Chapter 98: The Mirror Recipe (1)
Chapter 98: The Mirror Recipe (1)
The judges brought the food to their mouths. Jo Minjoon had never felt this nervous before. Perhaps he could only feel this way because he was up against Kaya and Anderson, the two people who had originally seemed destined to become the winner and runner-up.
More than anything, what made him shrink back were the scores.
Eight points, nine points, and seven points.
On average, their score was the same as his team’s, but he had no way of knowing which menu the judges would prefer overall. Of course, it was difficult to call three eight-point dishes merely decent...
After finishing the tasting, the judges returned to their places and quietly began discussing the food. Joseph spoke first.
“It’s difficult.”
That single sentence expressed how everyone there felt. In cooking, even when there was a clear difference in quality, personal taste inevitably played a part, and deciding which dish was more delicious was never easy. If only they could see the cooking scores...
Rachel opened her mouth.
“Looking only at the composition, the Red Team was better. The bright salmon trout ceviche, the anchovy cream cutting through the richness of the lamb ribs, and then the almond pudding. The Blue Team’s composition, on the other hand, was somewhat lacking. Starting with crab bisque, followed by beef stroganoff with fried risotto as the main course, and finally an éclair filled with plenty of choux cream... There was nowhere for the palate to rest.”
“The problem is that it works.” Sergei spoke in his rough voice. Looking regretfully at the now-empty table, he continued. “It was good enough that I didn’t even notice the lack of acidity. Aside from the dessert, everything was salty, but it still didn’t tire my mouth. Of course, that might be because I only ate a small amount, but I don’t think it would have changed much even if I’d eaten several more spoonfuls.”
“The beef stroganoff and fried risotto worked particularly well together. If they had served the risotto normally instead of frying it, the moisture from both dishes would probably have made the whole thing feel heavy and soggy. But with that single extra step of frying it, they completely revived the dish. Honestly, out of everything served today, that suited my palate the best.”
“It was the same for me. Ah, and that’s not because I’m Russian. I don’t even particularly like beef stroganoff. But this one was delicious.”
If something you normally disliked was handled by a true chef, it could be transformed into something delicious. And Anderson and Kaya had shown more than enough to prove that they were real chefs.
Alan hummed thoughtfully before speaking. “But when you consider the dessert, it was a little disappointing. The cream inside the éclair was fine, but the pastry itself wasn’t moist enough.”
“That’s not the only issue. In terms of flavour alone, it was very good. But I’m not entirely convinced that fried risotto and beef stroganoff together had the proper weight of a main course.”
“I’m not sure. What exactly qualifies as an appropriate main course isn’t something even chefs agree on. I think this much is acceptable.”
Even after Alan’s response, Emily still looked uncertain.
Joseph spoke calmly. “If anyone has reservations, we can resolve them through the vote. Let’s begin. I think we’ve made the contestants nervous long enough.”
The judges approached the contestants.
Joseph spoke. “Each of us will cast one vote. Let’s start with Emily. Which team do you choose?”
“I think a course should tell one complete story. It should have an introduction, development, turn, and conclusion. In the Blue Team’s case, the food itself was delicious, but I don’t think there were enough rises and falls. Strong, strong, strong. Even though it was only a three-course meal, it didn’t become overwhelmingly heavy, but the overall balance still wasn’t ideal. That’s why I choose the Red Team. Their composition had everything it needed.”
The corners of Chloe’s mouth lifted. The muscles in her face tightened, and her eyes darted around anxiously. She had told Jo Minjoon not to be nervous, but in the end, even she could not resist it.
Jo Minjoon glanced towards Kaya and Anderson. Both wore expressionless faces, making it impossible to tell what they were thinking.
Alan opened his mouth. “I vote for the Blue Team. Emily criticised their composition, but I think they showed enough skill to overcome that weakness. The main course was especially impressive. Beef stroganoff with fried risotto is essentially like preparing two separate dishes, yet neither side suffered in quality. The Red Team remained faithful to the fundamentals, but overall, I felt their food lacked excitement. It was like visiting a very good neighbourhood restaurant. That’s why I choose the Blue Team.”
“I disagree with Alan.” Joseph continued calmly. “They remained faithful to the fundamentals and still made delicious food. That is quite difficult, because working within those boundaries imposes more restrictions. And those restrictions were developed over countless years so chefs could give diners the most satisfying experience possible. Of course, I also highly value the Blue Team for stepping outside the usual framework and still producing something delicious... but even so, my heart leans towards the Red Team.”
Jo Minjoon clenched his fist.
Two votes.
Two votes for each team.
Now they only needed either Sergei or Rachel to choose them, and it would be over. Perhaps they really could win.
The moment that thought entered his mind, Sergei spoke casually.
“Blue Team.”
Nobody said anything.
Rachel frowned.
“That’s all?”
“It was delicious.”
For him to say only that... Rachel sighed. Just when was he going to fix this habit of doing whatever he pleased?
“Then I’m the only one left. Now that I think about it, my choice decides everything, doesn’t it?”
Rachel smiled faintly, as though amused.
Jo Minjoon, Chloe, Kaya, and Anderson all stared fixedly at her lips.
“I...”
-
“Urgh!”
There was someone vomiting into a toilet.
It was Chloe.
She threw up until tears gathered in her eyes, then staggered towards the sink.
Kaya was waiting there. “...Is it that bad?”
“I think I got too nervous.”
At Kaya’s worried expression, Chloe forced a smile. After splashing water over her face like a cat, she accepted the towel Kaya held out.
“Thanks.”
“...I like you.”
