100 Restaurant (3)
"Dan-wol..."
The question of why he was crying lasted only a moment. The instant Han Da-sol saw what he was wearing, understanding dawned on her. Onion skins clung to the apron wrapped around him. A large kitchen knife in one hand. And countless baskets of onions stacked all around.
"Huk..."
This was a variety show. The flustered Han Da-sol walked straight over to him. Tears were flowing whether he wanted them to or not. Woo Dan-wol pulled her close the moment she approached, wrapping her in a hug.
It looked like a scene from a drama—someone weeping in another person's arms. In truth it was nothing more than a simple embrace; far more of their bodies weren't touching than were. His arm rested lightly around her shoulders, his palm gently patting her back.
"Huuuung..."
"Uuuung..."
The one who shattered the mood was Baek Ju-yeon. Having filmed variety shows for years, she knew exactly when to switch the scene.
"What are y'all doing? Slice the onions!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Her signature wrinkled expression transformed the moment into one full of laughter. Han Da-sol quickly tied on her own apron.
"Ma'am, does jeyuk really need this many onions?"
"...Have you never cooked before?"
Have you ever seen someone get scolded for saying something they didn't need to say? That was exactly Han Da-sol's style. She tried to ask questions and work hard, but things often went wrong and her questions were so off the mark that she ended up getting an earful.
"I'll do my very best."
"Noona, you're not supposed to cut it like that."
So you really know how to cook... Han Da-sol watched Woo Dan-wol's knife work with open admiration. Because of it, she accepted his scolding without resentment. He looked like a capable restaurant manager, while she resembled a brand-new part-timer still learning the ropes. The sight captured on camera was utterly heartwarming. The program was steadily gaining energy.
Naturally, everyone began looking forward to tomorrow. Each day they would open with a different menu. And on this long-awaited first day, the star of the show was none other than the jeyuk jeongsik.
There were many famous tourist spots in Spain, but the place Baek Ju-yeon had chosen for her business was Santiago. Rather than a typical tourist destination, it carried deep religious significance. This was the famous "pilgrimage route"—the Camino de Santiago.
The concept was to offer delicious food to those walking the full 800 kilometers. Of course, they had to be careful. The act of pilgrimage itself was sacred. Instead of extravagant dishes, there were lighter, more affordable options specifically for pilgrims. The so-called pilgrim's meal.
Still, 100 Restaurant had no intention of breaking that culture. Since they were in a foreign country, they would serve generous Korean meals using affordable pilgrim-friendly ingredients. It was more than enough material to give viewers both emotion and entertainment.
And so the next morning arrived. With a mixture of nerves and anticipation, they opened for their first day of business. The "Korean set-meal house" raised its doors.
"......"
"It's dead quiet."
They hadn't prepared a huge amount of food. Baek Ju-yeon hadn't expected it to be popular from the very first day, so she had done everything possible to avoid wasting ingredients.
It was seven in the morning—the time when pilgrims began to set out. They were only human; of course they needed to eat. But a brand-new Korean restaurant would still feel completely foreign to them.
"Real business will start with dinner service."
"Is that okay?"
"Sure is."
Baek Ju-yeon nodded with relaxed confidence. Although she had only learned the location was Spain on the day they departed, the first thing she had done upon arrival was analyze the local foot traffic.
It wasn't that there were no people during the morning or lunch hours. The difference in volume, however, was massive. That was why so many shops only opened at six in the evening. The pilgrims finished their day's walk and looked for lodging in the evening—that was when the largest number of people were out searching for a meal. Baek Ju-yeon had been aiming for that window, which was why she hadn't held high expectations. Even so, she wasn't the type to simply sit still and let the morning slip away.
Around lunchtime, Baek Ju-yeon finally moved.
"Hungry?"
"Yes."
"Boss, I'm starving."
The staff were human too. So was the owner. But she was the hungriest of all. It wasn't her stomach that was empty—it was a businesswoman's instinct crying out to be fed.
"Go eat on the terrace over there."
"Oh."
"...Why?"
Woo Dan-wol and Han Da-sol reacted in completely opposite ways. He nodded at once while she tilted her head in confusion. Having understood immediately, Woo Dan-wol began wiping down the outdoor table. It was autumn, and a pleasant breeze blew across the lunchtime terrace.
They say humans are creatures of learning. Perhaps remembering the scolding she'd received for asking questions too hastily, Han Da-sol simply followed quietly behind Woo Dan-wol.
