only one. Will someone receive it on behalf of the team?”
At Chloe’s question, the other demi chefs silently turned towards Jo Minjoon.
Anderson pushed him forward.
Jo Minjoon looked nervous for a moment before smiling softly and accepting the trophy from Chloe.
Cameras flashed from every direction.
The words ‘Grand Prize’ were clearly engraved into the crystal.
Chloe smiled at him with the relaxed warmth she normally reserved for friends, though her tone remained formal.
“How do you feel?”
“……This is the first trophy I’ve ever received in my life. My first victory. And although I didn’t earn it alone, but together with the rest of my team, I think that makes it even more meaningful.”
“Is there anything you’d like to say?”
Jo Minjoon swallowed.
Then he slowly looked towards the other demi chefs, the audience, and the judges.
After a moment, he began to speak.
*
“Long time no see, Emily. Mr. Jeremy.”
“I was planning to be extremely harsh with you if the food was bad, but you brought out dishes that left me unable to do that. Impressive.”
“I’m not impressive. I only did what Teacher Rachel taught me.”
“Most demi chefs can’t simply do what they’re taught. At your level, you can afford to be a little more arrogant.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Jo Minjoon smiled.
The competition had ended, and many of them were now gathered outside the venue.
Rachel was among them.
The moment she arrived, most of the food critics looked as though they were dying to speak with her.
But the food critics were not the only ones.
Many of the demi chefs who had participated in the competition looked the same way.
Rachel turned towards her own demi chefs and smiled.
“Good work. I was worried you might be too nervous, but apparently I worried for nothing.”
“Teacher, your gaze is harder to endure than thousands of people watching me. At least for me. That’s why I wasn’t especially nervous.”
“That was a compliment, right?”
“That’s how much influence you have over me, Teacher.”
Jo Minjoon laughed mischievously.
At that moment, someone suddenly wrapped their arms around his neck from behind.
A husky voice whispered into his ear.
“Then what about my influence?”
“……Kaya. What are you doing in front of all these people?”
“That’s going to become your catchphrase at this rate. You’re always nagging me whenever other people are around.”
Kaya grumbled as she let go.
Emily watched them with a slightly strange expression.
“I heard the two of you were dating, but it’s still odd seeing it with my own eyes.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll feel the same when I see you with Alan, Emily.”
Kaya answered casually.
Now that Emily was no longer her judge, there was no reason for her to feel intimidated.
Emily looked towards Rachel in embarrassment.
“Anyway, congratulations, Rachel. No…… thank you. Just as I expected, there’s still no one who can overwhelm me with food the way you can.”
“I think Alan would be sad to hear that.”
“Let him be sad. That idiot deserves to suffer a little.”
Judging by Emily’s grumbling, the two of them must have argued recently.
Jeremy smiled.
“Anyway, what are you going to do with the prize money? $30,000.”
“Minjoon said something quite memorable earlier.”
Rachel looked towards Jo Minjoon.
Minjoon tried to remember what she meant, but nothing immediately came to mind.
Rachel continued.
“‘The reason we were able to experience this glorious moment is entirely thanks to our teacher. Thank you for cherishing and teaching such inadequate students. We’re always grateful, and we love you.’ I was very touched when you said that, Minjoon.”
“……I heard it’s best to be honest about your feelings.”
Jo Minjoon answered awkwardly.
Rachel smiled again.
“That made me think about something as well. The reason I was able to win this competition is because all of you properly fulfilled your roles as my hands. So naturally……”
Her voice softened.
“The prize money belongs to all of you.”