Kaya’s voice was serious. At the same time, it sounded as though she had summoned courage she did not even know she possessed. Of course, that courage only seemed strong enough to move her mouth and tongue. Her eyes and head remained turned away from Chloe, fixed on the floor.
Chloe laughed. “I like you too.”
“...I don’t know who I’m supposed to cheer for.”
Kaya spoke sadly. She sighed and sat on the edge of the sink, only to frown and look down at herself as though some water left on it had dampened her trousers.
Chloe smirked, then remembered what had happened earlier.
Rachel had given her vote to the Blue Team.
Even so, Chloe had expected Rachel to choose them because they had cooked using ingredients Rachel liked. But the result had been different.
Food should inspire something close to shock. And for me, the Blue Team’s food was slightly more shocking.
What complaint could Chloe possibly make after hearing that?
She muttered self-deprecatingly. “Was I that lacking? Maybe if you had teamed up with Minjoon instead, you would have won.”
“...Don’t say things like that.”
“Sorry. I just feel depressed for no reason. I knew this day would come eventually...”
Kaya hesitated, then wrapped her arms around Chloe and awkwardly patted her back. “This competition isn’t everything in our lives. Don’t be so nervous. I’ll always be cheering for you, not just now. And you’ll do well. You’re not twisted and crooked like me.”
“Why do you end your attempt at comforting me by insulting yourself?”
Chloe looked as though she were on the verge of tears. Was she upset by Kaya’s low opinion of herself, or was she simply overwhelmed by the situation? Even Chloe did not know.
Kaya bit her lip.
“Then you shouldn’t do it either. Don’t put yourself down. And don’t suffer. I...”
Kaya pressed her lips together.
I don’t want to see my friend suffering.
She wanted to say it, but for some reason, the words would not leave her mouth.
Chloe slowly pulled away from Kaya. Whether because of the vomiting or something else, tears remained at the corners of her eyes.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks. For worrying about me this much. Honestly, I thought I was the only one acting like we were close.”
Kaya did not answer.
Chloe wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and looked into the mirror. Her face was flushed and her hair was a mess. It was not a particularly good look.
Kaya glanced at her.
“If you need some time to cry properly... should I go outside?”
“No. I can’t cry yet. Let’s go. We need to start preparing for the elimination mission.”
Elimination mission.
The words always sent a chill through Chloe, but today they felt worse than ever.
When they returned to the hall, Anderson and Jo Minjoon were discussing something. Chloe approached them with a faint smile.
“What are you talking about?”
“What else would we be talking about? Obviously, the elimination mission.” Anderson answered casually.
Kaya frowned. “Do you always have to talk like such a jerk?”
“I don’t think that’s something I should be hearing from you. And what, am I supposed to act tragic like the protagonist of some melodrama?”
Kaya and Anderson growled at each other.
Chloe cleared her throat. “Guys, I need to talk to Minjoon about something... Could you give us some space?”
“Talk about what?”
“If she’s asking for space, it means she doesn’t want to tell you. Stop being so tactless and come on.”
“...I’m leaving first.”
Kaya glared at Anderson before walking away.
Once both of them had gone, Jo Minjoon looked at Chloe strangely. “What did you want to talk about?”
“...I’m sorry.”
“If that’s what this is about, you don’t need to apologise. If anything, I’m the one who should be sorry. You chose me, but I wasn’t good enough. I’m sorry.”
Chloe bit her lip and lowered her head. All Jo Minjoon could see now was the crown of her head and the back of her neck. Her skin was not completely pale, perhaps because of her mixed heritage.
Just as Jo Minjoon slightly turned his gaze away, Chloe spoke. “You won’t hate me, right?”
“Why would I?”
“Even if I beat you in this elimination mission...”
“Chloe.” Jo Minjoon cut her off.
Chloe looked up at him with uneasy eyes. For a moment, he did not know what to say. He sighed, remained silent briefly, then opened his mouth.
“I’m not that childish. If I get eliminated, it’ll be because I wasn’t skilled enough. It won’t be your fault. So don’t think like that. If I beat you, will you hate me?”
“Never.”
“I’m the same.”
“...Yeah. You would be.”
She nodded and gave him a faint smile, but there was still a darkness and sadness on her face that she could not hide.
Jo Minjoon wanted to ask her why she looked like that, but he felt that the moment he did, Chloe might crumble. So he could not bring himself to speak.
But in an instant, Chloe’s expression changed.
As though she had put on clothes woven from gentleness, her face softened at once.
It was the Chloe he knew.
“Let’s go inside. We can’t avoid the mission.”
“...You’re not pushing yourself too hard, are you?”
“Of course I am. There hasn’t been a single mission where I didn’t push myself. Today is no different. Both of us can’t win, but... at least maybe all of us can smile at the end. So let’s work hard for that.”
Wouldn’t it be more natural for the loser to cry rather than smile?
Jo Minjoon thought so, but did not point it out. “Right. Let’s smile.”
The moment they entered the kitchen, only two workstations remained.
They had been arranged so that Jo Minjoon and Chloe could only face each other.
They’re cruel.
As he thought that, he noticed a small box sitting on the countertop.
Did it contain ingredients?
Joseph opened his mouth.
“Today, one of you must leave the Grand Chef house. For one of you, this will be your final mission. That’s why we prepared what we believe is the most appropriate challenge for the two of you.”
“And we know it isn’t something you should be thinking about, but this time, you’ll have no choice. Open the boxes.”
At Alan’s words, Chloe and Jo Minjoon opened their boxes.
The moment they saw what was inside, confusion spread across both their faces.
It was not an ingredient.
There was a mirror inside.