About fifteen minutes later, Baek Ju-yeon's special jeyuk jeongsik was ready. Steaming white rice. Bright red jeyuk that instantly stimulated the appetite. There was a soy-sauce version for foreigners, but the two of them were unmistakably Korean. Naturally they chose the fiery red one made with chili powder. They received the full set meal on a tray.
"So that's why she told us to eat outside..."
It wasn't a place without any foot traffic. Though it was called a village, this was the pilgrimage route. Far more people passed through than actually lived here. Han Da-sol, who had felt a little wronged that Woo Dan-wol hadn't answered her, finally began to understand.
The more they ate, the more passersby turned their heads. Whenever a gaze landed on them and the savory aroma of the jeyuk rode the breeze, people's footsteps would pause. Not everyone, and only a few at first, but Baek Ju-yeon knew the power those small reactions held.
"Finish eating, Noona."
"Okay."
Woo Dan-wol rose from his seat. A customer who had been watching from a distance was walking over. Since he possessed the ability to inhale food at record speed, his plate was already empty. He cleared the table, put the trays away, and wiped his mouth. Even after eating, he was the hall manager. In the blink of an eye he transformed back into a neat, professional figure ready to greet guests.
A typical European appearance. However, it was a woman in her fifties. Backpack, windbreaker, and hat—she was dressed as a pilgrim. Their first customer had arrived. Woo Dan-wol offered a polite greeting.
"Hello."
"Hello. Are you open?"
"Of course we are."
While a person's inner qualities matter more than their outer appearance, first impressions were still incredibly important. Especially when the man in question possessed the kind of beautiful face Woo Dan-wol did. Wouldn't people naturally take a second look and feel compelled to step inside?
It might not have been the most appropriate thought for a sacred site... but the part-timer who generated the highest sales at a PC bang had always been a young, handsome male. Human psychology could be terrifying.
When the fifty-something pilgrim stepped inside, the people who had been hovering nearby began to flock over. Six indoor tables. Two outdoor tables. Once people started gathering, hiring extra help became inevitable. They had pre-arranged for a local part-timer, but due to personal circumstances the person would only start tomorrow.
"Uh, uhh?"
Han Da-sol, who had been burying her face in her plate and devouring the jeyuk, looked up in surprise. In the short time she had lowered her head, a crowd had formed. Of course, since the place had been so empty before, it felt relatively packed. There was a bit of exaggeration in the perception, but the number was by no means small.
The corners of Baek Ju-yeon's mouth curved into a satisfied smile. Better to be run off your feet than to starve, wasn't it?
A crowd of about ten people. Woo Dan-wol began directing traffic with calm precision.
"Wow..."
The director filming the scene let his mouth fall slightly open.
Serving was simple enough that even a part-timer could do it. But if you asked whether it was easy and comfortable, the answer would be a resounding no. That was the nature of the service industry. You had to attend to customers, accept their complaints and compliments, and keep everything running smoothly.
"Is it very spicy?"
"Yes. It's quite spicy."
The spiciness was the most obvious example. A level of heat that felt perfectly normal to Koreans could be intensely stimulating for foreigners. Woo Dan-wol, single-handedly managing all six tables, moved like a beam of light. But limits arrived quickly.
If you suddenly made a celebrity handle hall service, mistakes were inevitable. Even seasoned managers slipped up. The camera director grew more anxious by the second.
However.
Woo Dan-wol was someone who accurately assessed both his own abilities and the situation. After skillfully taking orders and moving about, he headed for the kitchen.
"Boss, can I borrow Da-sol noona?"
"Sure! Of course. You can handle it alone."
In truth, Han Da-sol's contribution wasn't all that significant. Preparing side dishes and setting tables counted as one person's share. But with more customers than expected, the restaurant had become overwhelmingly busy.
"Noona."
"Y-yes?"
"Just handle table one and table two over there. For now, just bring them water."
"Got it."
Han Da-sol nodded. Woo Dan-wol patted her shoulder in a gesture of trust before returning to serving. Baek Ju-yeon watched with a warm smile.
She was handling most of the cooking herself. Did that mean they were short on people? Not at all. If the menu had been more varied they would have needed more hands, but 100 Restaurant's one and only menu was the jeyuk jeongsik. The advantage was that it came as a single generous plate rather than an elaborate course. All she had to do was portion out the side dishes. In other words, she simply needed to stir-fry the jeyuk perfectly.
Lunchtime in Santiago. The restaurant was running smoothly.