Chapter 537: Unexpected Twist (17)
Chapter 537: Unexpected Twist (17)
Watching Dave, Minjoon felt as if something was clogged in his chest. How could Dave dare take such risks? Wasn’t he greedy enough to win this competition? No, Dave was definitely greedy—he wanted to win this contest, so he could have June again. So why take such risks?
Minjoon reached a quick conclusion.
“I thought you were serious about this contest, Chef Dave. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re not wrong. I’m more serious than anyone here.”
“Then how could you take such a risk? Do you realise this isn’t a calculated risk? Are you that confident?”
As Minjoon asked, other chefs and reporters all turned their gaze to Dave.
After the fried dish, Dave served a potato soup topped with truffle pieces and bonito flakes. The soup was incredibly light and tender.
Minjoon felt differently from others. He envisioned the future and knew that someday, Dave’s course would receive praise—even if initially downplayed as a joke. He wondered if Dave had started the trend of non-orthodox courses like this.
“Delicious food is simply delicious,” Dave said. “No matter how grand you want a course, in the end, it’s just theory. Of course, basics must be followed. Let me give an Asian example: in Korea, my home country, people eat multiple dishes on one table at the same time, regardless of course order. Does that degrade the quality, or make it better?”
“Do you mean you’ve captured their feelings in your cooking?”
“People confine themselves to narrow thinking. I’m not saying their dishes aren’t good, but thinking outside the box doesn’t mean your food is bad—so long as you maintain the basics. I mean the deliciousness, not the tradition.”
Minjoon and the other chefs couldn’t deny Dave’s words because his dishes were incredibly delicious.
Next was a pasta with ragu sauce made from minced snails, mushrooms and mint, alongside borghetti steak—Italian pork belly—and perfectly al dente pappardelle. The chewy textures of roasted fat, snails and mushrooms dazzled their palates. They enjoyed the food rather than merely evaluating it.
Reporters were bemused watching this impressive scene.
“Hmm… they look happier than ever…”
Indeed, the chefs were so busy enjoying Dave's food they forgot competition. Minjoon was no exception. To be honest, Dave’s course was better than Rachel’s this time.
I wonder if his course even surpassed Rachel’s.
Minjoon didn’t worry about June now. He felt overwhelmed accepting Dave’s cooking.
When the veal dish arrived, Minjoon looked completely out of himself—everyone nearby noticed.
Dave’s main meat course included veal tenderloin, liver, and intestines. Tenderloin and liver were simple steaks; the intestines were ground and served on biscuits.
Rachel burst into tears. Not because the dish reminded her of Daniel, or that Dave reached Daniel’s level. It was because the dish was so delicious she finally enjoyed the explosive taste she’d missed for over ten years since Daniel died. She could smell Daniel in Dave’s cooking.
Minjoon believed Dave would surpass Daniel’s level before he died—and live longer. He’d catch up and surpass Daniel.
[You have realised the final condition of cooking level 9!]
Minjoon received the final clue for cooking level 9 like a surprise gift, unexpectedly. He stared blankly at the system window.
[The final condition for cooking level 9 is ‘cooking’.]
[Cooking may seem most basic, but it best reflects a chef’s skill.]
[When you perfectly understand all ingredients, their combinations, and cooking methods, you become a chef who truly ‘cooks’.]
It was a provocative system message—it implied Minjoon wasn’t even fully able to cook properly yet.
Minjoon pouted bitterly.
So, I’m still lacking.
He felt childish resentment but was thrilled to realise there's room to grow.
And again, he couldn’t deny that Dave’s dish was amazing. Dave probably wasn’t alone—every level 9 chef he met showed him perfect cooking skills.
But Dave expressed the art of cooking most beautifully. That moved Minjoon deeply.
Dave made two desserts. One was ice cream sprinkled with black truffle, crispy hazelnuts, pistachios, and gold powder. Despite the garnishes, the ice cream tasted like simple, pure vanilla. The nutty and truffle flavours melted over it, cleansing Minjoon’s palate repeatedly.
Then came a chocolate trio: chocolate macchiato, chocolate ice cream, and chocolate tart. Minjoon had no expectations but was won over instantly by the taste.
Wow, he can express chocolate like this…
As someone who popularised showcasing multiple flavours of one ingredient through Jo Reggiano, Minjoon hadn’t expected Dave to do it with chocolate. Perhaps because he’d paid little attention to desserts previously.
Dave didn’t emphasise sweetness as most expect with chocolate. His approach defied expectations—which fascinated Minjoon.
Of course, sweetness was present: the ice cream had moderate sweetness; the tart’s bread was sweet, while the chocolate emphasised its unique flavour.
The macchiato’s blend of dark chocolate and milk created a unique flavour more compelling than sweetness.
Though Minjoon felt full, he found himself devouring the desserts. Dave’s charm made him eat more than expected.
Finally, Dave’s cooking was done.
It was time for the judges’ evaluation.
But an uneasy silence fell. Nobody dared comment first.
Reporters whispered among themselves.
“What’s going on? Why so silent?”
“Maybe they’re pondering deeply.”
“No, look—they’re just reading each other’s faces, not sharing opinions. Rachel and Minjoon are silent.”
“No kidding…”
The reporters were baffled. Even they stayed silent, unsure how to describe the mood.
One said, “I don’t think Dave’s dishes looked that fancy…”
His view reflected the non-professional public. The dishes seemed plain in plating, raising doubts if they qualified as high-end cuisine.
But due to Dave’s stellar reputation, they believed there was method behind the apparent simplicity. Their faith was justified.
Minjoon spoke calmly: “Dave, I thought I knew you.”
Curious reporters awaited his explanation.
He continued, “But I didn’t know anything about you or your cooking.”
“Are you praising me?” Dave asked.
“Absolutely! My utmost compliments!” Minjoon replied with a feigned smile.