Chapter 631: Newlywed Chefs (5)
Chapter 631: Newlywed Chefs (5)
So they had no choice but to realize once again how strong their wish to get a job was. Some of the applicants might have submitted their applications out of simple interest or impulse, but most probably understood the value of this opportunity. In other words, the competition among them was fierce.
“Alright. We’re going to select the junior cook first. You will receive the ingredients. All you have to do is chop what’s in front of you. Of course, you have to wash it too.”
Some were puzzled how the simple task of cutting and washing could be the criteria for selecting the junior chef. They thought it would be easy since they had done it before.
Surprisingly, many apprentice cooks had not mastered these basics. This was especially true for those applying for the apprentice cook role, many of whom were unpaid and whose skills barely surpassed or even fell below average.
In fact, some apprentice cooks became interested in cooking only after being involved in unrelated fields. Justin, the junior chef at Rose Island, was an exception; he knew how to cook and was among the highly competent applicants back then.
Right now, Minjoon couldn’t help but feel the gap between the cooking skills then and now. When he worked at Rose Island, most applicants for demi-sous chef were as competent as head chefs of good restaurants, and cooks matched demi-chefs. But this time, apprentice cooks were barely qualified—or some even less than average.
“Look, Tonya, you don’t know how to wash pine mushrooms properly, let alone cut them. You have to gently scrub, not peel them rough like that. Doing it forcibly makes them messy.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Minjoon felt uncomfortable. It was completely different from judging at the Grand Chef competition, where the program mattered more than him. This time, applicants came with great respect for him and Kaya and high hopes to work with them. It was not easy to give harsh words to fans who almost worshiped them as idols.
Kaya, however, was straightforward.
“You haven’t done much cooking, have you?”
“Well, I’m trying to start cooking now.”
“That’s a lie. You can only say that after you work in a restaurant. Watching you grab the garlic and cut it, I see you haven’t cooked much. Aside from serving others, you probably haven’t cooked for yourself.”
“Well, I did sometimes…”
“I’m curious what you cook. Anyway, you can’t get a job here as things stand. Even if apprentice cooks lack experience, you should at least know how to cut. You don’t need to fly before you learn to walk, right?”
Kaya’s comment was harsh. The applicant lowered her head, pale-faced. Kaya didn’t comfort her. Many claim to have dreams but don’t work to realise them. Excuses about being busy or new to cooking didn’t convince Kaya.
In Kaya’s view, busy or not, they should try cooking to prove their passion. If they just toyed with the idea of becoming chefs, they were like people who say they want to act after watching good movies.
This was how Kaya judged seriousness.
The applicants hardened their faces under her strict criteria. Those questioned tried to gloss over mistakes and evade her questions, making her upset.
She would have been angrier if meeting them on the Grand Chef show. But these were applicants wanting to work for Kaya and Minjoon—they applied believing they were qualified. Unprepared applicants must have belittled Lotus Bridge.
Selecting the best apprentice cook was not difficult. Minjoon and Kaya provided various ingredients and checked slicing, mincing, and chopping skills. Applicants were eliminated one by one.
Soon, the successful apprentice cook stood before them.
“Lee Minwoo?”
“Yes.”
“Are you Korean?”
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you,” Minjoon said seriously.
Minwoo lowered his head nervously.
“Hope I’m in your good hands!”
A Korean apprentice cook had just been hired.
Minjoon asked, with a complicated expression, “By the way…”
“Can I ask how old you are?”
“Oh, I was born in 1987. How about you, Chef Minjoon?”
“Well, I was born in 1988.”
“Then I’m like your elder brother!”
“That’s right… Haha.”
“Haha.”
“Haha…”
For a moment, they felt awkward. Minwoo regretted saying Minjoon was younger by a year—what if he was senior? He’d be working at Lotus Bridge owned by Minjoon, but only as an apprentice cook.
“Go wait inside. After interviewing, I’ll have successful applicants introduce themselves briefly.”
“Oh, sure!”
Minjoon and Minwoo both regretted the exchange—Minjoon for asking about age, Minwoo for reminding him of seniority.
Before coming, Minwoo felt good about being Korean like Minjoon. Proud they both succeeded as Koreans in America, he had expected to grow closer. Perhaps Minjoon would feel more comfortable with Koreans.
Man, I’m not comfortable at all!
Honestly, Minwoo felt like crying. He hadn’t considered seniority implications. He would’ve felt less embarrassed if they were the same age. He regretted being older but couldn’t change it. Despite only being an apprentice cook, he was younger than the Lotus Bridge owner, a top chef in America.
Watching Minwoo leave for the break room, Kaya glanced at Minjoon, concerned he might have left a bad impression.
“Did you talk about your age?”
“Did you understand?”
“I’m studying Korean these days.”
“Yeah, your Korean’s improved a lot.”
“I can’t say my Korean has improved.”
She seemed proud of her progress. He wanted to stroke her hair but refrained. She wore heavy makeup to look tough as a judge and he didn’t want to undermine that.
He turned to look toward the break room Minwoo entered. He wasn’t particularly happy to have chosen a Korean cook. Though he felt sorry for Minjoon, Minjoon didn’t want to hire a Korean cook for reasons unbeknownst to him.
Minjoon was in America, running a kitchen full of Americans.
He couldn’t afford to focus on Korean culture or Korean connections in his kitchen. Above all, he didn’t want to be bound by Korean etiquette, decorum, awkwardness, or unease unique to Korean society.