Chapter 611: How To Be Somebody’s Friend (5)
Chapter 611: How To Be Somebody’s Friend (5)
“Michael, you haven’t cooked with fruit much, have you?” Joseph asked.
“Well, I didn’t often consider fruit in cooking. Even when I used it, I didn’t think about how it affected the meat’s quality.” Michael knew scientifically how cutting could affect fruit, but that knowledge was of little help in practice.
“I feel I lack in this area,” Michael said, slightly annoyed.
Minjoon found Michael’s humility refreshingly genuine.
Joseph advised, “Cooking is science, but we don’t cook based purely on science. We rely on experience, effort, and our senses. You should stop thinking you can do everything by just thinking. Science helps, but if you stand at the kitchen island thinking about science rather than cooking, you’re in trouble.”
Joseph said no more; Michael likely understood the point deeply.
Next, Joseph tried Gwen’s Six Meats. He realised Kaya’s cuisine had grown more delicate and increasingly resembled Minjoon’s. “Her dishes will merge over time,” he thought. Eventually, their strengths would blend so much that distinctions would vanish. Their basic cooking senses had already grown alike, setting a path ten chefs would struggle lifelong to catch.
This made Joseph ponder quitting as a Grand Chef judge. Watching Kaya and Minjoon left him unmoved by current participants, for they lacked the duo’s strength. This was clear when tasting Gwen’s sous vide Six Meats sausage.
The meat’s intense flavour was ecstatic and so soft it reminded him of tofu. He barely restrained groaning at its fantastic savour.
“You reproduced it excellently,” Kaya said.
Kaya’s Six Meats was never easy. Beyond the jelly and meat, cooking apple chutney and onion jam perfectly was tough, but the balance of sour onion jam and sweet apple chutney complemented the meat well.
“I still have a lot to learn,” Gwen said softly.
Though Gwen’s Six Meats was close to Kaya’s original, it lacked something in taste overall. Gwen couldn’t quite pinpoint what, but knew skill gaps made the difference.
Observing Gwen, Kaya said casually, “Have confidence, Gwen.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean you should believe in yourself. Don’t mindlessly feel down. You’re a good chef. Simply making this dish based on my recipe in one day shows your capability.”
Indeed, Gwen had worked hard and was smart enough to catch up with Kaya. Either way, she was competent and valuable.
Touched by Kaya’s praise, Gwen looked at her with trembling eyes. Although others recognised her growing skill, she hadn’t accepted it herself—she believed being good didn’t mean being great, which made sense if one didn’t dream big.
But what was Gwen hoping for?
“…Thank you,” she said, lowering her head.
Then she spoke clearly, syllable by syllable, as if chewing her words.
Kaya smiled briefly but said nothing, knowing encouragement might backfire now.
I wish she had someone like Minjoon…
Realising that was unlikely, Kaya snuggled beside Minjoon, who flinched and smiled forward again.
It was time to review Peter’s dish.
Peter quietly examined the pomegranate dessert. He had done his best, convinced he had. He strived to replicate Minjoon’s taste, trying many times before making the dish. He genuinely believed he made the best possible within the time.
Maybe that’s why Minjoon’s criticism didn’t bother him. Satisfaction wasn’t claimed, but Peter walked his path as best as he could, accepting that he couldn’t achieve the impossible.
“I did my best,” Peter said confidently.
He felt shame for not matching Minjoon’s original, but not for his dish’s shortcomings. Notably, Peter’s pomegranate dessert had no holes. Blowing air once without cracks was impressive. Fixing it took him all day yesterday.
“You got it right on the first try blowing air in,” Minjoon said.
“Well, if I hadn’t, it would’ve been bumpy,” Peter nodded.
Minjoon quietly admired Peter’s progress—it took him days to master this.
Still, Peter’s toffee shape wasn’t quite right. Smooth and crack-free, but more oval-shaped than pomegranate-like. Ordinary people might not recognise it as a pomegranate.
“That’s my first impression. Show me the next part,” Minjoon said.
Peter nodded and broke the toffee with a fork. He felt empty breaking something he’d worked hard to create, wondering if life was like that.
The cracked toffee revealed pomegranate powder ice cream and jelly inside. Peter poured hot pomegranate jam over it. The dish’s real magic began now—the hot jam’s steam mingling with the cold ice cream’s.
Each judge ate a spoonful of pomegranate toffee, ice cream, and jelly. Minjoon closed his eyes quietly, recalling fond memories of this dish.
Peter’s dessert came close to satisfying Minjoon’s nostalgic cravings. It featured overlooked details: chewy jelly adding texture, with pomegranate’s sourness shining where ice cream, toffee, and jam lacked it.
Minjoon admired Peter’s genius in balancing hot and cold sensations, enhancing the dish’s appeal.
Finally, the judges completed evaluating the finalists’ dishes. They exchanged glances, then agreed Gwen’s dish was best.
“Gwen’s Six Meats was almost perfect—not much different from Kaya’s.”
“I agree. Her dish was the most complete.”
“That means either Michael or Peter will be eliminated,” Joseph said soberly.