Chapter 71
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Grand Chef Korea - Judging
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1.
Stepping into the judges' room, the aromas of various dishes and spices filled the air. They must have been from the previous contestants' food.
I lifted my head and met each judge's gaze one by one.
Chef Kang Taeyeon was expressionless, while Chef Moon Taeo was frowning with a handkerchief over his mouth. Next to the table was a trash bin overflowing with discarded food and entire plates.
'Were the previous dishes that bad?'
Making it into the top 100 didn't necessarily mean the cooking skills were top-notch.
"Kang Yerim, hello!"
Chef Han Seojin, whose eyes met mine, flinched slightly. But she quickly broke into a wide smile and greeted me.
"Yes. Hello."
"What dish did you prepare, Yerim?"
"I made Steak au Poivre with french fries as a side."
"Steak au Poivre—the famous French steak dish!"
"That's right."
I nodded as I placed the plate on the table.
"Great. No need to drag it out—let's dive right in."
Chef Han Seojin stepped forward first, fork and knife in hand.
"The exterior is flawless. That golden-brown harmony, the tightly packed peppercorns. Visually perfect."
"Thank you."
"Now, let's see if it's cooked perfectly inside too. What cross-section will we get when we cut into it?"
"Perfect medium-rare."
"It better live up to that confidence. Let's check."
She sliced into the steak, and juicy moisture spread out, revealing pink flesh. The edges were light pink, deepening to a ruby hue toward the center.
"So tender."
She peered at the cross-section for a moment, then nodded.
"Perfect. I wonder if I could have grilled it this well myself."
"Thank you."
I bowed lightly. Chef Han Seojin smiled brightly and moved her fork.
"Now, let's see how it tastes."
She put the meat in her mouth with eager anticipation, closing her eyes to focus entirely on her tongue.
A soft moan escaped her slightly parted lips. Her cheeks flushed with heat, and the corners of her mouth turned up.
"It melts in your mouth. The texture, the doneness—nothing to fault. But the sauce is what's truly amazing. Layers of diverse flavors and aromas, all gently enveloped by the cream."
Chef Han Seojin's eyes snapped open, and she beamed. She picked up a french fry with eyes full of expectation.
"Wow, crispy outside, fluffy inside. The salty seasoning with a hint of herbs makes it incredibly refreshing in the mouth. The perfect side."
She caught her breath for a moment, then nodded at the plate again.
"Perfect. I never thought I'd say 'perfect' so many times for a single dish. You pass from me."
"Thank you."
Before leaving her seat, she glanced at the plate once more, smacking her lips as if she wanted another bite.
"Next, I'll taste it."
Chef Moon Taeo rose and approached. The handkerchief he'd been holding was gone.
"Kang Yerim. Is there a reason you didn't use the full 60 minutes allotted?"
"Because I'd finished everything necessary."
"So, can you say this dish—this plate—represents your absolute best effort?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then the results must match that confidence."
He carefully took a bite of the meat. For a split second, his movements froze. His eyes widened slightly, and his shoulders twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Ahem..."
His mouth twitched, but he quickly regained his blank expression. He swallowed calmly as if nothing had happened.
"...Impressive."
His calm tone carried admiration and delight. After tasting the french fries, Chef Moon Taeo dabbed his mouth with the handkerchief.
"I apologize for my rude attitude earlier."
He suddenly bowed deeply. I regarded him coolly, but Chef Han Seojin behind him gaped, hand over her mouth.
"No need."
"The contestant right before you, Yerim, also finished 10 minutes early, brimming with confidence just like you."
He paused. His face hardened, brows furrowing as if the memory alone turned his stomach.
"...But the moment I tasted it, I understood the source of that confidence—in the worst way. It was truly the most horrific dish I've ever eaten in my life."
"I see."
"That's why I reacted so sensitively. I apologize again for that."
He bowed once more. Lifting his head, his eyes sparkled as he continued.
"Your dish was different, Kang Yerim. Perfect. It could hold its own not just in a steakhouse, but in a Michelin restaurant. You pass, without a doubt."
"Thank you."
Chef Moon Taeo returned to his seat. Only one judge remained: Chef Kang Taeyeon.
"To advance to the next round of Grand Chef, you need passes from two judges. And you've already received them from both."
He stood and approached me as he spoke.
"So, I'll give you a choice, Yerim."
"A choice?"
Chef Kang Taeyeon slowly turned his gaze to the right. PD Jung Inseon sat there.
Their eyes met briefly. He nodded slowly. It seemed something had been pre-arranged.
"If I taste this and am satisfied, I'll give you an immunity pass from elimination. But if I'm not satisfied, you're out."
He met my eyes. His gaze was cold yet profoundly deep.
"What will you do? Shall I taste your dish? Or advance to the next round as is?"
Silence fell for a moment.
After pondering Chef Kang Taeyeon's question, I opened my mouth.
"I..."
*
I passed through the door emblazoned with the Grand Chef logo. Beyond it, contestants, staff, and countless cameras swiveled toward me.
"W-What happened?"
Unnie approached with a tense face. Her hands clenched tight, shoulders trembling slightly—it made me want to tease her.
"Sorry... I got eliminated..."
I lowered my head with a gloomy expression. Unnie's eyes widened in shock as she swallowed hard. Then she pulled me into a tight hug without a word.
"It's okay. These things happen."
Her voice trembled faintly.
"It's the judges' tongues that are the problem! How could Hayul's cooking not taste good? Right?"
I chuckled and pulled the white chef's hat from my apron pocket.
"Kidding. I actually passed."
She stared blankly at my face, then at the hat. Back to my face, then the hat.
"You...!"
"Sorry. But your face was too tempting."
"G-Get over here!"
I grinned widely and fled from Unnie. Laughter erupted around us. Our antics must have looked ridiculous.
"So, since you passed, should we head home?"
As the mood settled, Unnie asked.
"Writer Seo Nahyun said to stick around for an interview soon."
"Can't we do it now? Why wait?"
Unnie tilted her head.
"Normally, PD Jung Inseon does the contestant interviews herself. But they're filming the judging now, so we have to wait until that's done."
"Makes sense. Efficient use of time."
"Yeah. She said we'd do it during the gap while numbers 36 to 40 are cooking."
"Definitely smarter."
As we talked, a girl began wheeling a cart with her plate, walking slowly.
Her face was pale as a ghost, her steps unsteady. It was the girl I'd lent butter to.
"Wooooaaah—!"
"Fighting!!!"
The cheers made her flinch. She glanced around nervously before disappearing through the Grand Chef logo door.
"Will that kid be okay?"
"Who knows. We can only hope she does well."
The girl went in for judging, but no one came down from the audience afterward.
"...No one's there."
"Yeah."
Usually, family or friends would stand up early to wait for the result together. No one waited for her.
I kept staring at the door, unable to look away. Being alone can be wounding in itself sometimes.
"She's coming out!"
Moments later, the door opened, and the girl emerged.
A chef's hat sat atop her head. Her cheeks were rosy, and she walked carefully but proudly.
But that brightness didn't last.
She scanned the audience, and her smile faded bit by bit. Realizing no one was there to clap, congratulate, or wait for her.
"Unnie. Let's go down."
As her head drooped, I couldn't hold back anymore.
"Huh?"
I grabbed Unnie's hand and headed down to the floor. Smiling brightly, I approached the girl.
"Congratulations."
She slowly lifted her head. Her eyes widened round.
"S-Sis...?"
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders in a hug. She flinched, unaccustomed to human warmth. Her stiff body gradually softened.
"Good job. I'm proud of you."
Her voice trembled.
"Th-Thank you..."
The small, quivering voice reached my ear. I hugged her tighter.
In that moment, Unnie standing beside me silently smiled and gently patted the girl's head.
A warm silence flowed around us. A quiet, peaceful time utterly unlike the cheers and tension on stage.
I hope this little chef, who just got her hat, never has to cry alone again.